underworld; land of the dead
Archaic term from Japanese mythology, referring to the realm of the dead or the underworld, often associated with the god Susanoo. Not used in modern everyday language.
In the Kojiki, the land of the dead is sometimes identified with the underworld.
The term 根の国 (ne no kuni) is of ancient origin, appearing in early Japanese texts like the Kojiki. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is traditionally interpreted as the 'land of roots' or 'underworld' in Shinto mythology.