{"id":4430,"date":"2026-04-27T10:36:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/amaterasu\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:26:49","slug":"amaterasu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/amaterasu\/","title":{"rendered":"Amaterasu"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4430\" class=\"elementor elementor-4430 elementor-2082 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amaterasu, goddess of the Japanese tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Solar sovereign, ancestress of the imperial house, soul of Japan.<\/strong> Amaterasu \u014cmikami is the central goddess of Japanese Shinto, the incarnation of the sun itself, the supreme <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Japanese Shinto, the venerated spirit beings and divine powers.\" tabindex=\"0\">Kami<\/span> of all cults.<\/p><p>She is not merely a celestial body but the legal ancestor of the emperor, which is why her principal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuaries<\/span> are kept under the strictest access.<\/p><p>The Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>, Japan&#8217;s holiest site, is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Handed over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby set apart from the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">dedicated<\/span> solely to her <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Given over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby set apart from the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">veneration<\/span>. In the Kojiki <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, Amaterasu hides in a cave, plunging the world into darkness, a striking image of the cosmic dependence on divine light.<\/p><p>Amaterasu is the sun queen of Japan and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ancestor venerated in many cultures as a protective power.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancestral<\/span> mother of the imperial house.<\/p><p>Amaterasu is the goddess of the Japanese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> and sun queen of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ Goddess: personified highest power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear domains: natural forces, fate, war, fertility. Venerated through cults, offerings, and temple institutions.\">Goddess<\/span><a href=\"\/en\/japan\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Japanese Shinto kami and Buddhist yokai worlds.\">Japan<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\" class=\"iwg-tradition-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Highest gods of a pantheon, cosmic sovereignty, creator or ruler aspect.\">High Deity<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_japan_amaterasu-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4431\" alt=\"Amaterasu - gods from the Japanese tradition, historical-illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_japan_amaterasu-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_japan_amaterasu-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_japan_amaterasu-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_japan_amaterasu.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amaterasu<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Overview: Amaterasu<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Japanese principal deity, sun goddess and ruler of the heavens (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span>)<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> (highest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of the Japanese pantheon), identified with Mahavairocana in syncretistic traditions<br>Function: sun, light, cosmic order, mythical <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ancestor venerated in many cultures as a protective power.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancestral<\/span> mother of the Japanese imperial house<br>Principal attributes: solar disc, sword (Kusanagi), mirror (Yata-no-Kagami), curved jewel (Yasakani-no-Magatama)<br>Principal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> site: Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> (Mie prefecture, the largest and holiest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> in Japan)<br>Siblings: Tsukuyomi (moon), Susanoo (storm)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Historical Context<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the Texts<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu is attested in literature from the 8th century CE in the <em>Kojiki<\/em> (712) and <em>Nihon shoki<\/em> (720), the two principal sources of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>.<\/p><p>Since the early Heian period (9th century), she has been canonized as the highest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of the Japanese imperial house: the imperial genealogy traces back to her through Amaterasu&#8217;s grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto.<\/p><p><span data-nosnippet>The <em>Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span><\/em>, probably at its present location since the 7th century CE, is rebuilt completely every twenty years according to <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BC to 600 AD.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancient<\/span> tradition (<em>Shikinen Sengu<\/em>); the most recent such renewal was in 2013, the next in 2033. In <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"'Diamond vehicle'; tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism, primarily in Tibet, centered on yidam practice and mantra technique.\">Vajrayana<\/span> Buddhism (Shingon), she has been identified since the 9th century with the cosmic Buddha <em>Mahavairocana<\/em> (Dainichi Nyorai).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of Distribution<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Principal cult site: <strong>Ise Jing\u016b<\/strong> in Mie prefecture, consisting of the outer <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> <em>Geku<\/em> (dedicated to the food deity Toyouke) and the inner <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> <em>Naiku<\/em> (dedicated to Amaterasu). The inner <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> houses the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> mirror <em>Yata-no-Kagami<\/em> (one of the three imperial regalia of Japan).<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span> may be entered only by members of the imperial house and selected priests. Beyond this, there are roughly 80,000 shrines in Japan in which Amaterasu is co-venerated (bun-rei of the principal Ise deity). Abroad: shrines in Hawaii and S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source Situation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: <em>Kojiki<\/em> (712) and <em>Nihon shoki<\/em> (720), the two principal source collections of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>; <em>Engi-shiki<\/em> (10th century, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> regulations for Ise); the <em>Norito<\/em> (ceremonial <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or conjuring address of a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> texts).<\/p><p>Secondary literature: Aston, <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span>. The Way of the Gods<\/em>; Kanda, <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> in History. Ways of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Japanese Shinto, the venerated spirit beings and divine powers.\" tabindex=\"0\">Kami<\/span><\/em>; Bocking, <em>A Popular Dictionary of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span><\/em>; Breen\/Teeuwen, <em>A New History of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span><\/em>; Reader, <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">Religion<\/span> in Contemporary Japan<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Name and Variants<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu is depicted as a radiant female goddess surrounded by light. She wears celestial robes and is often shown holding a gleaming mirror (<em>Yata-no-Kagami<\/em>), one of the three imperial treasures, regarded as her body or her <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of the self.<\/p><p>Abbreviated <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The study of pictorial content and its meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">iconography<\/span> shows her enthroned, flanked by her brothers Tsukuyomi (moon) and Susanoo (storm). The Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is pure architecture, not visible from outside, veiled, mysterious. Every 20 years the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is rebuilt completely and Amaterasu&#8217;s soul is solemnly relocated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Description<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu is the supreme <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Japanese Shinto, the venerated spirit beings and divine powers.\" tabindex=\"0\">Kami<\/span>, not a member of a pantheon of equal gods but central. Her veneration at the Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to a fixed religious sequence of actions.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritually<\/span> unique: only certain priestly families may enter the inner <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span>. The emperor himself functions as a high-priest figure.<\/p><p>The Shinto New Year rests on her gift of light. When, according to the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, she hid in a cave, the world fell into complete darkness; only through a stratagem did the other <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Japanese Shinto, the venerated spirit beings and divine powers.\" tabindex=\"0\">Kami<\/span> draw her out. This is cosmic dependence: without Amaterasu there is no life, no light, no Japan.<\/p><p><strong>Appearance and symbolism<\/strong><\/p><p><em>Amaterasu<\/em> is depicted as a beautiful woman with a radiant presence, often in imperial robes. She is associated with the solar disc (the red circular disc of the Japanese flag). Her sacred symbols are the mirror (Yata-no-Kagami), the sword, and the jewel. She is surrounded by light.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Amaterasu<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Amaterasu at a glance. The following fields summarize origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols, and cultural parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Cultural Context<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu \u014cmikami (&#8216;the great <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> who illuminates the heavens&#8217;) is the daughter of the creation couple <em>Izanagi<\/em> and <em>Izanami<\/em>, born from Izanagi&#8217;s left eye as he purified himself after returning from Yomi (the underworld).<\/p><p>Sister of the moon god <em>Tsukuyomi<\/em> (from the right eye) and the storm god <em>Susanoo<\/em> (from the nose). Principal myth: after a brutal quarrel with Susanoo, Amaterasu withdraws into a cave (Ame-no-Iwato), and the world sinks into darkness.<\/p><p>The gods lure her out through an ecstatic dance performance by the goddess <em>Ame-no-Uzume<\/em> and a mirror in which she sees her own shining face. Mother of the divine line that leads to the Japanese imperial house: her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto descends from heaven and brings with him the three imperial regalia (mirror, sword, jewel).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Associated With<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sun and light goddess, and thus source of life and of the power of sight, a comparatively rare female solar deity in world <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span> (unlike the male Mediterranean sun gods). Mythical <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ancestor venerated in many cultures as a protective power.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancestral<\/span> mother of the Japanese imperial house: every Tenno (emperor) is regarded as a descendant of Amaterasu.<\/p><p><span data-nosnippet>In modern Japan, despite the separation of religion and state (1947), still a point of identity reference. Patroness of agricultural fertility (through her sunlight). In the Shingon tradition, as Mahavairocana-Dainichi, the cosmic Buddha himself. Central in modern <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> sects (e.g., Tenrikyo, Konkokyo).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Appearance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu has no fixed iconographic form; in the orthodox <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> tradition the making of statues of gods is avoided. Her presence is represented through sacred objects (<em>shintai<\/em>): in the Naiku, the mirror <em>Yata-no-Kagami<\/em>.<\/p><p>In religious imagery from the medieval period onward, she is sometimes shown as a solemn young woman in a multilayered court robe with a solar diadem; she is also frequently depicted as the solar disc itself.<\/p><p>Accompanying animals: <em>white horses<\/em> (kept at the Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>), the rooster (announcing the sunrise). In the Buddhist Shingon identification as Mahavairocana, with crown, crown gesture, and lotus throne.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Activity<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of influence:<\/strong> Amaterasu is venerated at every <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> household <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An elevated place or table for offerings and religious acts.\" tabindex=\"0\">altar<\/span> (<em>kamidana<\/em>), which is universal in traditional Japanese homes. Principal festivals at the Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>: <em>Kanname-sai<\/em> (October, harvest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The concrete object or food offered to a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">offering<\/span> to Amaterasu), <em>Niiname-sai<\/em> (November, imperial harvest festival), <em>Tsukinami-sai<\/em> (June and December, semiannual principal rites).<\/p><p>At the imperial enthronement (<em>Daij\u014dsai<\/em>), a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands representatively for a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbolic<\/span> union of the Tenno with Amaterasu takes place. Personal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> at the household altar daily before breakfast. <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A person who undertakes a religiously motivated journey to a sacred place.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pilgrims<\/span> to Ise take home an <em>O-fuda<\/em> (printed protective <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A carried object to which a protective, evil-averting power is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">amulet<\/span>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Forms of Protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Solar disc, mirror (Yata-no-Kagami, one of the three imperial regalia), sword (Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which her brother Susanoo cut from the tail of the Yamata-no-Orochi dragon), curved jewel (Yasakani-no-Magatama).<\/p><p>Sacred animals: white horse, rooster, crow (yatagarasu, the three-legged sun crow that guided her descendant Jimmu). Sacred plants: rice, the sakaki tree (central in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> rites). Sacred color: white.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Beings<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Mahavairocana \/ Dainichi Nyorai<\/em> (Buddhism, Shingon identification), <em>Ohirume-no-muchi<\/em> (alternative Japanese designation), <em>Sol Invictus<\/em> (Roman, late Roman solar deity), <em>Helios<\/em> (Greece), <em>S\u016brya<\/em> (Hinduism), <em>Re<\/em> (Egypt).<\/p><p>Female sun goddess parallels: <em>Sol<\/em> (Germanic, female, unlike the Roman male solar form), <em>S\u00e1rama\u1e47a<\/em> (Hittite), <em>Sun-Goddess of Arinna<\/em> (Hittite), <em>Saul\u0117<\/em> (Baltic). The Norse goddess Sol and Amaterasu are the two most striking female solar high deities in world <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Protective Practice<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Veneration rituals<\/strong><\/p><p>Amaterasu \u014cmikami (Japanese \u5929\u7167\u5927\u5fa1\u795e, &#8216;heaven-illuminating majesty&#8217;) is the sun goddess and ancestral mother of the Japanese Tenn\u014d house. The principal cult site is Ise Jing\u016b (inner <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>, Naik\u016b), founded in 4 BCE according to tradition.<\/p><p><span data-nosnippet>Every 20 years the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is torn down and rebuilt according to ancient tradition (<em>Shikinen Seng\u016b<\/em>, most recently in 2013). Principal festivals: <em>Hatsuhinode<\/em> (first sunrise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The verbal turning of a person toward a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">prayer<\/span> at the New Year), <em>Tsukinami-sai<\/em> (monthly Ise festival). The Tenn\u014d enthronement includes the secret <em>Daij\u014dsai<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> with the symbolic transfer of solar energy (cf. Bock).<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Invocations<\/strong><\/p><p>Norito prayers to Amaterasu follow the oldest surviving formulas of Japanese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span> (Engi-Shiki, 927 CE). The cave myth (Amaterasu withdrew into the Ame-no-Iwato cave after Susanoo&#8217;s transgression) is performed in Kagura dances; the dance of Ame-no-Uzume before the cave is the origin of Japanese theater.<\/p><p><strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and protective symbols<\/strong><\/p><p>Ise Omamori (protective amulets from the Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>) are the most widely distributed protective amulets in Japan. The Yata-no-Kagami (sacred mirror), one of the three imperial regalia, kept in the Naik\u016b, is regarded as her manifestation. Solar-disc pendants of bronze or gold. The Hi-no-Maru has its symbolic root in Amaterasu&#8217;s solar manifestation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amaterasu, Parallels in Other Cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu resembles the Egyptian Ra (sun), the Greek Helios or Apollo, and the Vedic Surya. Unlike many sun gods, Amaterasu is female, a rarity that the patriarchal Shinto establishment long emphasized.<\/p><p>She shares features with the Inca Inti (sun) and the Aztec Tonacatecuhtli. Her constitutional role is distinctive: in Japan, Amaterasu is not only religious but political; her divine authority legitimizes imperial rule itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp4025b5e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp4025b5e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6dbbae6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp6dbbae6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Rock Cave Myth in Detail<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp5464d14 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp5464d14\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf8f5cf8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpf8f5cf8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The best-known narrative about Amaterasu is her withdrawal into the heavenly rock cave, <em>Ama no Iwato<\/em>. It is transmitted in the two oldest historical works of Japan, the <em>Kojiki<\/em> of 712 and the <em>Nihon Shoki<\/em> of 720, with differences in detail.<\/p><p>The trigger is the violent behavior of her brother Susanoo. He lays waste to the rice fields, defiles sacred halls, and finally hurls a flayed horse through the roof of the weaving hall in which Amaterasu or her attendants weave sacred garments.<\/p><p>Frightened and offended, Amaterasu withdraws into the rock cave and seals the entrance. With this, light vanishes from the world; heaven and earth sink into darkness, and all manner of misfortune breaks forth.<\/p><p>The other gods confer at the &#8216;quiet riverbed of heaven.&#8217; They devise a ruse. They plant a <em>sakaki<\/em> tree, adorn it with jewels, strips of cloth, and a mirror, have birds call out, and induce the goddess Ame no Uzume to perform an exuberant, comical dance.<\/p><p>The assembled gods laugh so loudly that the noise shakes the entire heaven. Amaterasu, grown curious as to why the gods are joyful despite the darkness, opens the cave a crack.<\/p><p>Uzume explains that a more exalted <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> has appeared and holds the mirror before her. Surprised by her own radiance, Amaterasu steps further out; a strong god draws her fully forth, and a rope is stretched behind her so that she cannot return.<\/p><p>Light returns to the world. Scholarship interprets the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, among other things, as a reflection of ritual practice and as a narrative about the recovery of cosmic order.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp4fe5976 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp4fe5976\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpb11a8d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpb11a8d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amaterasu and the Tenn\u014d: the Dynastic Justification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp1353036 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp1353036\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp361e622 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp361e622\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu&#8217;s central political significance lies in her role as ancestress of the Japanese ruling house. According to the <em>Kojiki<\/em> and the <em>Nihon Shoki<\/em>, Amaterasu sends her grandson Ninigi to earth to rule over the land.<\/p><p>She gives him three objects that are regarded as the three regalia of Japan: the mirror, the curved jewel, and the sword.<\/p><p>From Ninigi, according to the mythical genealogy, the line of the Tenn\u014d derives, the first of whom, Jimmu, is regarded as Ninigi&#8217;s great-grandson. The rule of the Japanese imperial house is thus traced directly back to the sun goddess.<\/p><p>This construction was no mere <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> but a political program. The two historical works of the early 8th century arose at a time when the Yamato court sought to consolidate and legitimize its supremacy over other lineages.<\/p><p>Scholarship emphasizes that the special position of Amaterasu within the very large pantheon of the <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Japanese Shinto, the venerated spirit beings and divine powers.\" tabindex=\"0\">kami<\/span><\/em> is connected with the rise of precisely this ruling lineage. Other powerful clans venerated other ancestral deities; that Amaterasu moved to the top is an expression of a political development.<\/p><p><span data-nosnippet>The dynastic connection remained effective over the centuries and was newly emphasized in the 19th and early 20th centuries within the framework of State Shinto. After 1945, the Tenn\u014d renounced the claim of divine descent in the religious-political sense, but the mythical genealogy remains part of the transmitted tradition and of ceremonial practice.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp0847b47 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp0847b47\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6f8cf6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp6f8cf6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Ise Shrine and the Sacred Mirror<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp489536e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp489536e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp551ea08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp551ea08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu&#8217;s most important cult site is the inner <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> of Ise, <em>Naik\u016b<\/em>, in Mie prefecture. There the sacred mirror <em>Yata no Kagami<\/em> is kept, one of the three regalia, regarded as a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of Amaterasu&#8217;s presence.<\/p><p><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The handing down of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">Tradition<\/span> connects the founding of the shrine with the princess Yamatohime, who on behalf of the court sought a suitable place for the veneration of the goddess and finally found it at the Isuzu river.<\/p><p>The Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is of great architectural simplicity. The buildings are made of untreated cypress wood and follow an old style largely free of later Chinese influences. Particularly well known is the practice of the <em>Shikinen Seng\u016b<\/em>, the ceremonial reconstruction of the principal buildings every twenty years on an adjacent plot.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> is rebuilt entirely from fresh wood, and the sacred objects are transferred into the new building in a solemn <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A solemn religious procession.\" tabindex=\"0\">procession<\/span>. This renewal combines permanence and transience and at the same time secures the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">transmission<\/span> of craft knowledge.<\/p><p>The inner area of the shrine is not accessible to the public; the mirror itself is seen by no one. Until the modern period, Ise was closely connected with the imperial house, and for a long time an imperial princess served as priestess, the <em>sai\u014d<\/em>, of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span>.<\/p><p>In terms of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span>, Ise is a central point of reference for understanding Shinto, because here dynastic claim, nature veneration, and a pronounced concept of purity are combined.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpa69bbe2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpa69bbe2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp0a72831 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp0a72831\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Solar Deity and Gender: an Open Debate<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp633d2fb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp633d2fb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf549fb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpf549fb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amaterasu is a female solar deity, which is notable in the comparison of religions, since solar deities are conceived as male in many cultures. This particularity has led to ongoing discussions in scholarship.<\/p><p>Some older as well as more recent works have argued that the solar deity may originally have been male or of indeterminate gender and only became female in the course of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The handing down of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">transmission<\/span>, or, conversely, that an ancient female solar veneration was present.<\/p><p>Indications of this debate arise from inconsistent details in the sources and from comparison with local cults. The source situation, however, permits no certain decision, and the discussion remains open.<\/p><p>A related strand of scholarship examines whether the figure of Amaterasu reflects an older conception of a priestess or <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religious specialist credited with mediating between humans and the spirit world.\" tabindex=\"0\">shaman<\/span> who served the solar deity, so that the human mediator and the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> merged in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The handing down of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">transmission<\/span>. Here too these are hypotheses, not established results.<\/p><p>For the religious-studies classification, it is above all to be noted that Amaterasu&#8217;s gender is unambiguously female in the transmitted texts and that the later connection with the likewise predominantly male-understood imperial office did not problematize the sources further.<\/p><p>The modern debate about the origin and possible transformations of gender is therefore more a question of historical reconstruction than of transmitted <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly doctrine of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span>. Those interested in the sibling tension will find further references in the entry on <a href=\"\/en\/susanoo\/\">Susanoo<\/a> and in the entry on the moon god <a href=\"\/en\/tsukuyomi\/\">Tsukuyomi<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Links<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"\/en\/tsukuyomi\/\">Tsukuyomi, moon brother<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/izanami\/\">Izanami, mother<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/inari\/\">Inari, another Japanese high deity (rice and prosperity)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/japan\/\">Japan, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, subcategory<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sources and Literature<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Aston, William G.: <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the veneration of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span>. The Way of the Gods<\/em>. London 1905 (classic).<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Reader, Ian: <em>Religion in Contemporary Japan<\/em>. Honolulu 1991.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Heldt, Gustav (trans.): <em>The Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters<\/em>. New York 2014.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry &#8216;Amaterasu&#8217;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\n<p class=\"iwg-bib-more\"><span data-nosnippet>Further standard works in the <a href=\"\/en\/literature\/\">literature index<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bae035 e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7bae035\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4351f3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4351f3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions about Amaterasu<\/h2><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>Who is Amaterasu in Japanese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>?<\/h3><p>Amaterasu \u014cmikami (Japanese \u5929\u7167\u5927\u5fa1\u795e, Great Exalted Goddess who illuminates the heavens) is the highest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of Japanese Shinto, the sun goddess and mythical ancestress of the imperial family of Japan.<\/p><p>She is the daughter of Izanagi-no-Mikoto and sister of Tsukuyomi (moon god) and Susanoo (storm god). Her principal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span> is the Ise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> in Mie prefecture, the most important <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> of Shinto, rebuilt <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to a fixed religious sequence of actions.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritually<\/span> every twenty years according to ancient tradition (the Shikinen Seng\u016b <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span>).<\/p><\/div><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>What is the story of Amaterasu in the cave?<\/h3><p>The central Amaterasu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>: out of a quarrel with her stormy brother Susanoo, Amaterasu withdraws into the heavenly cave (Amano-Iwato) and seals it with a boulder. The world sinks into darkness.<\/p><p>The other gods gather before the cave, hang a mirror on a tree, adorn another tree with jewels, and the goddess Ame-no-Uzume dances a wild, half-naked dance that makes the other gods laugh. Curious, Amaterasu opens a crack, sees her own light in the mirror, and is drawn out by Tajikarao. The light returns.<\/p><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who is Amaterasu in Japanese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Amaterasu \\u014cmikami (Japanese \\u5929\\u7167\\u5927\\u5fa1\\u795e, Great Exalted Goddess who illuminates the heavens) is the highest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of Japanese Shinto, the sun goddess and mythical ancestress of the imperial family of Japan. She is the daughter of Izanagi-no-Mikoto and sister of Tsukuyomi (moon god) and Susanoo (storm god). 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The world sinks into darkness. The other gods gather before the cave, hang a mirror on a tree, adorn another tree with jewels, and the goddess Ame-no-Uzume dances a wild, half-naked dance that makes the other gods laugh. Curious, Amaterasu opens a crack, sees her own light in the mirror, and is drawn out by Tajikarao. The light returns.\"}}]}<\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amaterasu, goddess of the Japanese tradition Solar sovereign, ancestress of the imperial house, soul of Japan. Amaterasu \u014cmikami is the central goddess of Japanese Shinto, the incarnation of the sun itself, the supreme Kami of all cults. She is not merely a celestial body but the legal ancestor of the emperor, which is why her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4431,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Amaterasu sun goddess","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Amaterasu \u2013 Sun Goddess of Japan","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Amaterasu, sun queen of Japan. Imperial legitimation, the sacred Ise shrine, and the central kami of Shinto: myth, symbolism","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,92],"class_list":["post-4430","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultures","category-gods","category-japan"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Amaterasu \u2013 Sun Goddess of Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Amaterasu, sun queen of Japan. 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