Amaterasu - The Sun Goddess & The Great Divinity Illuminating Heaven | Japanese Mythology Explained

As the central figure of the Shinto religion, the heaven-shining Amaterasu is the ancestress by of the imperial family of Japan, she has always been an important Kami in the Japanese spiritual life. Amaterasu is a glorious goddess and the personification of the rising sun, the queen of Shinto divinities. based on Japanese mythology, the sun represents order and purity, two important concepts in Shintoism. Amaterasu symbolizes not just order but the justice that maintains it as well. The sun goddess is often depicted as a beautiful woman holding a mirror, the raven Yata Garasu is believed to be the messenger of the goddess. The name Amaterasu comes from the verb Amateru which can be translated as to shine from heaven, and this is the shorthand for Amaterasu ōmikami.
Before the Meiji restoration, Amaterasu was significant across Japan. It was only after Shintoism was formally recognized as a state religion that the role of the sun goddess was solidified, and the imperial family set once more as the head of the democratized Japan. Amaterasu appear in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, she is one of the three deities born from Izanagi’s purification following his attempt to free Izanami from the Yomi.
The most popular myth concerning Amaterasu is the one about her shutting herself in a cave after an argument with Susanoo who was banished from heaven by their father.
As a consequence of her disappearance, humanity was cast into total darkness. The other Kami looked down upon humanity and decided to bring back the sun. The light of the sun reentered the world, winter ended and spring brought life back to Japan. Amaterasu later forgave her brother after receiving the sword Kusanagi as a gift.
Amaterasu sent Ninigi to rule the earthly realm and gave him items in order to build a kingdom of justice. Among which the Yata-no-Kagami, the jewel Yasakani-no-Magatama, and the grass-cutting sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Heavenly sword of gathering clouds.
Ninigi’s great-grandson, the emperor Jimmu who founded the state in 660 BCE became the first emperor of Japan, and ruled with the sacred treasures as a sign of his divine lineage. The belief of possessing these relics allowed the Japanese imperial family to claim divine ancestry. The Ise Grand Shrine known as Jingū, is not only the most significant shrine history-wise in Japan but also the official dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu.
Amaterasu Ōmikami is the sun goddess in Japanese mythology, she is the ruler of the heaven, and the mythical ancestress of the imperial house of Japan. Along with her siblings, she is one the three most precious children of creation.

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