---
title: Kagutsuchi
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Kagutsuchi/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2026-01-06
---
# Kagutsuchi
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Kagutsuchi (aka Hi-no-Kagutsuchi) is the [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) or *[kami](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kami/)* of fire and is also known as Homusubi. The son of [Izanami and Izanagi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Izanami_and_Izanagi/), the fire god is the father of eight warrior gods and eight mountain gods, amongst others. Such a destructive force as fire in a [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) where buildings were typically made of wood and paper resulted in Kagutsuchi becoming an important object of Shinto ritual and a frequent receiver of appeasing offerings.
### Genealogy & Offspring
According to the 8th-century CE *[Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/)* ('Record of Ancient Things') and *Nikon Shoki* ('Chronicle of [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/)' and also known as the *Nihongi*), Kagutsuchi-no-kami, to give his full name, was born from Izanami, one of the Shinto creator gods, but such was his fierce heat that he killed his mother in the process. His father Izanagi was not best pleased with this result and so lopped off Kagutsuchi's head with his great sword, the Ame-no-o-habari-no-kami. From the blood which gushed out over the surrounding rocks and dripped from the sword's blade and hilt another eight gods were born, all of them powerful swordsmen *kami*. The two most important of these martial gods are Takemikazuchi-no-kami and Futsunushi-no-kami, with the former being also a thunder god and patron of the martial arts who famously subdued [Namazu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Namazu/) the [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/) catfish that lives beneath the earth and causes earthquakes by flipping his tail.
Two other gods born from Kagutsuchi's blood were Kuraokami-no-kami, who is mentioned in the *[Manyoshu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Manyoshu/)* poem anthology (compiled c. 759 CE) as being a dragon and rain god. Another is Amatsumikaboshi, the *kami* of [Venus](https://www.worldhistory.org/venus/), the Evening Star. Her alternative name is Amenokagasewo.
After Kagutsuchi's decapitation the story continues and from just about every body part of the fire god, from his left foot to his genitals, eight more gods were born. These were mountain gods which represented different types of mountains such as forested ones, those with moors, those far away, those possessing iron, those which provided passes to adjoining valleys and, of course, volcanoes. The stories of Kagutsuchi which include the creation of iron and swords may well be a mythological explanation for the arrival of iron and superior metal goods via immigrants arriving in Japan from mainland Asia at the beginning of the [Yayoi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Yayoi_Period/) Period (c. 300 BCE or earlier to c. 250 CE), many of whom may well have been warriors.
In an alternative version, or rather an added segment, recorded in the 10th-century CE *Engishiki*, before she dies Izanami hides away and gives birth to three more gods: the water *kami* Mizuhame-no-mikoto, the clay princess, the gourd, and the water reed. All four are instructed by their dying mother to watch out for Kagutsuchi and, if necessary, act to pacify him if he ever gets out of hand. The traditional fire-fighting equipment of the ancient Japanese was water, carried in a gourd, to pour on the fire while water reeds and clay were often used to smother it. Even today in some parts of Japan, there is a midwinter ritual where reed bundles are placed in the eaves of roofs so that they are handy if a fire should break out.
### Fire in Shinto Rituals
The Japanese have long since had a [great fear](https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Fear/) of fire and the devastation it can cause, not least because Japanese buildings were traditionally made from highly combustible wood and paper walls with wood shale or grass roofs. Fires have destroyed almost every major ancient building and [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) in the ancient [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Japan over the centuries, and during the [Edo period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Edo_Period/) (1603-1868 CE), fires were so frequent at the capital Edo (modern Tokyo) that they were known as 'the flowers of Edo'.
It is not surprising then that ceremonies to appease and ward off Kagutsuchi were a common feature of Shinto ritual. In such rituals and prayers, Kagutsuchi is usually referred to as Homusubi, which translates as 'he who starts fires'. The ancient Japanese even dedicated a twice yearly ceremony to Kagutsuchi, the *Ho-shizume-no-matsuri*, which was sponsored by the imperial court whose sprawling [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) complexes were frequently victim to fires. The ceremony was designed to please the god and ensure he would withhold his terrible flames for another six months. The destructive fire of Kagutsuchi is in contrast to the purifying fire of Shinto rituals, known as *kiri-bi*, which was traditionally made by rubbing together two pieces of *hinoki* wood, a type of cypress.
Kagutsuchi is sometimes equated with Atago Gongen, another *kami* of fire and considered an avatar of the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) figure Jizo. Strictly speaking, though, Atago Gongen is a more positive figure in Japanese [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) and acts as a protector from fire or a preserver of it.
This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu).
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Anonymous. *Kojiki.* Princeton University Press, 2015.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0691622078/)
- [Ashkenazi, M. *Handbook of Japanese Mythology.* Oxford University Press, 2008.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195332628/)
- [Hackin, J. *Asiatic Mythology.* Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1963.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B000HTLNIC/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **712 CE**: The [Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/) is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
- **720 CE**: The [Nihon Shoki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nihon_Shoki/) is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2017, June 27). Kagutsuchi. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Kagutsuchi." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 27, 2017. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Kagutsuchi." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Jun 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 27 June 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.