The Meaning of Misogi: Izanagi’s Purification and the Path to Renewal
Have you ever seen or heard about the ritual of washing your hands at a Japanese shrine?
This act is not simply about cleanliness or hygiene.
It is called temizu, and it is considered one form of misogi — a ritual of purification rooted in Japanese tradition.
Misogi is the practice of cleansing the body and the spirit, washing away what is known as kegare, or spiritual impurity.
But why is misogi performed at shrines?
And where did this idea of purification come from?
It all begins with the actions of a single god in Japanese mythology.
Let us explore together the story of this god’s misogi — a sacred ritual of purification — and trace how this divine act has continued to live on, shaping Japanese thought and practice even to this day.
The Birth of Misogi: Izanagi’s Purification
This is where the myth of misogi begins.
The central figure of this story is the creator god Izanagi-no-Mikoto.
Having endured the sorrow of losing his beloved wife Izanami-no-Mikoto, and having escaped from Yomi, the land of the dead, Izanagi finally returned to the world of the living.
Yet his journey was not over.
What awaited him next lay beyond the world he had just returned to.
Returning from Yomi: A God Marked by Death
Standing once more beneath the open sky, Izanagi felt it clearly.
His body and his soul were burdened by overwhelming kegare — the impurity that clung to him after his time among the dead.
“I cannot remain as I am.”
The world of the living lay before him, but the shadow of Yomi still followed at his heels.
Seeking a place to cleanse himself, Izanagi approached a river.
He looked toward the upper stream, where the water rushed violently over stone and earth.
“The flow is far too swift,” he said.
Then he turned his gaze downstream, where the water moved slowly and gently.
“The flow is far too calm,” he said.
Between these two extremes, Izanagi chose the middle course of the river.
Here, the ritual would begin.
Gods Born from Removal: Casting Away the Weight of Yomi
Before entering the water, Izanagi cast off the garments and ornaments he wore upon his body.
As each item fell away from him, new gods were born — one after another.
Then Izanagi stepped into the river.
As the water touched different parts of his body, still more gods came forth.
Fearsome deities embodying impurity emerged, followed by gods who corrected and purified them, and later by deities associated with the sea, seafaring, and protection on the waters.
From Izanagi’s movements, his breath, and the flowing water that surrounded him, gods continued to be born in succession.
With each act of cleansing, the boundary between death and life grew ever clearer.
From Izanagi-no-Mikoto to Izanagi-no-Ōkami
Once, Izanagi had required Izanami at his side in order to bring forth the gods.
But now, having faced loss, decay, and the darkness of Yomi — and having returned — he had changed.
Through hardship and purification, Izanagi-no-Mikoto became Izanagi-no-Ōkami, a great god capable of creation on his own.
This was something new.
At the very end of this long ritual of purification, the most radiant deities were born — Amaterasu Ōmikami, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, and Susanoo-no-Mikoto, known together as the Three Precious Children.
Through this ritual of misogi, Izanagi’s body and spirit were purified.
As if reborn, he stepped forward onto a new path of renewal — a journey that would shape all that followed.
Why Did Izanagi Perform Misogi?
How did you find the story of Izanagi’s misogi?
From here, let us take a closer look at the beliefs and cultural ideas hidden within this myth.
Impurity Born from Crossing the Boundary of Death
Why did Izanagi come to carry impurity upon himself?
In Japanese belief, anything that comes into contact with death is said to become kegare, or spiritually impure.
A person in such a state is thought to fall into disharmony — not only within the body and spirit, but also in relation to the surrounding world.
Izanagi’s impurity arose from a taboo he committed out of love.
Driven by grief, he attempted to reclaim his wife, who had died, by entering Yomi, the realm of the dead.
In doing so, he crossed a boundary that was never meant to be crossed.
Through this direct contact with death, Izanagi became kegare.
It was not an act of evil, but the result of disturbing the natural order that separates life from death.
Restoring Balance Through Purification
Izanagi is the creator god of the living world.
To return to his true nature, he first had to cleanse himself of the impurity that clung to him after his journey into death.
For this purpose, he performed the ritual of misogi.
In Japanese belief, misogi is a way to dispel kegare and restore harmony.
By purifying both the body and the spirit, one can return to a balanced and sacred state.
In the myth, Izanagi enters a river to perform this ritual.
Water was believed to possess the power to cleanse the body and soul, and to bring disturbed balance back into harmony.
By allowing water to wash over his entire being — body and spirit alike — Izanagi was able to release the impurity he carried.
Through this act, he could return to his original state and move forward into a new phase of renewal.
The story of Izanagi’s misogi portrays a powerful moment in Japanese mythology: the opening of a new path, where disharmony gives way to rebirth, and rebirth leads once more to creation.
Why the Middle of the River Matters
There is a curious moment in the story of Izanagi’s misogi.
He looked to the upper and lower parts of the river, and then chose the middle.
This detail may seem small, but it carries a deeper symbolic meaning.
Let us explore why Izanagi chose the middle of the river.
The Idea of Naka-Ima: The Sacredness of “Now”
The flow of the river in this myth can be read as a metaphor for the flow of time.
If the upper stream represents the past, the lower stream the future, and the middle of the river the present moment, then Izanagi’s choice becomes clear.
By choosing the middle of the river, Izanagi chose the present.
In Japanese belief, there is a concept known as naka-ima, which means “the middle now.”
It expresses the idea that neither the past nor the future is more important than the present — rather, now is the most vital point in time.
Why is the present considered so important?
Because creation, renewal, and action can only take place in the present moment.
The past has already passed, and the future has not yet arrived.
Only now holds the power to shape what comes next.
Living in the Present: Responsibility and Renewal
The idea of naka-ima also carries a sense of responsibility.
It teaches that we live in the present not only for ourselves, but for the generations that came before us and those that will follow after.
By valuing the present and living fully within it, harmony can be carried forward through time.
By stepping into the middle of the river, Izanagi placed himself within this living present.
And there, in that vibrant “now,” he performed misogi with all his being — a purification carried out for the sake of renewal and creation, possible only in that moment.
Gods Born Through Purification: From Disorder to Creation
During the ritual of misogi, Izanagi gave birth to many gods, one after another.
In this section, we will take a closer look at the gradual stages of purification and the changing nature of the deities born along the way, leading up to the birth of the Three Precious Children.
Preparing the Sacred Space: Purification Before the Water
In the myth, Izanagi removes the garments and ornaments he is wearing before entering the river.
From these items, twelve gods are said to have been born.
Some of the roles attributed to these deities include the following:
- Preventing the intrusion of harmful or malevolent forces
- Carrying impurity and misfortune away into the sea
- Purifying pollution found along the shoreline and the edge of the water
Why were such gods born before the ritual of misogi began?
One way to understand this is to see these deities as guardians of the ritual space.
Born from the items Izanagi removed from his body, they worked to prepare and protect the space, allowing misogi to be performed in a safe and sacred state.
In this sense, misogi does not begin with water alone.
It begins with the creation of a sacred space, carefully separated from impurity and ready for renewal.
Note:
Although Izanagi performs misogi in a river, some of the gods born at this stage are connected to the sea.
This reflects a traditional view of purification in which what is washed away in a river ultimately flows into the sea.
The First Gods: Born from Residual Impurity
As Izanagi entered the river, fearsome gods were born — remnants of the impurity carried back from Yomi.
These deities represent the impurity carried within Izanagi finally coming to the surface.
Soon after, another group of gods was born — deities whose role was to correct and restore balance.
These gods purified the impure deities that emerged moments earlier, guiding the disorder back toward harmony.
Through this sequence, the myth expresses the gradual disappearance of impurity.
Rather than vanishing all at once, kegare is first exposed, then cleansed, and finally released.
From Purification to Creation: Gods of the Sea and Safe Passage
As Izanagi continued to purify himself in the water, new gods were born — this time connected to the sea, seafaring, and the safety of ocean journeys.
These deities are traditionally regarded as benevolent guardians, especially for sailors and those who travel by sea.
Their presence marks a clear shift in the ritual.
By this point, Izanagi is no longer a god burdened by impurity and disorder.
The gods born at this stage no longer reflect lingering imbalance, but instead embody stability, protection, and the power to support life and movement.
Through this progression, the myth shows that disorder has been resolved and balance restored.
Izanagi is no longer weighed down by impurity, and his power as a creator god begins to re-emerge.
The Final Birth: Creation Fully Restored
In the final stage of the ritual, Izanagi gives birth to the Three Precious Children.
At this moment, misogi can be understood as complete.
The Three Precious Children are regarded as the most noble of all deities — the supreme creations of Izanagi himself.
Their birth signifies not merely the end of purification, but the full restoration of Izanagi’s divine creative power.
By bringing forth such exalted gods, Izanagi does more than return to his former state.
He emerges with renewed confidence as a perfect creator god, having passed through purification, restoration, and rebirth.
Seen in this way, misogi is not a single act, but a process.
It begins with the preparation of sacred space, moves through the release and correction of impurity, and culminates in new creation.
The nature of each god born along the way reflects a different stage of this journey — from disorder, to balance, and finally to the highest form of divine creation.
From Myth to Practice: Misogi in Everyday Japan
We have now traced the story of Izanagi’s misogi and the ideas it represents.
Yet misogi is not something that belongs only to the world of myth.
Its presence can still be felt in many aspects of everyday life in Japan.
Let us explore how the spirit of misogi quietly remains part of daily customs and practices.
Temizu: Purification Before Entering the Sacred
One of the most familiar expressions of misogi in Japan is temizu, the ritual performed at Shinto shrines.
Before approaching the main hall, visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths at a place called the temizuya.
This practice is not carried out simply for reasons of hygiene, but is rooted in the belief that one should cleanse both body and spirit before entering a sacred space.
In earlier times, people performed misogi in nearby rivers, much like Izanagi did in the myth.
Over time, this custom gradually evolved into the simpler act of temizu.
Through temizu, worshippers draw a boundary between the outside world and the sacred space of the shrine, preparing themselves to step across the boundary in a pure and respectful state.
Salt and the Sea: Cleansing After Contact with Death
Another custom connected to misogi appears after funerals.
In Japan, people who attend a funeral are often given a small packet of salt.
Before entering their home, they sprinkle the salt over their body.
This practice is rooted in the belief that contact with death brings about kegare, or spiritual impurity.
Salt, which comes from the sea, is believed to possess purifying power.
It is thought to cleanse impurity and restore balance after the disruption caused by contact with death.
In this way, misogi continues to function in everyday life as a means of marking boundaries.
Through purification, the extraordinary experience of death is separated from ordinary daily life, allowing harmony to be gently restored.
“Letting It Flow”: Misogi as a Way of Thinking
The influence of misogi can also be found in everyday Japanese language.
The expression mizu ni nagasu, which means “to let it flow away,” is commonly used when past conflicts, resentment, or troubles are set aside and forgiven.
Rather than holding on to what went wrong, the phrase suggests releasing it — choosing not to dwell on blame, but to move forward.
This way of thinking does not deny negative experiences.
Instead, it encourages letting them go, allowing reconciliation to take place.
Just as water carries impurity away in the myth of Izanagi, water in this expression symbolizes the act of releasing emotional burdens in everyday life.
Through this release, harmony is restored, and the balance of relationships can return.
In this way, many customs and cultural practices in Japan can be traced back to the myth of Izanagi’s misogi.
Over time, they have become woven into the gestures, customs, and daily rhythms of Japanese life — living on not as distant stories of the gods, but as practices and ways of being that continue to shape the present.
Conclusion: Misogi as a Living Path of Renewal
The story of Izanagi’s misogi is widely known in Japanese mythology as the dramatic episode that leads to the birth of the Three Precious Children.
Yet, as we have seen, this is not simply a tale about a god creating other gods long ago.
Misogi unfolds as a journey.
It begins with preparation and separation, moves through the release and purification of impurity, and ultimately leads to renewal and creation.
The gods born along the way reflect different stages of this process, illustrating how chaos is gradually transformed into harmony.
Even today, traditions rooted in misogi continue to shape Japanese life.
They influence how sacred spaces are entered, how contact with death is purified, and how emotional burdens are released in everyday experience.
Through water, salt, and even language itself, the spirit of misogi still quietly lives within Japanese culture.
Seen in this light, misogi is not about erasing what has passed.
It is about acknowledging imbalance, accepting it, restoring harmony, and allowing life to move forward again.
From the age of the gods to the rhythms of daily life, the path of misogi continues — not as a distant legend, but as a living tradition of renewal.