Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Kagu-tsuchi

Kagutsuchi (カグツチ), also rendered as Kagutsuchi no kami, Hi-no-Kagutsuchi, or Homusubi, is the Shinto kami of fire in classical Japanese mythology, embodying the elemental force central to creation and destruction. As the offspring of the primordial deities and , his birth scorched and fatally injured his mother's genitals, leading to her death and descent to , the , thereby introducing mortality into the cosmos. Enraged, drew his sword and beheaded Kagutsuchi, dismembering his body into eight pieces from which sprang eight mountain deities (yamatsumi), often associated with volcanic landscapes, while blood from the blade and rocks produced additional deities associated with metal, water, and other elements. This myth, detailed in the (Records of Ancient Matters, 712 CE), underscores fire's transformative role in cosmogony, shifting from harmonious procreation to themes of pollution, purification, and the origins of natural phenomena like volcanoes and . Kagutsuchi's narrative parallels global fire deity motifs, highlighting a cycle where elemental disruption—here, fire's intrusion into the maternal body—spawns further divine multiplicity and marks the boundary between . Though not prominently worshipped today, his legacy persists in rituals honoring fire's dual aspects, such as in blacksmithing and hearth maintenance, reflecting Shinto's emphasis on harmonizing destructive forces with renewal.

Etymology and Identity

Name Variations

Kagutsuchi, the primary name for the fire in mythology, appears as 迦具土神 in the , Japan's oldest extant chronicle compiled in 712 CE. This rendering is often prefixed with 火之 (hi no, meaning "of fire") to form 火之迦具土神, emphasizing its association with fire. The hiragana rendering of the name is かぐつち, reflecting its pronunciation in as Kagututi. In Hepburn romanization, the standard system for transliterating Japanese into the Latin alphabet, the name is rendered as Kagu-tsuchi, preserving the phonetic structure of the original. An alternative spelling commonly used is Hi-no-Kagutsuchi (火の迦具土), which explicitly incorporates the element "hi" (fire) and appears in various scholarly translations of ancient texts. Archaic titles for the deity include Hinoyagihayao-no-Kami (火之夜藝速男神, "Swift Male Deity of the Blazing Night Fire") and Hinokagabiko-no-Kami (火之迦毘古神, "Boy Deity of the Blazing Fire"), both first attested in the Kojiki as variant descriptors of the fire kami. In the Nihon Shoki, completed in 720 CE, the name shifts to 軻遇突智命 (Kagututi no Mikoto), with additional titles like Homusubi (火産霊, "Fire-Generating Spirit"). These 8th-century attestations highlight orthographic and phonetic differences across the two foundational chronicles, reflecting evolving scribal traditions.

Linguistic Origins

The name Kagu-tsuchi originates as an Old Japanese compound, reflecting the language's archaic phonology characterized by open syllables, a limited inventory, and distinctions in vowel qualities that trace back to proto-Japonic reconstructions. This structure, documented in early texts like the (712 CE), incorporates lexical elements tied to transformative forces like . The initial element "kagu" stems from the root kagu, an obsolete verb denoting "to shine" or "sparkle," directly tied to the luminous glow of flames; this root persists in modern Japanese words such as kagayaku ("to sparkle"). The 迦具土 are , phonetic borrowings without semantic intent, prioritizing sound over meaning in the original . The latter component "tsuchi" derives from Old Japanese chi, a root connoting "power" or "life force," as seen in words like inochi ("life") and chikara ("strength"), with tsu functioning as a possessive particle linking the elements grammatically. Scholarly interpretations vary on the full semantics; one view posits "Shining Force" to highlight the deity's radiant and powerful essence, while related names like Hinokagatsuchi suggest "Earthen Tool of Fire," emphasizing fire's practical and elemental roles in ancient cosmology. These debates draw on comparative phonology, noting how Old Japanese devoicing and assimilation patterns may blend luminous and vital connotations. Pronunciation variations, such as kagutsuti in certain man'yōgana renderings, further illustrate phonological fluidity across regional dialects.

Mythological Narrative

Birth and Maternal Impact

In the Kojiki, the ancient Japanese chronicle compiled in 712 CE, Kagu-tsuchi is depicted as the of fire born to the divine pair and during their procreative acts that shaped the and its natural features. Following the birth of numerous deities associated with mountains, seas, trees, and other elements, Izanami gives birth to Hi-no-Kagu-tsuchi-no-Kami, whose intense fiery essence scorches her genitals, causing severe burns. This injury leads to profound illness, marked by vomiting, diarrhea, and urinary distress, ultimately resulting in her death and transformation into a figure of the . Her demise prompts her descent to , the land of the dead, underscoring the myth's portrayal of birth as a perilous transition in the cosmic order. The , an official history completed in 720 CE, presents variations on this narrative, emphasizing Izanami's feverish suffering during the birth of Kagu-tsuchi (alternatively called Ho-no-Musubi in some accounts). Here, the goddess becomes ill as the child emerges, her body overwhelmed by the flames, leading to her expulsion of additional deities—such as the water goddess Mizu-ha-no-me from her urine and the earth goddess Hani-yasu-hiko from her feces—before she succumbs to her burns and departs for . These accounts differ slightly in sequence and nomenclature from the , with the integrating more elements of Izanami's bodily responses to the trauma, but both texts consistently attribute her fatal wounding to the uncontrollable heat of the fire . Symbolically, Kagu-tsuchi's birth illustrates fire's dual role in cosmogony as a force of both creation and destruction, mirroring broader elemental cycles where ignition enables renewal yet exacts a profound cost. This event disrupts the harmonious generation of the world, highlighting the inherent risks in divine reproduction and establishing fire as a transformative agent that bridges life and death in .

Death and Divine Succession

In a fit of grief and rage over 's death during Kagu-tsuchi's birth, drew the ten-hands-long he carried at his waist, known as , and decapitated the newborn fire god. This act of slaying, detailed in the , marks a pivotal moment of and transformation, where destruction begets new creation. The blood gushing from the point of the gave rise to three mountain deities: Iwasaku no , Nesaku no , and Iwa-tsutsu no o no , while the blood from the blade produced additional deities such as no , associated with thunder and warriors. Similarly, the blood dripping from the scabbard flowed to create sea deities, including Kura-oki-tsu-hiko no and Kura-oki-tsu-hime no , embodying oceanic forces and coastal realms. These emergent illustrate the 's theme of cyclical renewal, where the spilled blood of the slain fire god fertilizes the landscape, birthing guardians of mountains, seas, and elemental domains. Further dismemberment of Kagu-tsuchi's body yielded the eight mountain kami, each arising from one of his body parts—head, chest, stomach, genitals, left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot—including Ō-yama-tsu-mi no kami from the head, extending the lineage of elemental divinities. This succession underscores motifs of purification through violence, as the chaotic fire of Kagu-tsuchi's existence resolves into ordered pantheons, perpetuating cosmic balance and generative continuity in .

Familial Relations

Parentage and Siblings

Kagu-tsuchi is the divine offspring of , the male creator deity, and , the female creator deity, who together represent the seventh and final generation of primordial in the Shinto cosmogony. In the , the oldest extant chronicle of Japanese myths completed in 712 CE, Kagu-tsuchi appears as the final child born to Izanagi and Izanami, concluding their generative phase that produced a total of eight principal islands and thirty-five deities associated with natural phenomena. His older siblings include the malformed Hiruko, a boneless leech-child often interpreted as an early water-associated who was set adrift in a due to imperfection, and subsequent siblings such as Ōwatatsumi-no-kami, the great sea deity, along with Oyamatsumi-no-kami, the mountain deity, and Kukunochi-no-kami, the tree deity, among others embodying land, water, wind, and earth elements. The , an imperial chronicle assembled in 720 CE, corroborates this parentage but features variant accounts of the birth sequence, with Kagu-tsuchi consistently as the fire whose emergence mortally wounds , though the roster of preceding siblings differs, sometimes incorporating additional deities like early iterations of celestial and terrestrial before his appearance. These discrepancies highlight the fluid nature of early mythological transmission, yet uniformly place Kagu-tsuchi late in the lineage. As the last progeny of the creator pair, Kagu-tsuchi embodies a pivotal transitional role among the , bridging the era of prolific creation—exemplified by his siblings' dominion over fertile landscapes and seas—to the introduction of destructive forces, as his incendiary birth precipitates Izanami's descent into mortality and the .

Offspring and Lineage

In mythology, as recorded in the , the dismemberment of Kagu-tsuchi produced a series of considered his direct descendants, embodying volcanic, terrestrial, and elemental forces within the . These emerged from his blood and body parts, symbolizing the transformative power of in shaping the earth's landscape and natural phenomena. From the blood spilling from Kagu-tsuchi's decapitated form onto Izanagi's and the rocks, several were born, including and thunder that represent forces to counter fire's destructiveness. From the tip of the : Iwatsutsuno-o-no-kami, Nesatsutsuno-o-no-kami, and Kuraokami-no-kami (a and ); from the edge: Takemikazuchi-no-kami (thunder and patron of ), among others like Mika-haya-hi-no-kami and Hi-haya-hi-no-kami. These form a lineage linking fire to storms, waters, and martial domains. The further division of Kagu-tsuchi's body yielded eight mountain gods, or Yama no , who personify various geological features tied to volcanic activity and land formation. For example, Masakayamatsumi-no- arose from his head, embodying prominent mountains; Okuyamatsumi-no- from his chest, representing inner or forested mountains; Kurayamatsumi-no- from his abdomen, signifying dark or hidden mountains; and from his genitals, Hayaakitsuhiko-no- and Hayaakitsuhime-no-, associated with swift autumn deities and growth in volcanic areas. Additional body parts produced other Yama no like Shigiyamatsumi-no- (left arm) and Toyamatsumi-no- (right foot), illustrating how Kagu-tsuchi's essence birthed the diverse mountainous realms central to Japan's sacred geography. The provides variants, including additional deities like Haniyamahime-no-kami (earth/clay goddess) and Mizuhanome-no-kami (water goddess) born from as she dies from Kagutsuchi's birth, and Wakumusubi-no-kami from her vomit, sometimes linked thematically to his fiery legacy but not directly from his body. Thematic extensions of this lineage connect to craftsmanship through fire's role in metallurgy, with deities like Kanayamahiko-no-kami—god of metal mountains and forges—born from related blood in the , evoking indirect associations. In genealogical summaries from the , these offspring are listed sequentially as products of divine fragmentation, establishing a foundational branch in the family tree that links primordial fire to enduring natural and artisanal orders without further progeny detailed.

Worship and Symbolism

Associated Shrines

The Hananoiwaya Shrine (花の窟神社), located in Kumano, , serves as the primary site linked to Kagu-tsuchi's birth myth, where the Flower Cavern is traditionally regarded as the tomb of his mother , who perished from burns during his delivery. This ancient shrine, one of Japan's oldest, venerates both Izanami and Kagu-tsuchi, emphasizing the deity's role in the mythological origin of death and fire. Historical records trace its significance to early traditions, with the site's sacred status reinforced through its inclusion in the , Japan's ancient chronicle compiled in the early 8th century. In , the Atago Shrine (愛宕神社) on Mount Atago stands as a key contemporary and historical center for Kagu-tsuchi worship, enshrining him under the name Homusubi no Mikoto and focusing on rites to avert fire disasters. Established by the late during the early , the shrine received imperial patronage as part of efforts to safeguard the capital, with records in the (927 CE) highlighting fire-related , though specific shrine mentions evolved post-Heian through expanded rituals. It remains a focal point for fire purification practices, where devotees seek protection from conflagrations symbolic of Kagu-tsuchi's dual nature. Associated festivals at these sites include the annual Hi-Matsuri fire rituals, which honor Kagu-tsuchi through controlled bonfires and torch processions to invoke safety and renewal; for instance, Atago Shrine's Sennichi Tsuyasai fire festival occurs on the night of July 31, featuring ceremonial flames lit to purify and appease the fire kami. At the Washio Atago Shrine in , another branch dedicated to Kagu-tsuchi's fire aspects, the Grand Fire Ritual and fire-walking ceremony take place on December 5, drawing on post-Heian traditions of imperial-supported fire rites to promote and ward off calamities. These events underscore the deity's enduring institutional role in practice.

Cultural Representations

Kagutsuchi embodies the dual nature of as both a destructive and creative force in , symbolizing catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions while also representing renewal through the fertile ash that enriches soil for . His myth ties him to Japan's approximately 100 active volcanoes, where eruptions are seen as manifestations of his power, historically causing widespread devastation but ultimately fostering growth in the aftermath. In this destroyer-creator , Kagutsuchi also patronizes forges and production, linking volcanic heat to human craftsmanship and transformation. In artistic , Kagutsuchi is often depicted as a radiant, flaming figure whose intense glow makes him difficult to approach, emphasizing his untamed elemental essence. These representations appear in traditional contexts, such as shrine , where he is portrayed alongside deities like Haniyasubime to highlight 's role in purification and creation. Kagutsuchi's disruptive birth influences seasonal rituals involving to expel malevolent forces, mirroring the purification needed after his chaotic emergence. These rituals use as a cleansing agent to ward off misfortune and invite renewal, akin to how Kagutsuchi's myth resolves destruction into generative outcomes. Scholars interpret Kagutsuchi's role within Shinto's animistic framework as an embodiment of fire's living, dynamic spirit, integral to natural cycles of decay and rebirth. This contrasts sharply with serene like , the sun goddess who symbolizes harmonious order and imperial continuity, while Kagutsuchi represents volatile, transformative disruption in the cosmic balance.

Modern Interpretations

In Literature and Art

Direct representations of Kagu-tsuchi in modern Japanese literature are scarce, though his mythological role influences themes of fire, creation, and destruction in contemporary works exploring Shinto motifs. In visual art, contemporary artists have drawn inspiration from the fire god. For instance, sculptor Heishiro Ishino created a series of fantasy sculptures based on Kagu-tsuchi, blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern imaginative forms. Kagutsuchi features prominently in the Shin Megami Tensei video game series, particularly as a central antagonist in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (2003), where he serves as the final boss and an avatar of the Great Will, embodying the sun and facilitating world creation through a cataclysmic event known as the Conception. In this role-playing game, Kagutsuchi is depicted as a powerful, phase-shifting entity that influences gameplay mechanics, such as the Kagutsuchi Phase system, which alters battle dynamics every few turns to represent lunar cycles and boost abilities like fire-based attacks (e.g., Maragidyne). His portrayal emphasizes themes of destruction and rebirth, drawing from his mythological origins while integrating him into the series' demon-summoning and alignment-based narrative, where defeating him leads to multiple endings based on the player's ideological choices. The deity also appears recurrently across the broader franchise, including titles, as a summonable or associated with attributes, often retaining his fiery, volcanic essence in battles and story arcs that explore cosmology. Beyond this series, Kagutsuchi influences combat techniques in the video games, manifesting as the Release: Kagutsuchi , which allows shape manipulation of inextinguishable black flames from the ability. In , Kagutsuchi is portrayed as a god of fire in (manga 2011–2024; anime 2014), where he is summoned alongside other deities to subjugate the war god Bishamonten and a rogue entity called the Crafter. Depicted as a young man in his early twenties with short, wavy black hair that ignites into flames during combat, he wields to breathe and control destructive fires, supported by shinki (familiar spirits) like the ring-wielding U (Bouki) for precise flame generation and the sword-form I (Gaiki). This adaptation casts him as a stern, duty-bound figure in a modern supernatural setting, highlighting his chaotic potential through uncontrolled blazes while tying into the series' exploration of divine conflicts and human-god interactions. Kagutsuchi manifests as a key familiar in the Mai-HiME (2004), serving as the "Child" of protagonist Mai Tokiha—a dragon-like creature capable of launching fireballs and laser-like thermal blasts in battles among HiME warriors. Named after the fire god to evoke his destructive birth myth, this version emphasizes raw power and emotional bonds, as the Child's strength reflects Mai's resolve, appearing in pivotal fights and even as an antagonist in the sequel Mai-Otome Zwei OVA (2008). Additionally, in the and (1999–2014; Shippuden 2007–2017), Kagutsuchi names a forbidden technique exclusive to , enabling him to mold the eternal black flames of into weapons or shields, symbolizing escalating vengeance and control over infernal forces.

References

  1. [1]
    Kojiki English Translation - 英訳古事記 - 國學院大學 古典文化学事業
    Thereupon, Izanaki no mikoto drew the ten-hands-long (1) sword he carried at his waist (2) and cut off the head of that child, Kagutsuchi no kami (3). The ...
  2. [2]
    Japanese Mythology: Cosmogony - Canadian Studies Center
    Aug 29, 2019 · Giving birth to their last child, Kagutsuchi, the god of fire, Izanami was fatally injured. From her dying body some kami were born, and ...
  3. [3]
    [PDF] The Japanese cosmogonic myth of Izanami and Kagutsuchi in ...
    ABSTRACT: This paper reflects on the Japanese cosmogonic myth of the primal goddess Izanami giving birth to the Fire God Kagutsuchi. In the process she is ...
  4. [4]
    Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms: K - 國學院大學
    Kagutsuchi カグツチ (記: 迦具土神、紀: 軻遇突智 (命)) ... The kami of fire in the myths of the Kiki . In giving birth to this kami, Izanami burned her genitals ...
  5. [5]
    Kagutsuchi - World History Encyclopedia
    Jun 27, 2017 · Kagutsuchi (aka Hi-no-Kagutsuchi) is the Shinto god or kami of fire and is also known as Homusubi. The son of Izanami and Izanagi.
  6. [6]
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Studies on the Kojiki: Chapter 8 The Slaying of the Fire Deity
    Another name is Toyofutsu no kami 豊布都神 (7). ... The sword with which [Izanaki] slayed [Kagutsuchi] is named Ame no ohahari 天之. 尾羽張. ... Nihon shoki ...
  8. [8]
    迦具土 - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
    ### Summary of Etymology and Linguistic Notes on Kagutsuchi/Kagu-tsuchi
  9. [9]
    None
    Summary of each segment:
  10. [10]
    [PDF] Mythology in Kojiki: A Medical Perspective - 日本医史学会
    The purpose of compiling Kojiki was to corroborate the legitimacy and authority of the emperor and royal family in their rule over Japanese society at the time, ...<|separator|>
  11. [11]
    from Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. ...
    In one writing it is said:—”When about to give birth to the Fire-God, Kagu tsuchi, Izanami no Mikoto became feverish and ill. In consequence she vomited ...
  12. [12]
    The Kojiki: Volume I: Section VI.&#8212;Birth of the Vari... | Sacred Texts Archive
    ### Summary of Deities Born by Izanagi and Izanami (Up to Kagutsuchi)
  13. [13]
    The Kojiki: Volume I: Section IV.&#8212;Courtship of the ... | Sacred Texts Archive
    ### Summary of Births by Izanagi and Izanami (Up to Kagutsuchi)
  14. [14]
    Nihongi/Book I - Wikisource, the free online library
    Dec 17, 2024 · At length he drew the ten-span sword with which he was girt, and cut Kagu tsuchi into three pieces, each of which became changed into a God.
  15. [15]
    Izanagi and Izanami: Japan's Creation Myth | Nippon.com
    Aug 13, 2024 · First, they gave birth to Awajishima, and then Shikoku and Kyūshū, each with their four faces, and then to all the rest of the islands of Japan.Missing: sequence | Show results with:sequence
  16. [16]
    Hana no Iwaya Shrine - Must-See, Access, Hours & Price
    Nov 1, 2024 · Hana no Iwaya Shrine is a place of legend noted in Nihon Shoki, Japan's oldest historical record, that's said to be the oldest shrine in Japan.
  17. [17]
    Kagutsuchi - Mythopedia
    Nov 29, 2022 · Kagutsuchi is the Japanese god of fire. His fiery nature killed his mother, the divine creator Izanami, during birth. He is the god of blacksmiths and ceramic ...
  18. [18]
    Atago ascent - Green Shinto -
    Jul 30, 2014 · The shrine on Mt. Atago was dedicated to Izanami and her child Kagutsuchi, the god of fire. In Japanese mythology, the female Izanami, in union ...
  19. [19]
    Washio Atago-jinja - Panoramic view on Hakata Bay - Kanpai Japan
    Apr 9, 2025 · All Atago shrines are built on hills and worship the kami Atago Gongen, also associated to Homusubi no Mikoto or Kagutsuchi, the god of fire ...
  20. [20]
    Atago Shrine Fire Festival - The Process - Alik Griffin
    The fire festival has a series of rituals involving chanting, trumpets, rope-cutting sword and axe demonstrations that surround the centerpiece, a bon fire ...
  21. [21]
    Kagutsuchi Japanese God of Fire: The Complete Guide
    Nov 3, 2020 · Kagutsuchi was the god of destructive fire, volcanoes, ceramic workers, and smiths. At traditional Shinto shrines throughout Japan he was recognized for both ...Missing: variants | Show results with:variants
  22. [22]
    The Story of the Fire God: Kagutsuchi - Japanese Mythology
    Oct 2, 2024 · The flames are thought to ward off evil spirits, making fire a vital part of religious observances. Creation: Fire is seen as a catalyst for ...
  23. [23]
    [PDF] Izanami giving birth to Kagutsuchi / Fire
    ABSTRACT: Point of departure will be the myth of the primal goddess Izanami giving birth to the Fire. God Kagutsuchi, and in the process susstaining such ...
  24. [24]
    Shinto shows the debt to animism of organised religions today - Aeon
    Dec 20, 2018 · Shinto is uniquely Japanese, yet embodies a once-universal animistic religion of wind and fire, gods and animal spirits. by Brian VictoriaMissing: Kagu- tsuchi contrasting
  25. [25]
    Man'yōshū (Chapter 5) - The Cambridge History of Japanese ...
    Literary histories of Man'yōshū poetry typically divide it into four periods, starting in the mid seventh century and ending with the last dated poem (of 759).Missing: Kagutsuchi | Show results with:Kagutsuchi
  26. [26]
    Japanese Illustrated Handscrolls - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
    Nov 1, 2012 · Japanese illustrated handscrolls (emaki) are intimate, narrative paintings, held in hand, unfurled one segment at a time, and viewed right to ...
  27. [27]
  28. [28]
    Kagutsuchi - Megami Tensei Wiki - Fandom
    Kagutsuchi, also known as Hinokagutsuchi and Homusubi, is the Japanese god of fire, son of Izanagi and Izanami. His mother was so badly burned when she gave ...
  29. [29]
  30. [30]
  31. [31]
    Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi - Narutopedia - Fandom
    Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi is a technique which applies shape transformation to the black flames of Amaterasu, allowing the user to manipulate them at will.
  32. [32]
    Kagutsuchi | Noragami Wiki - Fandom
    Kagutsuchi (カグツチ, Kagutsuchi) is the god of fire and volcanoes. He is one of the gods summoned to subjugate Bishamonten and the Crafter.
  33. [33]
    Kagutsuchi - MyAnimeList.net
    Kagutsuchi is the god of fire and volcanoes, and the son of Izanami, the queen of the underworld. He has the ability to create and control flames by ...
  34. [34]
    Kagutsuchi - Mai-HiME Wiki - Fandom
    Kagutsuchi is Mai Tokiha's child in the Mai-HiME series. It also ... ↑ Kojiki: Volume I, Sections 6-8 at Sacred Texts .com. Dupe Summary. To merge ...
  35. [35]
    Kagu-tsuchi - Wikipedia
    Kagutsuchi (カグツチ; Old Japanese: Kagututi), also known as Hi-no-Kagutsuchi or Homusubi among other names, is the kami of fire in classical Japanese ...