Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Oyashima

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Oyashima

大八州
alternative words: Ooyashima, Oh yashima, 8 major islands, 8 main islands
keywords: mythology
related topics: Nihonshoki , Izumo dynasty , Izanagi Izanami
explanation: 8 major islands to which the gods Izanagi Izanam gave first birth, i.e. Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Owaji, Oki, Tsushima, Iki, Sado. All the major islands in "Japan sea" being present while none of islands in "Pacific ocean", it corroborates that Izanami Izanagi legend should have been created by Izumo dynasty. Nihonshoki cites different versions on the appearance order (some sources added even Korean lands), but it is always Awaji island which appears first.