Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi
Pair of Japanese deities (kami)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashinazuchi (Japanese: 足名椎) and Tenazuchi (Japanese: 手名椎) are a married pair of Japanese earth deities[1] (kami) that appear in the Kojiki.[2] Their names mean "foot-earth" and "hand-earth" respectively.[1] They are the parents of Kushinadahime, though they originally had eight daughters before the other seven were devoured by Yamata no Orochi, one every year.[3]
| Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi | |
|---|---|
Shrine to Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi
at Tsuno Shrine | |
| Offspring | Kushinadahime |
Description
Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi appear as an old man and woman.[1] Sometimes the names are switched, and Tenazuchi is the father.[4] In versions where the names are swapped, Tenazuchi is said to also appear as Gendayū and protect travelers on the Tōkaidō road.[4]
Mythology
When Susanoo was exiled, he found Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi weeping and consoling their daughter, Kushinadahime, by the Hii River.[1] When he asked what was wrong they introduced themselves and explained that Yamata no Orochi was about to come for Kushinadahime, as it had done for their other seven daughters.[1] Susanoo turned Kushinadahime into a comb and put her in his hair to keep her safe. He then had Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi build an eight-gated fence and put a tub of saké behind each gate.[1] When Yamata no Orochi arrived, it drank all the saké and fell asleep. Susanoo cut up the monster while it was asleep, finding the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in its tail.[1]
