According to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, when Amaterasu and Susanoo performed the ukei oath at the Heavenly River, Amaterasu chewed and shattered Susanoo's totsuka-no-tsurugi sword, and from the mist of her breath the three Munakata goddesses — Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime, and Ichikishimahime — were born. Amaterasu commanded the three: 'You three goddesses shall descend along the route, assist the heavenly grandchild, and be worshipped for his sake.' She thus had them descend to Munakata. This is the foundational myth of Munakata Taisha, situated at the core of imperial ritual.

In the ukei oath at the Heavenly River, the three Munakata goddesses are said to have been born from Susanoo's totsuka-no-tsurugi sword, positioning him as their father (or parent) deity. Susanoo's divine character governing oceans, navigation, and storms was intimately linked to the Munakata goddesses' role as guardians of navigation on the Genkai Sea, forming the core of ancient sea-deity worship.

Munakata Ujisada (1545-1586) was the 79th and last hereditary Daiguji of the Munakata clan. Also a local lord ruling Munakata District during the Sengoku period, he protected his territory and the shrine while caught between the Otomo and Mori clans. After his death without an heir, the Munakata clan ended and the Daiguji office's hereditary system terminated. He stands as the final guardian of medieval Munakata devotion.