The article talks about who Amaterasu Omikami is. In addition, you will learn which divine pantheon it belongs to and which imperial dynasty, according to legend, gave rise.
Religion
Belief in something supernatural and divine is probably inherent in man at the genetic level. And this is a natural process, absolutely everyone is subject to it. Even the smallest wild tribes, which have virtually no contact with the outside world, have their own superstitions, beliefs, some kind of religion or cult. Throughout their history, people have worshiped a huge number of gods. It is probably fair to say that most of them have long been forgotten. But some are still remembered. And they are one of the peculiar symbols of a country or locality. For example, the Scandinavian Odin or his son Thor. One of the goddesses who are worshiped today is Amaterasu Omikami.
Shintoism
Amaterasu is one of the gods of the Japanese pantheon. Translated, her name means "the great goddess illuminating the sky." According to Shinto beliefs, it was she who was the ancestress of the great imperial family of Japan, which had not been interrupted for many centuries. And the very first ruler of the famous dynasty named Jimmu was her great-grandson. So now we know what Amaterasu Omikami is. Rather, who is she. In addition, she is revered as a goddess who has told her people the secrets of the technology of growing rice and silk through a loom. In who it is, we figured out. Now consider the legend according to which it appeared at all.
Origin
One of Japanese legends tells how Amaterasu Omiki appeared. Until the time when people arose in the world, there were many generations of gods. The last of these were a brother and sister named Izanagi and Izanami. They entered into a marriage, created the Japanese islands, gave birth to many new goddesses and gods. But after the death of Izanami, her saddened husband tried to return his wife from the world of the dead. However, he did not succeed in this. He only defiled himself. Desiring to purify himself, Izanagam went to one of the parts of Japan. And there, as he took off the details of the suit, new gods were born (according to one version, he also separated body parts from himself). After all this, he decided to take a bath. And from the drops of water appeared the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami.
Quarrel
According to beliefs, Amaterasu also had a brother. Having given birth to them, Izanagi gave the sky to Amateras, and the sea to her brother. But Susanoo did not want to take on the duties of a deity. He dreamed of retiring to his mother’s country. However, Izanagi did not agree with him. He expelled Susanoo. Wanting to say goodbye to his sister, he visited her. But Amaterasu Omikami decided that her brother was going to take her possessions. To confirm peaceful intentions, he married his sister. Later they gave birth to many beautiful children. Seeing their charm, Susanno decided that he thus proved the purity of his thoughts. And he began to destroy irrigation canals and do other atrocities in the world of people. At first, the sister tried to reason with her brother, in every possible way justified him before other gods. But it only got worse. Then, saddened, she hid in one of the caves. And interrupted all contacts as the world of people and gods.
