Susanoo and Yamata no Orochi

The Exile

Banishment from heaven for his crimes against Amaterasu, Susanoo descended to the province of Izumo on earth. By the Hi river, he found an old couple weeping with their beautiful daughter, Kushinada-hime. They explained that for the past seven years, the terrible eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi had come to devour one of their daughters. Now, only Kushinada remained, and the dragon was coming for her.

The Trap

Susanoo agreed to slay the monster if he could have Kushinada's hand in marriage. He turned the girl into a comb and placed her in his hair for safety. Then, he instructed the couple to build a fence with eight gates. At each gate, they placed a vat of strong sake (rice wine).

When Yamata no Orochi arrived, its eyes glowing like winter cherries, its eight heads dipped into the eight vats and drank greedily. The beast soon fell into a drunken stupor.

The Sword in the Tail

Susanoo drew his sword and hacked the sleeping dragon to pieces. The river flowed red with blood. As he cut into the middle tail, his blade chipped. Investigating, he pulled open the flesh and found a magnificent sword hidden inside: the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Grass-Cutting Sword).

Realizing this was a divine treasure, Susanoo sent the sword up to heaven as a reconciliation gift to his sister Amaterasu. He then built a palace in Izumo and lived happily with his wife Kushinada, composing the first waka poem about the clouds rising around their home.

Names and Versions

The Kojiki names the old couple Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi and places the meeting on the upper Hi River in Izumo. It explains that the sword was later called Ame-no-Murakumo, 'Heavenly Gathering Clouds', because clouds always hung above the serpent. The Nihon Shoki gives the main story and several variant versions, differing on details such as where the sword was sent. Susanoo's poem 'Yakumo tatsu', about eightfold clouds rising round his new home, is traditionally counted the first waka.