Question
Two of these figures have one body with four separate faces, and eight of them are born after two siblings walk around a “heavenly august pillar” to face each other. For 10 points each:
[10m] Name these places, whose personifications were born before later children like the fire god Kagu-tsuchi. Some of these places were created when two siblings dipped a jeweled spear into the waters.
ANSWER: islands of Japan [or Oyashima; prompt on Japan with “What features?”; prompt on islands]
[10e] This creator deity gave birth to the islands of Japan with her similarly-named husband Izanagi.
ANSWER: Izanami
[10h] Before giving birth to the islands, Izanami spoke before her husband, causing her to give birth to this “leech-child.” Fishermen often pray to this “laughing god” of luck.
ANSWER: Hiruko [or Ebisu]
<Jaimie Carlson, RMP - World Mythology> ~21228~ <Editor: Jaimie Carlson>