I've just published a new article on Hubpages Izunagi and Izunami A Japanese Creation Myth.
As I am most familiar with Greek mythology, I was particularly interested to notice the striking parallels between this story and the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Like Orpheus, Izunagi goes in quest of his beloved dead wife, to the very land of the dead. Like Orpheus, Izunagi is told that he may get his beloved back as long as he does not look at her. When he does so, he loses all hope of their being reunited and she is condemned to remain in the land of the dead.
There are also correspondances with the story of Persephone, as, at first, Izunami says she will not be able to return because she has tasted food in Yomi, the House of the Dead. Later, Izunami is transformed into Yomotsu-o-kami, a goddess of the dead.
Another interesting correspondance that struck me, this time from the book of Genesis, is that Izunami, the primal mother is, like Eve held responsible for things going wrong because she spoke out of turn and took the initiative. Both stories contain elements seemingly intended to justify male dominance as the rightful norm, although of course throughout the centuries, some readers and listeners must have been provoked to read 'against the grain' and ponder the fairness of the tale being told. By appearing to offer answers, myth can prompt us to ask questions.
