Myths from Norito

The tenth-century Engishiki includes the texts of several norito, formal Shinto prayers. Some of these norito recount myths in the course of the prayer, and while these myths are recognisably versions of legends found in the Kojiki and Nihonshoki, they differ in important ways. This essay provides English paraphrases of the relevant parts of the norito, with a commentary on their relationship to the other surviving versions of the myths.

Torii image © Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.