Tsukuyomi
Tsukuyomi is the moon kami born from Izanagi's right eye during his purification at the Tachibana River, one of the three noble children, and in the Kojiki he is given rule over the night.
The Nihon Shoki has variant traditions in which the moon kami is paired with the sun and, in some readings, female; the Kojiki's right-eye birth makes him male. The story of the food goddess is assigned to different kami in the two texts. The moon and Monday correspondence is a Western overlay: natural enough as an identification, but not Shinto doctrine.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Moon
Offerings
- Offerings
- WaterSaltRice dumplingsSakeWhite clothIncense
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- Tsukuyomi-no-MikotoTsukiyomiThe Moon KamiTsukuyomi no Kami
- Gender Expression
- Traditionally masculine but variant
- Titles
- The Moon-Counting KamiLord of the NightRuler of the Moon
- Symbols
- Moon discTwo sides of the skyWhite clothThe rice goddessNight rule
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneCool quiet formalAddressTsukuyomi-no-MikotoLord of the MoonThe Moon-Counting KamiRelationshipThe brother who killed and was separated from the sunWarningHe does not return what is given he measures itResonanceThose who keep the night those who count days those who live apart from family
- Modern Practice
He is kept at a handful of shrines, including the Tsukuyomi-jinja at Ise and at Matsuo in Kyoto, with water, salt, sake and white cloth, and at the autumn moon-viewing that is now more poetic than liturgical. His practice is the quiet hour: counting the days, keeping the night, and living with a separation that will not be repaired.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- The moonThe nightThe calendarMeasurementSeparationThe tidesQuietEstrangement
- Mythology Summary
Tsukuyomi is the moon kami born from Izanagi's right eye during his purification at the Tachibana River, one of the three noble children, and in the Kojiki he is given rule over the night. The Nihon Shoki tells how, sent to wait on Uke-mochi, the goddess of food, he found her producing food from her nose, mouth and rectum, took it for pollution and killed her; Amaterasu was so appalled that she moved to another part of the sky, and that is why sun and moon are apart. The Kojiki transfers the same killing to Susanoo and Ogetsuhime.
Details
- Correspondences
- ColorsWhiteSilverBlackBlueScentsSandalwoodJasmineMyrrhMetalsSilverAnimalsCrabHareOwl
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