History of Amaterasu [the Sun Goddess in Japanese mythology]

The full name of Amaterasu is “Amaterasu-O-Mi-Us,” which may be literally translated as “he who made heaven shines”. He is also known as Omikami (“illustrious Goddess”).

Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, is the most important in a collection of teachings of Shinto gods. He considered Japanese imperial ancestors and is the most respected in heaven. But he is not the strongest, and in fact, many stories that describe him seem very human, though of course, the scale of the divinity.

According to Shinto mythology in the process of creation, Amaterasu was born when Izanagi who returned from his failure to save his wife, Izanami from Yomi (the land of death / Underworld). Birth to Amaterasu from his left eye. And at the same time, her sister, the Goddess of the Moon: Tsukiyomi (which in some stories portrayed as male) was born from her right eye and the youngest, Susanoo (god of Sea and Storm), born from his nose.

Izanagi (male) and Izanami (female) are two of the first deities created by Kunitokotachi and Amenominakanushi, two of zōka-sanshin (“Our three / god / spirit of creation”) who created and formed many islands and is the ancestor from Japanese soil.

Izanagi then gives Amaterasu the sacred beads (Yasakani no Magatama) and told him that he will reign over heaven. While his brother Susano-Wo will reign over the sea. But Susanoo jealous of her sister and told her father that she did not accept it and will go to Yomi to join his mother, Izanami. This makes the Izanagi was furious. He was expelled from the presence of his Susanoo. Susanoo then went to his sister Amaterasu to say goodbye, but figured it was just a trick Amaterasu Susanoo and prepare the bow and arrow with him. Susanoo assured he means well and his brother protested, but eventually he could not hide his jealousy. He suggested holding a contest to see who is stronger. Anyone who can create more gods will be the winner, said Susanoo.

Amaterasu start by breaking the sword of his brother into three pieces and eat it. When he spat out the discount, fog formed in the air. Three goddesses of the mist formed. Susanoo was not impressed. He took his brother beads and destroy them with his teeth. Five male gods to appear. Susano-Wo feel victorious, but Amaterasu reject it by saying that the five gods came from the jewelry, while the sword of his brother only bring three councils and they are all women.

Susanoo raged across the earth, claiming that he was the winner of the competition. He flooded rice fields and causing massive damage. He even pollute the temple in which the rice harvest will be offered and defecate in it. Finally, he took the pony and skinned alive, then the animal was thrown into the sacred space where Amaterasu was weaving with his maid. Very embarrassed and angry, Amaterasu and then go into a dark cave, leaving the earth in darkness and imbalance and refused to come out again.

God of the earth eventually, decided to trick Amaterasu to come back so that the world is no longer covered with darkness. They place / hang Yata-no-Kagami, sacred mirror made by Ama-Tsu-Mara and Ishi-Kori-Dome, in front of his cave, along with chickens crowing before dawn. Then they ask the goddess Uzume to dance in front of the cave. Uzume started slowly, but quickly found his rhythm. Goddard was a little chubby so happy even to let go and throw all her clothes and dancing wildly, making all who saw it laughed very hard. Amaterasu heard the sound of laughter and wonder what was going on. When he arrived at the mouth of the cave to investigate, she saw her reflection in the mirror (Yata-no-Kagami). Curious, she asked who that beautiful beautiful goddess. The gods that others say that it is a replacement. Fascinated by her own beauty, he then comes slowly to check it. Tajikawa quickly closed the cave entrance. The world finally back illuminated by light and equilibrium is reached.
Enter emerged from the darkness, Amaterasu show people how to grow rice and wheat, weaving, and raising silkworms. Some people say that he and his assistant and continued to weave the fabric weave of the universe.

Meanwhile Susanoo, punished by the other gods. Cropped beard and mustache, his nails pulled, and was expelled from paradise. He then went and adventure on earth. At one point, he membuh eight-headed dragon (Yamata no Orochi), when the dead tail turned into a sword. When Susanooo repent and mengahiri feud with his brother, he gave this sword to Amaterasu as a gift which she later named Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (“Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven”) or any other name, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (“Grasscutter Sword”).

Amaterasu then asked his son, Ame-No-Oshido-Mimi, to rule the earth. But her son was refused because he thought the world was filled with chaos. He sent his grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto to the world, and within three years, he managed to master it. Ninigi-no-Mikoto was the ancestors of the Japanese empire, which is a direct descendant of Amaterasu.