Amaterasu

Amaterasu Ōmikami, often called Amaterasu, is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. She is a very important god in the Shinto religion and is believed to be the main deity in the Shinto pantheon. According to Japan's oldest books, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, Amaterasu ruled the heavenly world Takamagahara and is the legendary ancestor of the Imperial House of Japan. She is connected to her grandson Ninigi.

Amaterasu is worshipped mainly at the Grand Shrine of Ise in Ise, Mie Prefecture. This shrine is one of the most sacred places in Shinto, and many people visit it. Like other important gods in Shinto, Amaterasu is also honored in many other shrines across Japan. She was born to the creator god Izanagi and is one of the "Three Precious Children," along with her siblings Tsukuyomi, the moon god, and Susanoo, the storm god.

Name

The goddess is known as Amaterasu Ōmikami. In old stories called the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, she has other names too, like Ōhirume-no-Muchi and Amaterasu Ō(mi)kami.

The name Amaterasu means "to shine in the sky." It is part of a longer name that means "the great and bright goddess who shines in heaven." This helps us understand her better.

She is also called Ōhirume, which means "great woman of the sun" or "great spirit woman." She is the ancestor of Japan’s imperial family and is sometimes called Sume(ra)-Ō(mi)kami, meaning "great imperial deity."

Mythology

In classical mythology

The Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki tell the story of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. She is the daughter of the god Izanagi. She has two siblings: Tsukuyomi, the moon god, and Susanoo, the storm god. Together, they are called the "Three Precious Children," the most important children of Izanagi.

There are different stories about how Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo were born. In one story, they were born when Izanagi washed his eyes after visiting a dark place. Amaterasu came from his left eye, Tsukuyomi from his right eye, and Susanoo from his nose. Izanagi made Amaterasu the ruler of the heavenly realm called Takamagahara. He gave Tsukuyomi charge of the night, and Susanoo control over the seas.

Amaterasu and Susanoo had a difficult relationship. Susanoo caused trouble and destroyed Amaterasu's rice fields. He also scared one of her helpers, and she hid inside a cave called Ame-no-Iwayato. This left the world in darkness. The other gods worked hard to bring her out. They used music, dancing, and a shiny mirror. When Amaterasu peeked out to see her reflection, the gods pulled her out, and light returned to the world.

Later, Amaterasu sent messengers to earth, and her grandson Ninigi became the ancestor of the emperors of Japan. Amaterasu gave him important treasures: a mirror, a jewel, and a sword. These became sacred symbols of the imperial family.

Family

Amaterasu is an important goddess in Japanese myths. She is the goddess of the sun and a main deity in Shinto beliefs. She is one of three children born to the god Izanagi, with her siblings Susanoo and Tsukuyomi.

Amaterasu is described as a goddess who does not have any romantic relationships. Some stories mention Tsukuyomi as her husband. She is said to have several children, including Ame-no-oshihomimi, Ame no Hohi, Amatsuhikone, Ikutsuhikone, and Kumanokusubi. Many noble families, including the Japanese imperial family, trace their ancestry back to Amaterasu. Her son Ame no Hohi is linked to several clans and a famous sumo wrestler from history.

Further information: Family tree of Japanese deities

Family tree

Consorts

Siblings

Amaterasu has several siblings, most well-known are Susanoo and Tsukiyomi. Some stories also mention a sister named Wakahirume. Other traditions speak of an older brother named Hiruko.

Descendants

Worship

Shrines

The Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan, is a special place for the goddess Amaterasu. It holds a sacred mirror, which is very important in Japan's history. Every twenty years, a big ceremony happens here to honor many gods. New buildings are made, and after special rituals, the old buildings are taken apart and their materials are used to fix other shrines.

Another shrine for Amaterasu is the Amanoiwato Shrine in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture. It is located above a gorge that contains Ama-no-Iwato.

Differences in worship

Amaterasu is mainly the goddess of the sun, but she is also sometimes linked to wind, typhoons, and ideas about nature and cycles like day and night. Old stories say she helped create the islands of Japan with her siblings Susanoo and Tsukuyomi.

Other worshiped forms

Some stories say Amaterasu was once thought to be connected to snakes. There are legends about her appearing as a snake or lizard. Other tales link her to dragons and even a special animal called a "dragon-fox" that shines with light. These ideas come from old plays and traditions.

In Japanese Buddhism

In Japanese Buddhism, Amaterasu was seen as one of many spiritual beings. She was thought to be a special form of a Buddha, and her shape changed in different Buddhist teachings. This idea helped Buddhist thinkers include the sun goddess in their view of the universe.

In special Buddhist traditions like Tendai and Shingon, Amaterasu was often linked with Dainichi Nyorai, a Buddha who stands for wisdom and light. Some writers and priests even said they were the same. These links were shown in ceremonies at shrines and temples, where Buddhist and traditional ways were mixed. Amaterasu’s worship was important to the imperial house, and linking her to Buddhist figures helped the imperial family’s place in the nation.

Local worship of Amaterasu also joined Shinto and Buddhist ideas, a mix called Shinbutsu-shūgō. This meant building temples at shrines and doing Buddhist rites to honor the goddess. These ways changed during the Meiji period when Shinto and Buddhism were officially split.

Relation to women's positions in early Japanese society

Amaterasu is the most important goddess in Shinto beliefs. Because she is so important, some people think early leaders in Japan might have been women. Others believe her role shows that women priests had strong roles in politics and religion a long time ago.

In Japanese new religions

Amaterasu is one of the main gods worshipped in many Japanese new religions. These include Kurozumikyō, Shintō Tenkōkyo, Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō, and Uchūshinkyō Kōmyōjin.