Japanese Mythology: The Essential - The Story of Amaterasu, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Izanagi and Izanami

In the beginning, chaos reigned until the primordial gods created the sky and earth, giving rise to Izanagi and Izanami. The divine couple, using a sacred spear, created the island of Onogoro and later the other Japanese islands. Their first attempts at procreation resulted in deformed creatures because Izanami, the female deity, spoke first. After correcting their ritual, they bore a new generation of gods.

Tragedy struck when Izanami died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the god of fire, and was forced to go to Yomi, the world of the dead. Izanagi, heartbroken, followed her but was horrified to find her in an advanced state of decomposition, her divine purity corrupted. Izanami, enraged by Izanagi's repulsion, sent monsters after him. Izanagi escaped and sealed the entrance to Yomi with a massive rock, forever separating the living and the dead.

Feeling defiled by his visit to the underworld, Izanagi underwent a ritualistic bath. During this purification, he gave birth to various deities and spiritual beings. From his left eye emerged Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun; from his right eye, Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon; and from his nose, Susanoo, the god of seas and storms. These three were known as the 'Three Noble Children'.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were initially close, depicted as the sun and moon shining together, blurring the lines between day and night. However, Tsukuyomi's violent act of killing Ukemochi, the goddess of food, out of disgust for her method of creating food, enraged Amaterasu. She banished him to the other side of the world, establishing the clear distinction between day and night.

Before ascending to the High Plain of Heaven, Izanagi bestowed upon Amaterasu a mystical necklace, making her the ruler of the heavens during the day. Tsukuyomi was given dominion over the night and tides, and Susanoo, the seas and storms. Susanoo, jealous of Amaterasu's prominence, caused chaos by drying rivers and withering vegetation. His father, Izanagi, expelled him for his destructive behavior and his desire to join Izanami in the underworld.

Before his exile, Susanoo visited Amaterasu, who prepared for a confrontation, fearing his intentions. Susanoo denied any ill will and to prove his sincerity, they engaged in a creative contest. Amaterasu created three female deities from Susanoo's sword, and Susanoo created five male deities from Amaterasu's jewels. Amaterasu cunningly declared herself the winner, as his creations originated from her jewels, further infuriating Susanoo.

Enraged by Amaterasu's declaration, Susanoo rampaged through her domains, destroying rice fields and defiling her palace. His worst act was causing the death of one of Amaterasu's sacred weavers. Overwhelmed by grief and anger, Amaterasu retreated into a cave, sealing its entrance and plunging the world into darkness, bringing about the first winter and allowing evil spirits to roam.

The other gods, witnessing the world's suffering, devised a plan to bring Amaterasu out. The wise god Ame-no-Koyane suggested cunning over persuasion. They commissioned a sacred mirror and arranged a lively party outside the cave. They hung the mirror on a sacred tree and the goddess Ameno Uzume performed a captivating, humorous dance, causing the gods to laugh uproariously.

Amaterasu, curious about the laughter and revelry, peeked out of the cave. She saw her own reflection in the mirror, believing it to be a new, radiant goddess, and stepped out to get a closer look. As she emerged, light returned to the world, banishing darkness and evil. The strong god, Ame-no-Tajikara, sealed the cave entrance to prevent her return. Amaterasu, recognizing her own splendor, accepted her role as the bringer of light.

The gods punished Susanoo for his actions by cutting his beard, pulling his nails, and banishing him from the gods' house. Susanoo descended to Earth, where he encountered an elderly couple and their daughter, Kushinada-hime, mourning their impending sacrifice to the eight-headed dragon, Yamata no Orochi. Susanoo, captivated by the maiden's beauty, promised to save her in exchange for her hand in marriage.

Susanoo transformed Kushinada-hime into a comb for safety and devised a plan. He had eight barrels of sake prepared, which the eight-headed dragon, flattered by the offering, drank. Once Yamata no Orochi was drunk and asleep, Susanoo attacked, slicing off its heads. During the fight, his sword broke against one of the dragon's tails, revealing the sacred Kusanagi sword hidden within.

Acknowledging the Kusanagi sword's value, Susanoo presented it to Amaterasu as an apology for his past mischief. This act reconciled them. Amaterasu, wielding the Kusanagi sword, became even more magnificent. Susanoo married Kushinada-hime and established a prosperous lineage. Amaterasu's descendants, including Jimmu, Japan's first emperor, conquered Japan under her divine protection, founding the Yamato dynasty and ensuring a story of glory and pride.