Amaterasu facts for kids
Amaterasu (Japanese: 天照), also known as Amaterasu-ōmikami (Japanese: 天照大神), is a powerful goddess in Japanese mythology. She is the Sun Goddess and is considered the most sacred of all Shinto deities. Her name, Amaterasu, means "(that which) illuminates Heaven." Her most important shrine is located at Ise, a very special place in Japan.
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Family and Creation
Amaterasu has two important brothers. One is Susano'o, who is the god of the sea and storms. Her other brother is Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon.
All three of them were created by their father, Izanagi. This happened when Izanagi washed his face to clean himself after visiting Yomi, the underworld. Amaterasu was born when Izanagi washed his left eye. Tsukuyomi came from his right eye, and Susano'o was born when he washed his nose.
The Story of the Sun Goddess
The old tales tell of a big rivalry between Amaterasu and her brother Susano'o. When Susano'o was told by Izanagi that he had to leave Heaven forever, he decided to say goodbye to his sister.
The Challenge
Amaterasu was suspicious of Susano'o. She suggested a challenge: each of them would turn an object belonging to the other into new people. Amaterasu used Susano'o's sword and created three women. Susano'o, in turn, used Amaterasu's necklace and created five men. Amaterasu then said that the men were hers because they were born from her necklace.
Amaterasu Hides
Susano'o became very angry. He destroyed Amaterasu's rice fields. He also threw a dead pony into her loom, which was a sacred place. To make things worse, he even killed one of her assistants.
Because of this, Amaterasu became very sad, angry, and scared. She decided to hide inside Ama-no-Iwato, which means the "heavenly rock cave". When she hid, the Sun was hidden too, and the whole world became dark for a very long time. In the darkness, the Oni (which are like devils in Japanese mythology) came out. The other gods tried everything, but they could not make Amaterasu come out of the cave.
Bringing Back the Light
Then, a very clever goddess named Ama-no-Uzume (天宇受売命) had an idea. She was the goddess of happiness. She took a big bucket, turned it upside down near the cave entrance, and began to dance on it. She even started tearing off her clothing in front of the other Kami (gods). The other gods found this so funny that they laughed very loudly and happily.
Amaterasu heard all the laughter from inside her cave. She became curious and looked out to see why the gods were laughing so much. When she opened the cave a little, she saw her own beautiful reflection in a mirror that Uzume had placed on a nearby tree. Slowly, she came all the way out of the cave.
At that exact moment, the god Ameno-Tajikarao (天手力男命) quickly closed the cave behind her. This way, she could not go back inside. Another god then tied a magic rope across the entrance to keep it closed. The Kami Ame-no-Koyane (天児屋根命) asked the sun goddess to return with them. She agreed, and light came back to the earth. As for Susano'o, he was punished for his bad behavior by being banished from Heaven.
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Mythic Texts and Folktales: |
Images for kids
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Izanagi purifying himself (misogi) by immersing in the Tachibana River (Natori Shunsen)
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Susanoo throwing the heavenly horse into Amaterasu's loom
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Amaterasu emerges from the Heavenly Rock Cave (Shunsai Toshimasa, 1887)
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Artist's impression of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan
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Ninigi and his retinue at Mount Takachiho
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Yatagarasu the sun crow guiding Emperor Jimmu and his men towards the plain of Yamato
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Hibara Shrine at the foot of Mount Miwa in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture. The shrine is identified as the place where the Yata-no-Kagami and the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi were first enshrined after they were removed from the imperial palace.
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Hirota Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, where Amaterasu's aramitama is enshrined
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Amanoiwato Shrine (天岩戸神社)
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See also
In Spanish: Amaterasu para niños
