Spanning three “maki” or scrolls, the Kojiki unfolds like a grand mythic roadmap, guiding readers from the birth of heaven-and-earth to the reigns of early emperors. Its organization breaks down neatly:

1. Kamitsumaki (Volume of the Age of the Gods)

   • Opens with the very origin of the universe: the spontaneous emergence of deities Izanagi and Izanami.
   • Chronicles the creation of Japan itself and the divine descent of Amaterasu’s grandson, Ninigi, planting the celestial seed for the imperial line.

2. Nakatsumaki (Middle Volume)

   • Shifts focus from gods to semi-historical emperors, weaving legendary exploits—like Emperor Jimmu’s eastward “face-off” campaigns—into the genealogical record.
   • Functions as a bridge: part mythic saga, part proto-history, offering a glimpse at rituals and power plays that set the stage for later court life.

3. Shimotsumaki (Lower Volume)

   • Reads more like court chronicles, tracing emperors through successive reigns, with fewer divine interventions and more human drama—rebellions, successions and political intrigue.
   • By the time it reaches Emperor Ōjin, it feels like the tip of an iceberg, hinting at richer archives that emerge in later histories.

A short preface frames the purpose—legitimizing imperial authority through lineage—while classical Chinese style (kanbun) reflects continental influences on early eighth-century Japan. Even today, when Shinto priests at Ise Grand Shrine reenact the Kannamesai harvest rite, they’re echoing ceremonial patterns first described in the Kamitsumaki. The Kojiki’s tiered design—gods, demi-gods, emperors—remains a cornerstone for anyone seeking to understand how ancient myth continues to pulse through modern ceremonies and national identity.