Difference between revisions of "Amaterasu Omikami"

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Figure from Japanese mythology, also known as Ôhiru Memuchi. The central figure in the myths and legends recorded in the ''[[Kojiki]]'' and the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'', she is the goddess considered to have been the ancestress of the Japanese imperial family and, as the deity enshrined in the Inner Shrine of the [[Grand Shrines of Ise]], is accorded greater respect than any other deity in the [[Japanese pantheon]].
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*''Other Names'': 天照皇大神宮様 ''(tenshou koudai jinguu sama / amaterasu oo mikami no miyasama)''
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*''Japanese'': 天照大御神 ''(amaterasu oo mikami)''
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[[Image:Amaterasu.jpg|thumb|right|Amaterasu Ômikami from Yuniwa no Inaho]]
  
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The ''Kojiki'' and the ''Nihon Shoki'' relate three theories concerning her birth:
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Amaterasu Ômikami is one of the chief deities in Japanese mythology. The Sun Goddess, she is considered the divine ancestor of the Imperial line, and of many of the other key members of the [[Shinto]] pantheon.
  
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**1. She was born as child of the deities [[Izanagi]] and [[Izanami]].
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The chief deity enshrined at [[Ise Shrine]], Amaterasu Ômikami was the daughter of [[Izanagi]] and [[Izanami]], as well as the older sister of [[Susa no O no Mikoto|Susanoo no Mikoto]]. She was born from Izanagi's left eye and ordered to rule [[Takamanohara]] (the "plain of high heavens" where the deities are said to reside). Amaterasu then remained in Takamanohara, never truly descending to earth, while her grandson, [[Ninigi no Mikoto]], crossed the Heavenly Bridge Ama-no-ukihashi, and took up residence on earth, bringing with him the [[Three Imperial Regalia]] which signal the legitimacy of an emperor's authority.
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**2. She was born when the deity Izanagi took into his hand a nickled mirror.
 
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**3. Izanagi returned from the underworld ([[Yomi no Kuni]]) and was bathing to purify himself; she aws born as he washed his left eye.
 
  
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The myth also relates that Amaterasu had a brother, the god [[Susano-o]], an unruly deity who committed an act of violence in [[Takamagahara]] (the Heavenly Plain, abode of the gods), thereby so enraging Amaterasu that she shut herself up in a cave, whereupon darkness covered the whole world. She is, thus, a kind of sun goddess also, and it seems likely that in this myth the imperial family, gradually building up the ancient Japanese state as agriculture developed, sought to relate its own ancestors to the sun--the farmer's greatest blessing--thereby giving itself a supreme position in its attempt to exert control over the other powerful families.
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One of the most repeated stories featuring Amaterasu involves her hiding herself away in a cave, behind a large rock. As the story goes, when she became angry with a series of violent acts committed by her brother Susanoo, she hid herself inside of a cave (''Amano Iwayato''), depriving Takamanohara and the earth of sunlight. The great many (''yaoyorozu'') gods were worried and planned to trick her into coming out. Amaterasu was eventually lured out of the cave by music, dancing (including erotic performances), and general festivities enjoyed by the myriad of other deities. When she opened the cave out of curiosity and jealousy, a deity named ''Amano Tajikara Onokami'' pulled her out and blocked up the door, bringing light back to Takamanohara and the earth.  
  
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Text taken from Seiichi Iwao's Biographical Dictionary of Japanese History
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==References==
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*Mark McNally, "A King's Legitimacy and a Kingdom's Exceptionality: Ryûkyû's Bankoku Shinryô no Kane of 1458," ''International Journal of Okinawan Studies'' 6 (2015), 89.
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* ''[[Rekishi Dokuhon]]'' 2006-12 issue
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* ''Japan Chronik'' Kodansha 1991
  
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[[:Category: Deities]]
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==Further Reading==
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* ''[[Kojiki]]''
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* ''[[Nihon Shoki]]''
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* ''Kojiki Modern Translation'' ([http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4309406998 現代語訳 古事記]) Fukunaga Takehiko
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* ''Nihon Shoki Modern Translation'' ([http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4309407641 現代語訳 日本書紀]) Fukunaga Takehiko
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==Links==
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* [http://markun.cs.shinshu-u.ac.jp/japan/Myth/myth.html Japanese Myth] Shinshu University
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[[Category: Deities]]
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==Amaterasu Omikami in Fiction==
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[[Image:AmaterasuSG1.jpg|thumb|right|Kira Clavell as Amaterasu]]
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===Appearances===
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*''Stargate: SG-1  (Season 8, Episode:"New Order", Airdate:Friday July 9, 2004)''
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{{draft}}

Latest revision as of 02:51, 15 February 2017

  • Other Names: 天照皇大神宮様 (tenshou koudai jinguu sama / amaterasu oo mikami no miyasama)
  • Japanese: 天照大御神 (amaterasu oo mikami)
Amaterasu Ômikami from Yuniwa no Inaho

Amaterasu Ômikami is one of the chief deities in Japanese mythology. The Sun Goddess, she is considered the divine ancestor of the Imperial line, and of many of the other key members of the Shinto pantheon.

The chief deity enshrined at Ise Shrine, Amaterasu Ômikami was the daughter of Izanagi and Izanami, as well as the older sister of Susanoo no Mikoto. She was born from Izanagi's left eye and ordered to rule Takamanohara (the "plain of high heavens" where the deities are said to reside). Amaterasu then remained in Takamanohara, never truly descending to earth, while her grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, crossed the Heavenly Bridge Ama-no-ukihashi, and took up residence on earth, bringing with him the Three Imperial Regalia which signal the legitimacy of an emperor's authority.

One of the most repeated stories featuring Amaterasu involves her hiding herself away in a cave, behind a large rock. As the story goes, when she became angry with a series of violent acts committed by her brother Susanoo, she hid herself inside of a cave (Amano Iwayato), depriving Takamanohara and the earth of sunlight. The great many (yaoyorozu) gods were worried and planned to trick her into coming out. Amaterasu was eventually lured out of the cave by music, dancing (including erotic performances), and general festivities enjoyed by the myriad of other deities. When she opened the cave out of curiosity and jealousy, a deity named Amano Tajikara Onokami pulled her out and blocked up the door, bringing light back to Takamanohara and the earth.

References

  • Mark McNally, "A King's Legitimacy and a Kingdom's Exceptionality: Ryûkyû's Bankoku Shinryô no Kane of 1458," International Journal of Okinawan Studies 6 (2015), 89.
  • Rekishi Dokuhon 2006-12 issue
  • Japan Chronik Kodansha 1991

Further Reading

Links

Amaterasu Omikami in Fiction

Kira Clavell as Amaterasu

Appearances

  • Stargate: SG-1 (Season 8, Episode:"New Order", Airdate:Friday July 9, 2004)
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