Amaterasu (2024)

"There is not a single country in the world

which does not receive her beneficent illuminations

This Goddess is the splendor of all splendors."

―Hymn to Amaterasu by Motoori Norinaga

Amaterasu, also known as Amaterasu Ōmikami, is the chief deity of the Shinto Pantheon. She is the goddess of the sun and is considered one of the most important figures in Japanese spiritual life.

Overview[]

Amaterasu is revered as a ruler of the heavenly realm Takamagahara and is considered the mythical ancestress of the Imperial House of Japan through her grandson Ninigi. Alongside her siblings—the moon deity Tsukuyomi and the storm god Susanoo—she forms the "Three Precious Children", the greatest offspring of the creator god Izanagi.

As the central deity in Shinto beliefs, Amaterasu holds great significance, particularly for the Japanese imperial family, who trace their lineage to her. This ancestral connection historically conferred legitimacy upon their authority to rule. The Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan's most sacred Shinto sites, venerates her and houses the mirror from the cave myth, one of Japan's three Imperial Treasures.

Description[]

Amaterasu is commonly portrayed as a luminous figure symbolizing light and the sun. Her iconic symbols include the mirror, representing wisdom, as well as the jewels and sword that form part of Japan's Imperial Regalia. In artistic representations, she is often accompanied by roosters, heralds of the dawn, and the raven, traditionally seen as her messenger.

The goddess also dwells alongside several maidens, where they weave the most beautiful divine garments for the other deities in a sacred hall.

History[]

Birth[]

Amaterasu, along with her brothers Tsukuyomi and Susanoo, were born after Izanagi visited the plain of Wagihara near the river-mouth of Tachibana in Himuka on the island of Tsukushi. Izanagi bathed in the river to purify himself after an unsuccessful attempt to rescue his deceased wife, Izanami, from the underworld, Yomi. Amaterasu emerged when Izanagi washed his left eye, Tsukuyomi when he washed his right, and Susanoo when he washed his nose. Pleased with his last 3 offspring, Izanagi called them the "Three Precious Children" and assigned Amaterasu to rule over Takamagahara, Tsukuyomi over the night, and Susanoo over the seas.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi[]

It is said that Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were once close, possibly even married. They were often seen together, and during those times, one could look up to the sky and see the sun and the moon shining simultaneously, blurring the distinction between day and night. But all of this changed when Amaterasu was invited to a banquet in Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni by the food deity Ukemochi. As she could not attend, she asked Tsukuyomi to attend in her place.

At the banquet, Ukemochi presented foodstuffs by vomiting them out, which deeply offended Tsukuyomi. In his disgust, he slew Ukemochi and returned to Takamagahara. This act horrifed Amaterasu, who labelled Tsukuyomi an evil deity and proceeded to split away from him, thus separating night from day.

Amaterasu then sent another god, Ame-no-Kumahito, who found various food crops and animals emerging from Ukemochi's remains. Amaterasu had the grains collected and sown for humanity's benefit, and she reeled silk thread from the silkworms found there. This event marked the beginning of agriculture and sericulture.

Amaterasu and Susanoo[]

When Susanoo, the youngest of the 3 divine siblings, was expelled by his father Izanagi due to his troublesome behavior and constant lamentations over his deceased mother, Izanami, he first visited Takamagahara to bid farewell to Amaterasu. A wary Amaterasu greeted him dressed in male attire and armor. Susanoo proposed a trial by pledge ukehi to demonstrate his sincerity. In this ritual, each deity chewed and spat out an object carried by the other. As a result, 5 gods and 3 goddesses were born. Amaterasu adopted the males as her sons, while the females, who later became known as the three Munakata goddesses, and were given to Susanoo.

Susanoo, proclaiming victory in the trial by producing deities of the required gender, then "raged with triumph" and proceeded to cause chaos. He destroyed his sister's rice fields and desecrated her palace by defecating within it. Initially tolerant of Susanoo's behavior, Amaterasu's patience wore thin as his "misdeeds did not cease, but grew even more outrageous." One day, he pierced the roof of Amaterasu's weaving hall and threw in the "heavenly piebald horse," which he had flayed alive. This act startled one of Amaterasu's weaving maidens, who accidentally killed herself with a weaving shuttle. Enraged by this tragedy, Amaterasu retreated into the Ame-no-Iwayato, plunging Heaven and Earth into total darkness.

The Heavenly Rock Cave[]

After Amaterasu retreated into the cave, the Shinto deities, led by Omoikane, the deity of wisdom, devised a plan to coax her out. They uprooted a sakaki tree and adorned its branches with magatama beads, white and blue cloth, and a large mirror known as the Yata-no-Kagami. Futotama-no-Mikoto solemnly presented these offerings, while Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto chanted a sacred liturgy.

Ame-no-Uzume then overturned a tub near the cave entrance and performed a wild, comical dance, even tearing off her clothing. Her antics amused the other gods, who burst out laughing. Curious about the commotion, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave. Spotting her reflection in the strategically placed mirror, she mistook it for another deity and approached closer to investigate.

Seizing the opportunity, Ame-no-Tajikarao swiftly grabbed Amaterasu's hand and pulled her out of the cave. To prevent her from retreating back inside, the entrance was sealed with a shimenawa. Thus, light returned to the world.

As punishment for his disruptive behavior, Susanoo was banished from Takamagahara by the other gods. Descending to Eartg, he arrived in Izumo, where he slew the monstrous serpent Yamata no Orochi to rescue the goddess Kushinadahime, whom he later espoused. From the serpent's remains, Susanoo discovered the sword Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, which he presented to Amaterasu as a gesture of reconciliation.

Subjugation of Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni[]

After a while, Amaterasu and the Kotoamatsukami Takamimusubi decided that Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, ruled by Ōkuninushi, needed to be brought under the authority of their descendants. They claimed that the land was filled with many powerful deities, some good like fireflies and others malevolent like buzzing flies. Amaterasu chose her eldest son, Ame-no-Oshihomimi, born during her contest with Susanoo, to establish rule there. However, upon surveying the chaotic land, he refused to proceed further.

Following the advice of Omoikane and the other deities, Amaterasu then sent another son, Ame no Hohi. Instead of reporting back, Ame no Hohi sought favor with Ōkuninushi and refused to report back for 3 years. Frustrated, the heavenly deities sent a third messenger, Ame-no-Wakahiko. He too sided with Ōkuninushi and married his daughter sh*tateruhime.

After 8 years, a female pheasant named Nakime was sent to question Ame-no-Wakahiko. He responded by shooting and killing her with his bow and arrow. The bloody arrow flew directly to Takamagahara at the feet of Amaterasu and Takamimusubi. Angered, the 2 deities threw it back to Earth with a curse, striking Ame-no-Wakahiko and ending his life while he was asleep.

With all the past messnegers having failed, the Shinto deities finally sent the warriors Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi to confront Ōkuninushi. At the advice of his son Kotoshironushi, Ōkuninushi agreed to step down and departed the physical realm to govern the unseen spirit world. Futsunushi and Takemikazuchi then traveled across Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni, slaying those who resisted and rewarding those who submitted, before returning to Heaven.

After pacifying the earth, Amaterasu and Takamimusubi instructed Ame-no-Oshihomimi to descend and rule it. However, he deferred and proposed sending his son Ninigi instead. The proposition was accepted and Amaterasu gifted Ninigi with Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, along with the mirror Yata-no-Kagami, and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama. Accompanied by 5 gods, Ninigi descended to Mount Takachiho in Himuka and established his palace there. Thus, he became the ancestor of all Japanese emperors and the sword, mirror, and jewel became the imperial house's 3 sacred treasures. As for the 5 deities who descended with him—Ame-no-Koyane, Futodama, Ame-no-Uzume, Ishikoridome, and Tamanoya—they became ancestors of the clans involved in court ceremonies like the Nakatomi and Inbe.

Emperor Jimmu and the Yatagarasu[]

Many years later, Ninigi's great-grandson, Kamuyamato-Iwarebiko (later known as Emperor Jimmu), along with his elder brother Itsuse, left Himuka in search of a new home. As they journeyed eastward, they encountered local gods and tribes who either submitted or resisted. During a battle against chieftain Nagasunehiko, Itsuse died from wounds sustained, prompting Iwarebiko to retreat to Kumano in the southern Kii Peninsula.

While in Kumano, Iwarebiko and his army fell into a deep sleep under the enchantment of a giant bear-shaped deity. In that moment, a local named Takakuraji dreamt of Amaterasu and Takamimusubi commanding the god Takemikazuchi to aid Iwarebiko. Takemikazuchi then placed his sword, Futsu-no-Mitama, in Takakuraji's storehouse, instructing him to give it to Iwarebiko. When Takakuraji discovered the sword upon waking, he promptly delivered it to Iwarebiko.

The Futsu-no-Mitama sword's magical power swiftly defeated the evil deities in the region and woke Iwarebiko and his men from their sleep. They resumed their journey but became stranded in the mountains. Amaterasu then appeared to Iwarebiko in a dream, promising to send the giant crow Yatagarasu to guide them. True to her word, Yatagarasu appeared and safely led Iwarebiko and his men to their destination.

Eventually, Iwarebiko reached the land of Yamato and defeated Nagasunehiko, avenging his brother Itsuse. He then established his palace-capital at Kashihara and ruled there.

Enshrinement in Ise[]

During Emperor Suinin's reign, custody of the sacred treasures passed from Toyosukiirihime to Suinin's daughter, Yamatohime. She took them from "Sasahata in Uda" east of Miwa, north to Ōmi, then east to Mino, and finally south to Ise. There, she received a divine revelation from Amaterasu:

"In the province of Ise, where the divine wind blows, the waves from the eternal world converge. It is a serene and pleasant land where I desire to dwell."

Following Amaterasu's guidance, a shrine was built for her in Ise. An Abstinence Palace, known as the palace of Iso, was constructed at Kaha-kami in Isuzu, where Amaterasu no Oho-kami first descended from Heaven.

Empress Jingū and Amaterasu's Aramitama[]

At one point, Tsukisakaki Izu no Mitama Amazakaru Mukatsuhime no Mikoto, the 'violent spirit' of Amaterasu, possessed Empress Jingū along with Kotoshironushi and the three deities of Sumie: Uwatsutsunoo, Nakatsutsunoo, and Sokotsutsunoo. They informed Emperor Chūai of a land rich in treasure across the sea, ripe for conquest. When Chūai doubted their words and accused them of deceit, the deities cursed him, declaring that he would meet his death "without possessing this land."

After Chūai's death, Jingū performed divination to identify the deities who had spoken to her husband. Upon their identification, she worshiped them according to their instructions and set out to conquer the promised land across the sea: the 3 kingdoms of Korea.

Upon her victorious return to Japan, Jingū enshrined the deities in locations of their choosing. Amaterasu, cautioning Jingū not to take her aramitama to the capital, instructed her to install it in Hirota, the harbor where the empress had disembarked.

Powers and Abilities[]

As the chief deity of the Shinto Pantheon, Amaterasu is an immensely powerful and revered goddess. Known as the Great August Kami Who Shines in the Heavens, she holds significant power over light. She is also a skilled weaver, as she created the exquisite garments worn by the gods and the armor she used to disguise herself as a male in order to deceive Susanoo.

Amaterasu wields a degree of control over reality, demonstrated when she had grains collected and sown for humanity and reeled thread from silkworms placed in her mouth, marking the beginning of agriculture and sericulture. She can also transform into a snake, an embodiment of the "three poisons": greed, anger, and ignorance.

Additionally, Amaterasu has prophetic abilities, as evidenced by her instruction to Yamato-hime no Mikoto to erect a shrine for her in Ise, where she first descended from Heaven. Despite her generally benevolent nature, Amaterasu is still capable of inflicting curses, having once thrown a blood-stained arrow back to Earth with a killing curse and, through her violent spirit Tsukisakaki Izu no Mitama Amazakaru Mukatsuhime no Mikoto, condemned Chūai to die "without possessing this land."

Weaknesses[]

Amaterasu possess all the standard weaknesses of a deity.