Kuninotokotachi no Kami
国之常立神
Primordial deity of the land's eternal establishment; the first deity in the Nihon Shoki
About
Kuninotokotachi is the first deity named in the Nihon Shoki's primary account of creation, occupying the position that Amenominakanushi holds in the Kojiki. His name means 'the eternally standing deity of the land,' suggesting the establishment of a permanent foundation for the earth.
Like Amenominakanushi, Kuninotokotachi appears only briefly and takes no active role in subsequent narratives. However, he became important in medieval and early modern religious movements. In Yoshida Shinto, he was elevated to the supreme deity, and in certain folk traditions, he was identified with an expelled or hidden primordial god.
The discrepancy between the Kojiki's first deity (Amenominakanushi, a heavenly figure) and the Nihon Shoki's first deity (Kuninotokotachi, an earthly figure) has been a productive area of scholarly debate about the differing cosmological perspectives of the two texts.
Mythology
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Suitengu (Kurume) 水天宮 | Fukuoka | head |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Kuninotokotachi no Kami in Japanese mythology?
Kuninotokotachi no Kami (国之常立神) is Primordial deity of the land's eternal establishment; the first deity in the Nihon Shoki. This deity appears in Nihon Shoki and is enshrined at 1 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Kuninotokotachi no Kami?
There are 1 shrines in our database dedicated to Kuninotokotachi no Kami, including Suitengu (Kurume).
What myths involve Kuninotokotachi no Kami?
Kuninotokotachi no Kami appears in 1 myths including The Birth of the Land (Kuniumi). These stories come from Nihon Shoki.