Ōkuninushi

Ōkuninushi is a central kami (deity) in Japanese mythology, one of the principal figures recorded in the ancient chronicles Kojiki (c. 712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE). His name means "master of the great country" — derived from the Japanese elements 大 (ō) meaning "big, great", 国 (kuni) meaning "country, land", and 主 (nushi) meaning "master". He is also known by several variant names, such as Ōnamuchi and Ōnamochi.

Mythological Role

Ōkuninushi is depicted as the head of the kunitsukami (gods of the earth) and the original divine ruler of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (the Central Land of Reed Plains) — the mythical terrestrial world. He is often associated with the storm god Susanoo, who is considered either his distant ancestor or his father, depending on the textual tradition. In one major myth cycle, Ōkuninushi heroically rescues a dying hare (the Hare of Inaba), foreshadowing his eventual marriage and rise to power.

The Kuni-yuzuri Episode

A defining event in Ōkuninushi's story is the kuni-yuzuri ("transfer of the land"). The amatsukami (heavenly deities), led by the sun goddess Amaterasu, demanded that Ōkuninushi cede his authority over the earthly realm. After negotiation — sometimes depicted as beginning with a threat from the heavenly deity Takemikazuchi — Ōkuninushi agreed to step down, provided that a grand palace be built for him. He then withdrew to the kakuriyo (the unseen or hidden world), which was given to him as his domain. This transfer paved the way for the descent of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, Amaterasu's grandson, to rule over Japan – establishing the mythical foundation for the imperial line.

Cultural Significance

Ōkuninushi is revered as a kami of nation-building, medicine, marriage, and commerce. He is enshrined at several prominent Shinto shrines, including the Ōkuninushi Shrine in Shimane Prefecture (part of the Izumo Taisha complex) and numerous Ōguni or Daimyōjin shrines across Japan. Many followers pray to him for auspicious marriages and earthly prosperity. In his role as the ruler of the unseen world, he also oversees spirits and the afterlife in some traditions.

• Meaning: "master of the great country"
• Origin: Japanese mythology (Kojiki, Nihon Shoki)
• Type: Kami (deity)
• Usage Regions: Japan