Amaterasu Omikami
The birth of Amaterasu is a foundational event within the Shinto creation myth, detailed in both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, though with slight variations between the texts. The story begins with the primordial deities Izanagi and his sister-wife Izanami, who were tasked with creating the islands of Japan. After Izanami tragically perishes while giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, a grief-stricken Izanagi journeys to Yomi-no-kuni, the underworld, in a desperate attempt to bring her back. His quest ends in horror when he discovers Izanami’s decaying body, and he is forced to flee, pursued by the monstrous forces of the underworld. Upon his return to the world of the living, Izanagi performs a crucial purification ritual, known as misogi, in the river Tachibana at Awagihara in Hyūga. It is during this act of cleansing that the most revered deities were born. As Izanagi washed his left eye, Amaterasu Omikami, the great goddess of the sun, came into being, radiating a brilliant light that illuminated the heavens and the earth. From his right eye, the moon god Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto emerged, and from his nose, the powerful and volatile storm god, Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Izanagi, overjoyed by the birth of these three illustrious children, designated them the “Three Precious Children” and divided his realm among them. He bestowed upon Amaterasu the high heavenly plain, Takamagahara, along with his sacred bead necklace, the Mikuratana-no-kami, entrusting her with the governance of the celestial realm.
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Amaterasu’s role as the sovereign of Takamagahara firmly establishes her as the central figure in the celestial hierarchy of Shinto kami. She represents not only the life-giving power of the sun but also order, harmony, and cosmic legitimacy. Her domain, the High Plain of Heaven, is depicted as a realm of pristine beauty and divine order, a celestial counterpart to the earthly realm. In this capacity, Amaterasu presides over the myriad of other kami, ensuring the proper functioning of the universe. One of her most significant duties is overseeing the cultivation of rice, the staple food of Japan, in heavenly rice paddies. This agricultural aspect links her directly to the prosperity and sustenance of the Japanese people, reinforcing her image as a benevolent and nurturing deity. The sun itself, as her physical manifestation, is seen as the source of all life, warmth, and growth. Her light dispels darkness, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, purity over impurity, and knowledge over ignorance. This duality of being a celestial ruler and an agricultural deity highlights her profound connection to both the divine and the terrestrial spheres, making her an indispensable force for both the gods and humanity. Her authority is not merely one of power, but one of moral and spiritual guidance, setting the standard for the conduct of all beings under her purview.
Perhaps the most famous myth associated with Amaterasu is the tale of her retreat into the Amano-Iwato, the “Heavenly Rock Cave”. This dramatic episode begins with the disruptive and sacrilegious behavior of her brother, Susanoo. After being banished from the heavens by their father Izanagi, Susanoo ascended to Takamagahara to bid his sister farewell. His visit, however, quickly devolved into a series of destructive acts. He destroyed the sacred rice paddies, defiled her palace, and, in a final, horrifying act, threw a flayed heavenly horse into her sacred weaving hall, causing the death of one of her attendants. Grieved and terrified by his relentless violence, Amaterasu withdrew into the Heavenly Rock Cave, sealing the entrance with a massive boulder. Her seclusion plunged both the heavens and the earth into a state of perpetual darkness and chaos. The world withered, crops failed, and evil spirits emerged to wreak havoc upon the land. The “myriad gods” (yaoyorozu no kami) of the heavens, desperate to restore light and order, gathered by the cave to devise a plan. Under the guidance of the wisdom god Omoikane, they orchestrated an elaborate and clever ruse. They placed a sacred mirror, the Yata no Kagami, and a string of comma-shaped jewels, the Yasakani no Magatama, on a sakaki tree before the cave. The goddess of mirth, Ame-no-Uzume, then began a lewd and comical dance on an overturned tub, causing the assembled gods to erupt in boisterous laughter. Piqued by the sounds of revelry outside, Amaterasu’s curiosity was aroused. She cracked open the stone door to ask why the gods were celebrating when the world was shrouded in darkness. Ame-no-Uzume replied that they had found a deity more resplendent than her. As Amaterasu peered out, she saw her own brilliant reflection in the mirror, which she mistook for the new goddess. Momentarily stunned by her own radiance, she was pulled from the cave by the strong-armed god Ame-no-Tajikarao, who then sealed the entrance behind her. Light was restored to the universe, and Amaterasu’s authority was re-established, while Susanoo was punished and banished for his transgressions. This myth serves as a powerful allegory for the cyclical nature of day and night and the winter solstice, symbolizing the eventual return of light and life after a period of darkness and hardship.
Amaterasu is fundamentally linked to the Imperial House of Japan, serving as its divine ancestress and the ultimate source of its legitimacy to rule. This connection is established through her grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto. Following the pacification of the terrestrial world, known as Ashihara no Nakatsukuni (the Central Land of Reed Plains), Amaterasu decreed that it should be ruled by her descendants. She dispatched Ninigi to the earth, bestowing upon him the Three Sacred Treasures: the Yata no Kagami (the mirror that lured her from the cave), the Yasakani no Magatama (the jewels), and the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (a sacred sword Susanoo had recovered from a monstrous serpent and gifted to her). These three items became the Imperial Regalia of Japan, symbolizing the emperor’s divine right to rule, embodying wisdom, benevolence, and valor respectively. Ninigi descended to Mount Takachiho in Kyushu, and his great-grandson, Jimmu, would become the legendary first Emperor of Japan. This lineage, known as “tenson kōrin” (the descent of the heavenly grandchild), solidifies the belief that the Emperor is a direct descendant of the sun goddess. This divine ancestry has been a cornerstone of Japanese political ideology for centuries, imbuing the imperial institution with a sacred and inviolable authority. While the Emperor’s political role has evolved, particularly after World War II, his ceremonial function as the high priest of Shinto, who mediates between the kami and the Japanese people, remains a direct continuation of the mandate given by Amaterasu to her descendants. The Emperor’s most important ritual duties, such as the Daijosai (the first rice offering ceremony after enthronement), are performed to honor Amaterasu and secure her blessings for the nation.
The primary center of Amaterasu’s worship is the Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū) located in Mie Prefecture, which is considered the most sacred site in all of Shinto. The complex is composed of two main shrines: the Inner Shrine, Naikū, which is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, and the Outer Shrine, Gekū, dedicated to Toyouke-hime no kami, the goddess of agriculture and food. It is believed that the Naikū houses the sacred mirror, the Yata no Kagami, one of the three Imperial Regalia, acting as a shintai, or a physical vessel for the goddess’s spirit. Access to the shrine’s innermost sanctum is highly restricted, limited to the Emperor, Empress, and a few high-ranking priests and priestesses, underscoring its immense sanctity. The architecture of Ise Shrine is a paradigm of ancient Japanese design, characterized by its simplicity and profound connection to nature. In a unique tradition known as Shikinen Sengū, the main shrine buildings have been ritually rebuilt every 20 years for over a millennium, a practice that serves to transfer building techniques from one generation to the next and to symbolically renew the power of the deity. Beyond Ise, Amaterasu is enshrined in numerous Shinto shrines across Japan, often as the principal deity or alongside other important kami. Her worship is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Japanese life, from grand national ceremonies to local festivals praying for a bountiful harvest. She is not merely a mythical figure but a living presence, a continual source of spiritual and cultural identity for the Japanese people. Through her worship, the nation reaffirms its connection to its divine origins and the enduring power of the sun. As with other Shinto kami, she is also enshrined in a number of Shinto shrines throughout Japan.
