Amaterasu- Japanese Sun God
Amaterasu is Japanese Sun God, who ruled over and controlled the heavens.
Her name means “Great Divinity illuminating the heavens”.Her name Amaterasu,天照 derives from the 天, ama ,あま, meaning “the Heavens” and 照- terasu,てらす, meaning “to iluminate”. Originally called天照大神,Amaterasu Ookami orあまてらすおおかみ,she is variously called as Oohirume no mura no kami 大日孁貴神、おひるめのむらのかみ, which means “the great Sun of the Kami” .She is also called ohime,大日孁、おひめ . She is the goddess of Takama no Hara (the High Celestial Plains),which is the residence of the Kami and the other spirits,Sun goddess and most important deity of the Shinto religion. The Japanese Imperial Family has supposedly descended from her and so preserves the sole rights to rule.
As a leading deity she finds mention in Japanese Mythologies, Kojiki,(Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki(The Chronicles of Japan)!
Amaterasu is also the Queen of the Heaven , of the Kami and the creation.
Amaterasu is the Goddess of the Sun which rejuvenates , illuminates and nourishes the earth, and its creatures,as a rising sun and ensures the day smoothly proceeds into night. The Sun therefore stands for order and purity ,two most important concepts of Shintoism!
Amaterasu is claimed to be direct ancestor of the Imperial family which is most respected in the Japanese society. The hierarchy of the Imperial family is reflected in the Japanese society as well. Amaterasu ,besides bringing order also ensures the activities and the dealings of the Imperial family are just.
She was an important part of Japanese spirituality. She was revered across Japan in the pre-Shinto period. With the establishment of Shintoism as the State religion in Japan, she was designated as a goddess of Shintoism and the Imperial Family was restored the power to rule, in the pre-democratic Japan.
Amaterasu’s name was oft heard of and read about during the abdication of Emperor Akihito, father of present Emperor Naruhito, in April 30,2019. Also was the mention of the Royal Regalia which were supposedly handed down by Amaterasu, herself. The previous Emperor hands over the regalia to the priests. The new Emperor then takes possession of them during the enthronement ceremony. These treasures are seen only by the Emperor and priests and so we have no pictures or drawings of them.
The Three Sacred Treasures
The Three Sacred Treasures (三種の神器, Sanshu no Jingi/Mikusa no Kamudakara) are the Imperial Regalia of Japan. They are as follows:
Yata no Kagami-八咫鏡- the 8 fold Mirror used to lure Amaterasu(later ,about this)from the cave. The mirror, is supposed to be the mirror ,which the gods used to lure out Ameterasu,saying they found a goddess as beautiful as her.
Yasakani no Magatama, the grand Jewel, which was supposedly lost during the Genpei war(1180–85).This jewel was the bone of contention between Amaterasu and Sasanoo, her youngest brother, whom she expelled.
Kusanugi no tsurugi,草薙の剣, also known as Amaterasu no Murakumo no tsurugi,天叢雲剣, which is the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds. This sword belonged to Amaterasu’s brother, Susanoo who had yanked if off a monster’s tail.
Shrines dedicated to Amarerasu
As for the Shrines dedicated to Amaterasu, The Ise Grand Shrine, known as Jingu, is the famous Shinto Shrine, whose Priests and priestesses are of Imperial descent. This shrine is home to the Royal Regalia and these relics can be accessed only by the Priests and Emperor as he is a direct descendant of Amaterasu. Amaterasu is found as an octogonal mirror ,yata kagami, which is also one of her symbols.
Another shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture, named Amanoiwato Shrine in Takachiho is located near the caves where Amaterasu hid after a conflict with her brother.(More on this later).
Links to the Nobility as well
Amaterasu and Susanoo produced offsprings as well. Amaterasu broke and ate the sword given by her brother Susanoo and spat it. It brought forth three female dieties. Likewise, Susanoo ate Amaterasu’s necklace of 500 jewels and spat it. Out came five male dieties. These eight dieties were the direct predecessors of the present day Japanese nobility.
History
Amaterasu was one of the three Kami ,born during the purification of Izanagi-no-Mikoto , when he cleansed himself in atonement for seeking to bring back his dead wife ,Izanami-no-Mikoto,from Yomi ,the land of the dead. Amaterasu was born as big and bright child, glowing like the sun, when he washed his left eye, her brother and husband,Tsukuyomi,as the moon ,who reflected his sister’s glow was born when Izanagi washed his right eye and her younger brother Susanoo(pronounced :Su-sa-no-wo), the storm god and ruler of the seas ,when he cleaned his nose.Besides these two main siblings, Amaterasu had several siblings born out of the wedlock of her parents, Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto.
Initially Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi ruled over the day and night. But Tsukuyomi was inherently envious of his sister-wife’s graceful and bright glow and he was just a reflection of her glow. So in order to anger Amaterasu, he flirted with Uke Mochi who brought forth a bounty which could grow food.She spat fish into the sea and other animal flesh into the forests, she started pulling crops from her rectum and tsukuyomi killed her instantly for her behaviour.
Amaterasu banished her husband for his anger reaction towards Uke Mochi. Thereafter the day and night separated into the permanent positions.
Izanagi or Izanagi no Mikoto , had charged his three children to rule the heavens. But ,this role was largely claimed by Amaterasu, being the eldest of Izanagi’s children. This claim to rule over heaven by Amaterasu was loathed and envied by her youngest brother, Susanoo(Su-sa-no-wo). He questioned her right to rule and was banished for the same by Izanagi.
Before leaving on his exile, he went to take leave from his sister.Amaterasu was skeptical of Susanoo’s intent and he asked her to enter a challenge. In that, they would exchange their symbols,Susanoo took Amaterasu’s necklace and she his blade, and produced offsprings, by eating and spitting them and bringing forth female and male gods. Amaterasu claimed to have produced more offsprings than Susanoo and got his goat!
Susanoo expressed his anger by destroying heavens and earth, destroying the tranquility of Amaterasu’s rice fields, and throwing a flayed horse into her weaving room. Amaterasu, regretted that it was her words which caused such havoc and as an expression of regret, retreated into cave and closed herself in with a big boulder .
The moment she disappeared, the earth became dark, evil spirits went on rampage and there was no light , no warmth.This was perhaps the first winter for a world used only to the warmth and brightness of the sun. This continued despite pleas by various gods asking her to come out and bring warmth and life into the earth again. She was extremely adamant and did not succumb.
So a god named Omohi kane hit upon a surefire idea to lure her out of the cave. He set cocks outside the cave , to crow and create an impression of dawn.Then placed a sasaki tree and decorated it with jewels(magatama), expensive clothes and placed a mirror, which was the first such thing which can reflect images. No one had ever seen and used a mirror, till then.
Then the party began to bring Amaterasu back. The goddess, named Amenouzume (or Ama-no-Uzeme) danced a lewd strip dance, which caused the gathering of gods into laughter.This combination of noise, cock crows, drum beats and laughter made Amaterasu wonder what the matter might be. She moved the boulder a bit and peeked out. The gods said they found another goddess who is lovelier and brighter than her and were celebrating. This made Amaterasu come out , he eyes fell on the mirror. She ended up thinking it was her rival. As she came out Omohi Kane pushed boulder back, so she cannot go it.Tuto-Tamu, another god held a pole of plaited straw, symbolically restraining Amaterasu from going in once again.
At that very instant, brightness and warmth returned and revealed the chaos which her exit had caused. Winter ended giving way to spring and summer. Beauty and radiance of the nature made a come back!
As time went past, it was time for Amaterasu to send her son to rule the earth. But seeing the prevailing disharmonious condition among the earthly gods, he refused. So she sent Ama-no-Hoki,and then another god,Ame-waka-hiko, with his divine bow and arrows,successively. They both did not carry out their mission ,with first giving no information and second getting married to a princess.Next to be sent was pheasant Na-naki-me,who had to find Ame-waka-hiko. This pheasant was inadvertently killed by Ame-waka-hiko who mistook him for bad omens. The divine arrow passed through Na-naki-me and went straight in heavens and landed at the feet of Taka-mi-Musubi. The latter threw back the arrow and it fell on the chest of Ame-waka-hiko, killing him instantly.
Next Take-mika-zuchi, the god of thunder, and Futsu-nushi, the god of fire, armed with their swords,were sent to negotiate with the earthly ruler to accept Amaterasu as the ruler. The earthly ruler , failed in his attempts to thwart Amaterasu. Seeing that the earthly king has given in to her reign, Amaterasu asked her son to take charge over earth .He refused and designated his son Ninigi to be sent to rule the earth.
Amaterasu therefore sent Ninigi with three gifts , Yasakani, a jewel which was reminder of quarrel between Amaterasu and her brother, Susanoo, the Yata, the mirror which reflected her as she emerged from the cave and Kusanagi, a sword Susanoo had pulled out of a monster’s tail. These were Ninigi’s emblems of power(Sanshu no jingu), which became the Imperial regalia of the emperors of Japan.
Emperor Jimmu (660–585 BC), the first emperor of Japan was a direct descendant of Amaterasu. The successive emperors regard themselves as blood relatives of Amaterasu and hence claim authority to rule.
References
Picture of Amaterasu -https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E7%85%A7%E5%A4%A7%E7%A5%9E
Picture of Imperial Regalia- https://www.pinterest.jp/pin/185421709631924100/
Picture of Ise Grand Shrine- https://blog.gaijinpot.com/ise-grand-shrine/
Picture of gods awaiting for Amaterasu outside the cave .https://mythopedia.com/japanese-mythology/gods/amaterasu/
Picure of Amaterasu emerging from cave -https://mythopedia.com/japanese-mythology/gods/amaterasu/
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