Goddess Amaterasu: Meaning, History and Shinto Myths

Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology and one of the main deities of Shinto. Known as “the one who shines in the sky”, her full name is Amaterasu-ōmikami and means “the Great Goddess Augusta who lights up the sky”. It is not for less that she is also considered the goddess of the Universe.

Stick around to find out more about the Goddess Amaterasu and the interesting myths that have influenced Japanese history.

Take the opportunity to know the fiery force of the Goddess Sekhmet and her history.

Who is the Goddess Amaterasu?

Source: Pinterest

The Goddess Amaterasu is the daughter of the supreme primordial god of Japanese mythology, the god Izanagi, that is, she is an important deity that is part of divine royalty. Incidentally, Japanese Emperor Naruhito claims to be a direct descendant of Ama, as Amaterasu is affectionately called.

Revered by the Shinto religion, Amaterasu as the Goddess of the Sun is responsible for illuminating the Universe and ensuring the warmth for rice cultivation in the huge Japanese fields. Therefore, the Goddess Amaterasu is seen as one of Japan’s creators, along with her powerful father and brothers.

According to Shinto mythology, by washing his left eye, the god Izanagi brought the Goddess Amaterasu to life. Her brother Tsukuyomi, god of the moon, was born from washing her right eye and, when washing her nose, the god of storms and the ocean Susanoo was born. With this, the brothers became known as Mihashira-no-uzu-no-miko which means “the three noble sons”.

In this way, each one was assigned a responsibility on the Island: Amaterasu was in charge of heating the fields with the Sun, Tsukuyomi was left with the task of lighting the night with the Moon, Susanoo, in turn, was dedicated to the movements of the tides and rain forecast.

As an abode, the Goddess Amaterasu chose to live inside a cave in the company of her maids who spent their nights weaving a kimono the color of the next day. In the morning, the sun goddess would come out of her grotto to bring warmth to the Earth with her sunlight. In this way, it guaranteed life with the growth of vegetation in rice paddies.

The myths of disagreements between three noble sons

Unlike Greek mythology, the Shinto pantheon is not filled with stories of battles, revenge, and torture between the gods. However, the creation of Japan was marked by the myths of disagreements that Amaterasu nurtured with her brothers.

Myth of the Goddess Amaterasu and the God Susanoo: The Dark World

Source: Wikipedia

The Goddess Amaterasu used to grow beautiful flowers in a field near her grotto. But one fine day, Susanoo decided to play a trick on his sister by blowing strong winds that took her flowers to the horizon.

Seeing her beautiful garden in ruins, Amaterasu was overcome with such deep sadness that she decided to retreat to her cave closed with a heavy rock. As a result of this fight between the two brothers, the world was invaded by absolute darkness and the freezing cold of Japanese winters. After months of no sun, Earth was sick and starving.

It was then that Omoikane, the god of intelligence, had the great idea of ​​teaming up with the goddess of dance and joy Uzume to create a plan to rescue the sun. As Uzume danced sensually around Amaterasu’s cave, Omoikane positioned mirrors that reflected the dancer through cracks at the grotto’s entrance.

Intrigued by the music and laughter that came from outside, the Goddess Amaterasu couldn’t stand her curiosity so much that she decided to spy on the commotion. It was at this moment that the gods managed to grab her and bring the sunshine to the days again.

In this way, order in the Shinto pantheon was re-established and harmony between the Goddess Amaterasu and the God Susanoo reigned again in the Japanese skies.

Myth of the Goddess Amaterasu and the God Tsukuyomi: Day and Night

The Goddess Amaterasu was responsible for supplying the light necessary for the planting of huge rice fields. However, she could not take care of the day and the cultivation of her rice fields. So she asked for help from the goddess of food, Uke-mochi, who provided seeds and fertilizers for the fields.

One day, the sun goddess asked her brother Tsukuyomi to take a look at her rice paddies and check on Uke-mochi’s work. It was then that the goddess of food had the unfortunate idea of ​​preparing a special feast for the vomiting moon god:

• Cooked rice to symbolize happiness in abundance;
• Fish and shellfish to symbolize wisdom in abundance;
• And seaweed that symbolized joy in abundance.

Furious and disgusted by Uke-mochi’s surprise, Tsukuyomi decides to take revenge by killing the goddess who prepared the meal. However, the Goddess Amaterasu did not like her brother’s act at all and judged him as an evil god.

As a result, the sun goddess and moon god were forever separated. At this moment, the conception was born during the day, when Amaterasu reigned, and at night, when Tsukuyomi took his place.

Worship the Goddess Amaterasu

Did you notice that in Shinto mythology, the Sun is attributed to a woman and the Moon to a man? It is perceived that the sacred feminine is inserted in a creation scenario as the element that allows life and the fertilization and cultivation of food, within the Japanese culture.

It is no wonder that the Goddess Amaterasu represents an important symbol of the sacred worship of women who trust in their powerful sense of justice balanced by their kindness. In addition, she is invoked so that her sunlight warms hearts, illuminates paths and clears the mind.

To worship the Goddess Amaterasu, it doesn’t take much, since she is present in the skies, even on cloudy days. However, you can greet her at sunrise and, with the help of a mirror, reflect her light inside your house so that she is energized with her strength.

Here, you learned the fascinating story of the Goddess Amaterasu, the Shinto deity that created Japan. If you are also interested in the lives of Goddesses, check out the book “All the Goddesses of the World”, by author Claudney Prieto.

While you’re here, find out more about