Amaterasu

Amaterasu Ōmikami, often simply called Amaterasu, is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. She is one of the most important gods in the Shinto religion and is thought to be the main deity in the Shinto pantheon. According to Japan's oldest books, called 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 as pilgrims and tourists. 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 the old stories called the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, she has several other names too, like Ōhirume-no-Muchi and Amaterasu Ō(mi)kami.

The name Amaterasu comes from words meaning "to shine in the sky." It is part of a longer, respectful name that means "the great and bright goddess who shines in heaven." This makes her easy to understand, unlike some other old names that are harder to figure out.

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

Mythology

In classical mythology

Both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki tell the story of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, who 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 offspring 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 the underworld. Amaterasu came from his left eye, Tsukuyomi from his right eye, and Susanoo from his nose. Izanagi then made Amaterasu the ruler of the heavenly realm called Takamagahara, gave Tsukuyomi charge of the night, and gave Susanoo control over the seas.

Amaterasu and Susanoo had a complicated relationship. Susanoo caused trouble, destroying Amaterasu's rice fields and creating chaos. At one point, he threw a flayed horse into her weaving hall, which scared one of her helpers so much that she died. In response, Amaterasu hid inside a cave called Ame-no-Iwayato, leaving the world in darkness. The other gods worked hard to bring her out of the cave by using music, dancing, and a shiny mirror. When Amaterasu peeked out to see her reflection in the mirror, the gods pulled her out, and light returned to the world.

After this, Amaterasu sent messengers to earth to establish her rule, but they faced challenges. Eventually, her grandson Ninigi descended to earth and became the ancestor of the emperors of Japan. Amaterasu gave him important treasures: a mirror, a jewel, and a sword, which became sacred symbols of the imperial family.

Family

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

Amaterasu is described as a virgin goddess who does not have any romantic relationships. Some stories, however, mention Tsukuyomi as her husband. She is also 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 through her grandson Ninigi. Her son Ame no Hohi is linked to several clans and even 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, who helped Amaterasu weave clothes and was later accidentally harmed by Susanoo. 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, one of the important treasures linked to Japan's history. Every twenty years, a big ceremony happens here to honor many gods. New buildings are made nearby, 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 even ideas about nature and cycles like day and night. Stories from old times 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 part of a larger group of spiritual beings. She was thought to be a special appearance of a Buddha, whose true form varied depending on different Buddhist teachings. This idea helped Buddhist thinkers include the sun goddess and other spiritual beings in their understanding of the universe.

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

Local worship of Amaterasu also blended Shinto and Buddhist ideas, a mix known as Shinbutsu-shūgō. This included building temples at shrines and performing Buddhist rites to honor the goddess. These practices changed during the Meiji period when Shinto and Buddhism were officially separated.

Relation to women's positions in early Japanese society

Amaterasu is the most important goddess in Shinto beliefs. Because of her high status, some people think she might show that early leaders in Japan could have been women. Others believe her importance suggests that women priests had a strong role in politics and religion back then.

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.