Shinto cosmology in the Nihon Shoki unfolds like an ancient tapestry, weaving together ideas of cosmic birth, divine genealogy, and the sacred interplay between heaven and earth. At its heart lies the concept of tenso-kakurei—the separation of Takamagahara (the High Plain of Heaven) from Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni (the Central Land of Reed Plains)—as primordial chaos gives way to cosmic order.

Key cosmic themes include:

• Primordial Deities (Kotoamatsukami): Before anything else existed, ethereal kami such as Ame-no-Minakanushi appear “as old as the hills,” symbolizing the universe’s first spark.
• Creation Pair (Izanagi and Izanami): Tasked with shaping the Japanese archipelago, this divine duo stirs the ocean with the Floating Bridge of Heaven’s jeweled spear. Their union births both land and further generations of kami, establishing a divine family tree that branches into every aspect of nature.
• Purification and Renewal: Izanagi’s cleansing ritual after venturing into Yomi (the land of the dead) begets Amaterasu (sun goddess), Tsukuyomi (moon god), and Susanoo (storm god). This act underscores the life-giving power of rites—echoed today in Ise Jingu’s twenty-year rebuilding cycle, a practice revived during recent ceremonies honoring the 125th Emperor’s Enthronement.
• Sacred Geography: Mountains, rivers, and groves aren’t mere backdrops but living kami. Mount Fuji’s majestic peak, for instance, stands as an axis mundi, a direct line between human and divine realms.

Modern observances—like the spring festival at Ise Shrine or recent environmental initiatives inspired by Shinto’s reverence for natural spirits—demonstrate how these age-old ideas still resonate. In every rustle of bamboo or flicker of lantern light at a local matsuri, the Nihon Shoki’s vision of a world animated by countless kami remains vibrantly alive, bridging past and present in a shared cultural heartbeat.