The Land-Pulling Myth: How a God Built Izumo

When travelers think of Japanese mythology, they often recall the creation story of Izanagi and Izanami dipping a spear into the ocean to create the islands of Japan. However, in the mystic region of Izumo (modern-day Shimane Prefecture), there exists a different, bolder legend: the Kunibiki Shinwa, or the “Land-Pulling Myth.” This tale does not speak of birthing land, but of seizing it with brute strength and ropes, offering a fascinating glimpse into the geological and cultural history of Western Japan.

Origins: A Tale from the Fudoki

Unlike the mainstream Japanese myths recorded in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) or the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), the Land-Pulling Myth is unique to the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki. Compiled in 733 AD, the Fudoki were regional gazetteers commissioned by the imperial court to record local culture, geography, and oral traditions.

While most Fudoki from other provinces have been lost to time or exist only in fragments, the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki remains almost entirely intact. It presents a worldview where the local gods of Izumo were powerful, independent shapers of the earth, distinct from the Yamato court’s pantheon. The Kunibiki myth is the opening masterpiece of this ancient text, explaining how the Shimane Peninsula came to be.

The Legend of Kunibiki

The protagonist of this colossal engineering feat is the god Yatsukamizu-omitsunu-no-mikoto. According to the legend, this powerful deity looked out over the land of Izumo and sighed, realizing the region was merely a “strip of young cloth”—far too small and narrow to be a proper country.

The Great Tug-of-War

Determined to expand his domain, Yatsukamizu-omitsunu looked across the sea toward distant lands. He spotted excess land in Silla (ancient Korea) and other regions to the north.

The god took a massive hoe and hacked off pieces of these foreign lands. He then cast a thick rope around them and, with the mighty chant of “Kuniko! Kuniko!” (Come land! Come land!), he hauled them across the Sea of Japan. He stitched these new pieces onto the existing coast of Izumo.

The legend states he performed this feat four times, pulling land from:

1. Silla (Korea)
2. Sada (likely nearby islands)
3. Kurami (likely the Oki Islands)
4. Koshi (likely the Noto Peninsula area)

Once the lands were sewn together to form the Shimane Peninsula, the god drove two massive stakes into the earth to hold the ropes in place. The ropes transformed into the long sandy beaches we see today, and the stakes became towering mountains.

Echoes in Modern Culture and Geography

What makes the Kunibiki Shinwa so compelling for modern visitors is how perfectly it maps to the actual geography of Shimane. The myth serves as an ancient geological explanation for the landscape.

The “ropes” used by the god are identified as Yumigahama Peninsula and Inasa Beach, which are long, bowing sandbars connecting the mainland to the pulled land. The “stakes” used to secure the ropes are Mt. Daisen in Tottori Prefecture and Mt. Sanbe in Shimane Prefecture.

Today, this myth is central to the identity of the Shimane Peninsula Geopark. It highlights the region’s connection to the Asian mainland and explains the rugged, distinct topography that separates Izumo from the rest of Honshu. Cultural festivals often mimic the “Kuniko” chant, celebrating the strength and industry of their local deity.

Traveler’s Tips: Walking the Myth

If you want to experience the Land-Pulling Myth firsthand, here is an itinerary for the culturally curious traveler:

• Mt. Sanbe: Visit this dormant volcano, known in the myth as the western stake (Sahime-yama). It offers excellent hiking trails and a ropeway with panoramic views of the land that was “pulled” together.
• Yumigahama Peninsula: Walk along this massive sandbar representing the eastern rope. It provides a stunning view of Mt. Daisen (the eastern stake) rising in the distance.
• Inasa Beach: Located near the famous Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, this beach is where the gods are said to arrive for their annual meeting. It is also part of the western “rope” landscape.
• Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo: Located next to the Grand Shrine, this museum houses excellent exhibits on the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki and explains the Kunibiki myth with visual aids and artifacts.

Sources & Further Reading

• Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (733 AD): The primary source of the myth, offering the most detailed regional records of ancient Japan.
• Kojiki (712 AD): While it focuses on the Yamato creation myths, it provides context for the broader pantheon of Japanese gods.
• Shimane Peninsula and Shinji-ko Naka-umi Geopark: Official geological surveys and tourist information linking the myth to the physical landscape.