Kagu-tsuchi

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Kagutsuchi (カグツチ; Old Japanese: Kagututi), also known as Hi-no-Kagutsuchi or Homusubi among other names, is the kami of fire in classical Japanese mythology.^[1]

Mythology

Kagutsuchi's birth burned his mother

Kagutsuchi's birth, in Japanese mythology, comes at the end of the creation of the world and marks the beginning of death.^[4] In the Engishiki, a source which contains the myth, Izanami, in her death throes, bears the water god Mizuhanome, instructing her to pacify Kagu-tsuchi if he should become violent. This story also contains references to traditional fire-fighting tools: gourds for carrying water and wet clay and water reeds for smothering fires.^[4]

Name

The name Kagutsuchi was originally a compound phrase, consisting of kagu, an Old Japanese root verb meaning "to shine"; tsu, the Old Japanese possessive particle; and chi, an Old Japanese root meaning "force, power".^[5]

Worship

Kagutsuchi is the patron deity of blacksmiths and ceramic workers. He is worshipped in several shrines, amongst which are

Popular culture

This section may contain irrelevant references to popular culture. Please remove the content or add citations to reliable and independent sources. (March 2023)

• In the manga and anime
  Hino Rei uses flame magic. ^{[dubious – discuss}
  ]
• In the manga and anime
  Fairy Tail, a character named Zancrow
  uses the Flame God Slayer Magic and has an attack named after Kagutsuchi.
• In the manga Noragami, Kagutsuchi appears during the subjugation of Bishamon and is shown to be capable of blowing fire.
• In the anime
  Mai-HiME
  , Mai's Child is based upon Kagutsuchi.
• In the manga and anime
  Naruto: Shippuden, one of the main characters, Sasuke Uchiha
  , is shown to have the ability to manipulate the black flames of Amaterasu into various weapons. This is referred to as Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi, which refers to the fire god.
• In the anime
  Ao No Exorcist
  , the hometown to several of the characters is Kyoto, where a powerful sword was made from long ago by, and had to do with Kagu-Tsuchi.
• In the video game series BlazBlue, the main setting of the first two games is the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi.
  • In the same video game series, one of the playable characters, Nine the Phantom, has Hi no Kagutsuchi, an enormous fire elemental that can be summoned by her.
• In the video game series Brave Frontier, Kagatsuchi is a fire-based battle unit. He's in the form of a centaur, and is described as "a disastrous beast".
• In the manga Rurouni Kenshin, the main antagonist of the Kyoto Arc, Shishio Makoto, uses a technique called "The Final Secret Sword: Kagutsuchi" as a last resort "trump card", bringing down a cyclone of flames that his sword can produce at his enemy.
• In the
  Shin Megami Tensei and Persona
  franchises, Kagutsuchi is a recurring figure in various titles. In some he is a regular demon to be recruited, a sword bearing his name in reference to the novels the franchises are based on, and in others he is a central figure to the plot.
• In the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops II, a fire-elemental staff known as "Kagutsuchi's Blood" can be obtained on the Zombies map "Origins".
• In the mobile phone game
  Puzzle and Dragons
  , developed by Gung-ho, Hino Kagutsuchi is a collectible fire monster.
• In the card game
  Tsukuyomi
  , Kagutsuchi is one of the 4 Xyz Monsters of Bujin.
• In the mobile game
  Susano'o, Amaterasu, Inari, Izanami, Izanagi
  and more.
• In the mobile game
  Marishi-Ten
  , with the two of them inadvertently creating a magical hot spring in the Hogo region of Hinomoto, the game's version of Japan, during one of their duels, when Marishiten caused Kagutsuchi's molten blood to seep into the spring's water, permanently heating it and leading the locals to dub it the Bloodspring or Twin-Wyrm Spring in honor of the dragons' eventual friendship. When Kagutsuchi isn't waging war, he's usually basking in a hot spring or frying chicken, which he offers to his allies.
• In the manga and anime Gintama, the main weapon aboard the Altana Liberation Army's flag ship Amenotorifune, intended to destroy the Earth, is called "Hinokagutsuchi".
• In the video game Ghost of Tsushima, there is a Charm of Kagu-Tsuchi. This charm is granted by finding and honoring the Plum Blossom Shrine.
• In the light novel High School DxD: Slash/Dog series, Kagu-tsuchi is the Shinto God of Fire and also the patron deity of the Himejima Clan whom in turned blessed them with the power of spiritual flames. A descendant of the Himejima, Tobio Ikuse is the wielder of the Ame no Ohabari, the divine sword which killed Kagu-tsuchi which is infused with Kagu-tsuchi's divine flames which grant it immense power to kill even a Demon Lord Gressil.
• In the video game series The Alchemist Code, the royal family of Wadatsumi, Rising Ashes, which consists of Mitsuha, Kagura, Zeke Crowley and Logi Crowley, uses a fire ability called Kagutsuchi, which takes the form of a phoenix when used. This technique is very powerful against a type of enemy, ogres. In difficult situations, Mitsuha, Kagura and Logi use an advanced form of the fire technique, called "Kagutsuchi Kiraboshi".
• In the 2022 video game God of War Ragnarök, it is implied that Týr reflects upon his knowledge of Kagu-Tsuchi as an inspiration for his combat tactics during his final encounter against Kratos (God of War) in the game's free, and seemingly final downloadable content patch released in early December 2023.

Family tree

• v
• t
• e

Susanoo[10][11][12] : 277

Kamuo Ichihime[8][9][13][14]

Konohanachiru-hime[15][12]: 277

Ashinazuchi[16][17]

Tenazuchi[17]

Toshigami[14][13]

Ukanomitama[8][9] (Inari)[18]

Oyamakui[19]

Kushinadahime[17][20][12]: 277

Yashimajinumi[15][12]: 277

Kagutsuchi[21]

Kuraokami[22]

Hikawahime [ja][23][12]: 278

Fuha-no-Mojikunusunu [ja][12]: 278

Fukabuchi-no-Mizuyarehana [ja][12]: 278

Ame-no-Tsudoechine [ja][12]: 278

Funozuno [ja][12]: 278

Sashikuni Okami [ja][12]: 278

Omizunu[12]: 278

Futemimi [ja][12]: 278

Sashikuni Wakahime [ja][12]: 278

Ame-no-Fuyukinu[24][25][12]: 278

Takamimusubi[26][27]

Futodama[26][27]

Nunakawahime[28]

Ōkuninushi[29][12]: 278  (Ōnamuchi)[30]

Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto[31]

Kotoshironushi[32][33]

Tamakushi-hime[31]

Takeminakata[34][35]

Susa Clan[36]

JAPANESE EMPERORS

711–585 BC Jimmu[37] 660–585 BC(1)

Himetataraisuzu-hime[37]

Kamo no Okimi[32][38]

Mirahime [ja]

632–549 BC Suizei[39][40][41] 581–549 BC(2)

Isuzuyori-hime[38][42]

Hikoyai[39][40][41]

Kamuyaimimi[39][40][41] d.577 BC

Miwa clan and Kamo clan

Nunasokonakatsu-hime[43][32]

Imperial House of Japan

Ō clan[44][45] and Aso clan[46]

• Pink is female.
• Blue is male.
• Grey means other or unknown.
• Clans, families, people groups are in green.

See also

• Kōjin
• Takemikazuchi
• Akiha Gongen
• List of fire gods
• Musuhi
  part of the tymology of Homusubi

Notes

1. ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Kagutsuchi". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
2. ^ worldhistory.org
3. ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Ōyamatsumi". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
4. ^ ^{a b} Ashkenazy, Michael. Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003. 186
5. Tōkyō: Shogakukan
   , 1988
6. ^ "Kagutsuchi, Japanese Fire God, The Fiery God of Purification by Flame". God Checker.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
7. ^ Kaoru, Nakayama (7 May 2005). "Ōyamatsumi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Chamberlain (1882). Section XIX.—The Palace of Suga.
9. ^ ^{a b c} Chamberlain (1882). Section XX.—The August Ancestors of the Deity-Master-of-the-Great-Land.
10. ^ Atsushi, Kadoya (10 May 2005). "Susanoo". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
11. ^ "Susanoo | Description & Mythology". Encyclopedia Britannica.
12. ^
    ISBN 978-1-136-90376-2
    . Retrieved 2020-11-21.
13. ^ ^{a b} 大年神 [Ōtoshi-no-kami] (in Japanese). Kotobank. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
14. ^ ^{a b} 大年神 [Ōtoshi-no-kami] (in Japanese). Kokugakuin University. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
15. ^ ^{a b} Mori, Mizue. "Yashimajinumi". Kokugakuin University Encyclopedia of Shinto.
16. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5
    . Retrieved 2020-11-21.
17. ^ ^{a b c} "My Shinto: Personal Descriptions of Japanese Religion and Culture". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
18. ^ “‘My Own Inari’: Personalization of the Deity in Inari Worship.” Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 23, no. 1/2 (1996): 87-88
19. ^ "Ōtoshi | 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム". 2022-08-17. Archived from the original on 2022-08-17. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
20. ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Kushinadahime". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp.
21. ^ "Kagutsuchi". World History Encyclopedia.
22. ISBN 978-1-57607-467-1
    . Retrieved 2020-11-21.
23. ISBN 978-1-4629-0511-9
    . Retrieved 2020-11-21.
24. ^ Philippi, Donald L. (2015). Kojiki. Princeton University Press. p. 92.
25. ^ Chamberlain (1882). Section XX.—The August Ancestors of the Deity-Master-Of-The-Great Land.
26. ^
    ISBN 978-1-136-89294-3
    .
27. ^ ^{a b} "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Futodama". eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
28. ^ Philippi, Donald L. (2015). Kojiki. Princeton University Press. pp. 104–112.
29. ^ Atsushi, Kadoya; Tatsuya, Yumiyama (20 October 2005). "Ōkuninushi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
30. ^ Atsushi, Kadoya (21 April 2005). "Ōnamuchi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
31. ^ ^{a b} The Emperor's Clans: The Way of the Descendants, Aogaki Publishing, 2018.
32. ^
    ISBN 9780231049405
    .
33. ^ Atsushi, Kadoya (28 April 2005). "Kotoshironushi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
34. ^ Sendai Kuji Hongi, Book 4 (先代舊事本紀 巻第四), in Keizai Zasshisha, ed. (1898). Kokushi-taikei, vol. 7 (国史大系 第7巻). Keizai Zasshisha. pp. 243–244.
35. ^ Chamberlain (1882). Section XXIV.—The Wooing of the Deity-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears.
36. ^ Tanigawa Ken'ichi [de] 『日本の神々 神社と聖地 7 山陰』（新装復刊） 2000年 白水社 ISBN 978-4-560-02507-9
37. ^ ^{a b} Kazuhiko, Nishioka (26 April 2005). "Isukeyorihime". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
38. ^ ^{a b} 『神話の中のヒメたち　もうひとつの古事記』p94-97「初代皇后は「神の御子」」
39. ^ ^{a b c} 日本人名大辞典+Plus, デジタル版. "日子八井命とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-06-01.
40. ^
    JSTOR 26652947
    .
41. ^ ^{a b c} "Visit Kusakabeyoshimi Shrine on your trip to Takamori-machi or Japan". trips.klarna.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
42. ^ 『図説　歴代天皇紀』p42-43「綏靖天皇」
43. ^ Anston, p. 143 (Vol. 1)
44. ISBN 978-0-520-91036-2
    .
45. ^ Tenri Journal of Religion. Tenri University Press. 1968.
46. ^ Takano, Tomoaki; Uchimura, Hiroaki (2006). History and Festivals of the Aso Shrine. Aso Shrine, Ichinomiya, Aso City.: Aso Shrine.

References

• Ashkenazy, Michael. Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 2003.
• Bock, Felicia G., trans. Engi-shiki: Procedures of the Engi Era. ASU Center for Asian Studies (Occasional Paper #17).

External links

• Kagutsuchi, Encyclopedia of Shinto
• Kagutsuchi on the Japanese History Database.