Amaterasu

Amaterasu is the solar deity of Japanese mythology and one of the most revered kami in the Shinto tradition. Often regarded as the chief goddess of the Shinto pantheon, she is described in the earliest Japanese chronicles—the Kojiki (712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE)—as the sovereign of Takamagahara, the Heavenly Plain. As the mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line through her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto, she occupies a central position in Japan’s religious, cultural and political history. Amaterasu is also widely enshrined across Japan, most notably at the Ise Grand Shrine, one of the most sacred Shinto sites and a major centre of pilgrimage.

Names and Etymology

Amaterasu is referred to by several names in classical texts. One of her principal epithets is Amaterasu-ōmikami, rendered in older forms of Japanese as Amaterasu Ōhomikami or Amaterasu Opomisubi. Other names include Hirume-no-Muchi, Ohohirume-no-Muchi, and Hino-Kami, all attested in ancient records.
The name Amaterasu is widely interpreted as deriving from the verb meaning “to shine in or from heaven”, combined with the honorific mi and kami, meaning “great august deity”. As such, the title can be understood literally as “the Great August Goddess Who Shines in Heaven.” The structure of this epithet reflects Japanese grammatical patterns in which attributive verb forms precede the noun they modify. Unlike fixed personal names, this epithet conveys a transparent meaning, directly describing the deity’s celestial radiance.
A non-honorific variant, Amateru-hirume, also appears in earlier texts. Alternative interpretations have been proposed for related names, including connections to words for “sun”, “daylight” or “shining woman”. Some scholars have suggested historical or mythological links between Amaterasu and deities such as Hiruko, though such theories remain hypothetical.
As the divine progenitor of the imperial house, she is also addressed in titles such as Amaterasu Sumera Mikami or Tenshō Kōtaijin, honourific expressions emphasising her status as heavenly sovereign.

Origins and Birth in Classical Mythology

The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki agree in identifying Amaterasu as the daughter of the creator god Izanagi and the elder sister of Tsukuyomi, deity of the moon, and Susanoo, god of storms and seas. These three are collectively known as the Three Precious Children, the foremost offspring of Izanagi.
The Kojiki describes their birth occurring as Izanagi purified himself in the river at Tachibana in Hyūga Province after returning from Yomi, the land of the dead. When he washed his left eye, Amaterasu emerged; Tsukuyomi was born from his right eye, and Susanoo from his nose. Izanagi appointed Amaterasu ruler of the Heavenly Plain, Tsukuyomi ruler of the night, and Susanoo ruler of the seas.
By contrast, the Nihon Shoki presents several variant traditions. In one, the gods are produced from mirrors held by Izanagi in each hand. In another, Izanagi and Izanami beget the sun, moon, Hiruko and Susanoo during the generation of the land. Despite variations, all accounts affirm Amaterasu’s connection with light and divine authority.

Separation of Sun and Moon

One variant myth in the Nihon Shoki records that Amaterasu once commanded Tsukuyomi to visit the goddess Ukemochi in the earthly realm. When Ukemochi produced food for Tsukuyomi from her body—transforming various animals and grains—Tsukuyomi was outraged and slew her. Upon learning of this sacrilege, Amaterasu distanced herself from Tsukuyomi, symbolically creating the permanent separation of day and night. From Ukemochi’s body arose the first crops and silkworms, which Amaterasu instructed another deity to harvest, thus beginning agriculture and sericulture for humankind.
A parallel story in the Kojiki involves Susanoo rather than Tsukuyomi, showing a recurring theme of divine disruption and cosmic reordering.

Amaterasu and Susanoo

The most famous narrative surrounding Amaterasu concerns her tumultuous relationship with her brother Susanoo. Banished for his destructive and violent behaviour, Susanoo ascended to Takamagahara to bid Amaterasu farewell. Suspicious of his intentions, Amaterasu donned armour and confronted him. To demonstrate sincerity, Susanoo proposed a pledge ritual (ukehi), in which each deity chewed and spat out an item belonging to the other; from these emerged new deities. Amaterasu claimed the male deities as her offspring and entrusted the female deities to Susanoo.
Despite the ritual, Susanoo soon embarked on a rampage. He devastated Amaterasu’s rice fields, polluted her palace and caused general havoc. His most grievous act occurred when he tore a hole in the roof of her weaving hall—a sacred place where heavenly garments were made—and flung into it a flayed celestial horse. One of Amaterasu’s weaving maidens died of fright or injury, compelling the sun goddess to withdraw in grief and anger.
Her withdrawal, a key episode in Japanese mythology, plunges both heaven and earth into darkness and disorder. Although this widely known portion of the myth is not fully included in the provided material, it forms the continuation of the narrative and explains her eventual re-emergence, restoring light to the world.

Role in the Divine Order

Amaterasu is consistently portrayed as a deity associated with cosmic order, authority and the proper functioning of the world. Her dominion over heaven reflects her seniority among the heavenly kami, and her lineage establishes the divine origins of the imperial family. Through her descendant Ninigi-no-Mikoto, who descended to earth to rule the land, she becomes the symbolic source of imperial legitimacy.
Her functions also extend to the maintenance of social and agricultural well-being. Mythic episodes concerning food, weaving and the regulation of day and night reveal her connection to essential human activities and cosmic regularity.

Cult and Worship

The most prominent centre of worship dedicated to Amaterasu is the Ise Grand Shrine, located in Mie Prefecture. This shrine, particularly its Inner Shrine (Naikū), is regarded as one of the most sacred sites in the Shinto tradition. It houses the Yata no Kagami, the sacred mirror associated with Amaterasu and one of the Three Imperial Regalia. The structures of the shrine are ritually rebuilt at regular intervals as part of the Shikinen Sengū tradition, reflecting ideas of renewal and purity central to Shinto practice.
Beyond Ise, Amaterasu is enshrined in numerous shrines throughout Japan, forming a widespread cult that has influenced ritual practice, court ideology and cultural identity for centuries.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Amaterasu’s mythological and historical prominence has made her one of Japan’s most enduring and influential deities. She represents light, order, purity and continuity, themes deeply embedded in Shinto thought. Her identity as the imperial ancestress underpins longstanding cultural narratives about the sacred origins of Japan’s rulers. In literature, art and ritual, she stands as an enduring symbol of celestial authority and spiritual illumination, shaping the religious imagination of Japan across centuries.