Amaterasu - History, Amaterasu in popular culture

The principal deity in the Shinto religion of Japan. She is both the Sun-goddess who rules all the gods and the mother-goddess who ensures fertility. Once when she shut herself in her cave, the whole world became darkened and no plants could grow. The other gods played music and offered presents to make her return.

Amaterasu (天照), Amaterasu-ō-mi-kami (天照大神 or 天照大御神) or Ōhiru-menomuchi-no-kami (大日孁貴神) is in Japanese mythology, a sun goddess, and perhaps the most important Shinto deity (神, kami).

History

Story of Amaterasu

Amaterasu is described in the Kojiki as the Sun goddess which was born from Izanagi, who was also accompanied by her sibling, Susanoo, the storm deity. In the Kojiki, Amaterasu is described as the god from which all light emanates, and is also often referred to as the sun goddess because of her warmth and compassion for the people who worshipped her;

Despite the fact that several interpretations list Amaterasu to have acted in embarrassment, it is listed in several places to have been triggered due to fear of reprisals from her brother. According to one interpretation, Amaterasu, when visited by her brother, was fearful because of her brother's use of power;

Upon seeing the use of Susanoo's power, Amaterasu took precautions and readied a bow and quiver at her side. Despite the fact that this may be seen as a somewhat rash decision, prior to meeting Amaterasu, Susanoo was persistent in meeting his late mother in the underworld. However, it is detailed that Susanoo was in fear of becoming lost, as he had learnt of the disturbing nature of the underworld, and so it is possible that Amaterasu feared Susanoo had visited the underworld, and returned somewhat jaded or changed.

The other gods begged her to come out, to no avail. It made the other gods laugh so loud that Amaterasu became curious and peeked out.

Later she sent her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto to pacify Japan: his great-grandson became the first emperor Emperor Jimmu.

Amaterasu is also credited with inventing the cultivation of rice and wheat, the use of silkworms, and weaving with a loom.

Until forced to recant in the terms of surrender at the end of World War II, the Japanese royal family claimed descent from Amaterasu, and the emperor was officially considered divine.

Difference in Kojiki and Nihonshoki Myths

In Kojiki and Nihonshoki, the goddess was described with slight difference. However, in Nihonshoki, Izanagi and Izanami, who was still alive, together decided to create the supreme deity to reign over the World, and gave birth to Amaterasu.

Episode of sending her grandson to Awara-Nakatsukuni(Japan) is also different in two myths. In Kojiki, Amaterasu commanded her son and other gods to pacify Japan. The role of Amaterasu is ambiguous in the episode.

In both cases, Nihonshoki records similar version of Kojiki episode as "aru-fumi", the alternative episode.

Amaterasu in popular culture

In the video game Ōkami, the main character is Amaterasu incarnated as a wolf, and is constantly referred to as "origin of all that is good and mother to us all." Amaterasu (played by Kira Clavell) features as a character in the Stargate SG-1 television series. A character in the popular anime/manga Naruto, Itachi Uchiha, has a technique by the name of Amaterasu. Amaterasu was the name of the main flagship in the anime Starship Operators Amaterasu was also the name of the Asuka City counterpart in Digimon World 3 Amaterasu is a character in the manga, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, in which she is the older sister of Princess Tomoyo (also known as Tsukuyomi) and the Empress of the Nihon/Japan (the world Kurogane came from).