AMA TERASU

The Japanese sun goddess reigns highest in the heavens, and there is no other above her. She is the source of all light for all time, and all existence depends upon her grace. Her character is vague and loftily symbolic, but all growth and fertility are blessed by her beaming face. The art of the silkworm, and the creation of seeds and grains and the knowledge of their planting are attributed to her beneficence. Ama Terasu is recognized as the divine forbearer of the royal emperors of Japan.

Ama Terasu was born from the left eye of her father, Izanagi. Her brother, the moon god, was born from the right, and from his nose came her brother Susa-no-o, the impetuous male.

Ama Terasu was easily offended by all that was not pure and light, and had a falling out with both of her brothers. The moon god’s rudeness upset her so much that she refused to ever meet him face to face, thereby creating the separation of night and day.

Her other brother’s loud boisterousness scared her and caused her to hide herself in a cave, plunging all the world into total darkness and chaos. The other gods tried to coax her out, and placed a sacred tree decorated with jewels and mirrors just outside the mouth of the cave. The goddess Ame-no-uzume-no-mikoto, the alarming female, did a comical dance, eventually disrobing completely to reveal a face painted on the front of her body. The other gods and goddesses laughed so that the curious Ama Terasu peeked out of her hiding place. The dazzling beauty of her own countenance reflected in the mirrors on the tree lured her out, and the gods sealed the cave behind her, restoring light to the world. Her story illustrates that the good of creation depends on banishing feminine fear and disharmony, and replacing it with laugher and joy.