Amaterasu, the sun goddess of Shintoism, hid in a cave after being startled by her mischievous brother Susano-o. The other gods lured her out by decorating a tree outside the entrance with colorful garments and holding a boisterous festival. Amaterasu's curiosity led her to peek outside, restoring light to the world. This myth explains the separation of sun and moon and the origin of agriculture and food in Japan. It also establishes motifs of heavenly gods, customs, and rewards/punishments in Japanese mythology.

1. AMATERASU
OMIKAMI
天照大神／天照大
御神

2. Report Outline
• Japanese Mythology
• Shintoism
• Who is Amaterasu?
• The Myth of Amaterasu
• Why did Amaterasu hide in the cave?
• How did Amaterasu influenced the Japanese way of
life?

3. Japanese Mythology
Japanese mythology is a
system of beliefs that
embraces Shinto and Buddhist
traditions as well as
agriculture-based folk
religion.
Mainstream Japanese myths, as
generally recognized
today, are based on the
KOJIKI, NIHON SHOKI and
some complementary books

4. The Kojiki or "Record of Ancient Matters" is the
oldest recognized book of myths, legends and
history of Japan. The Nihon Shoki refers to
“Chronicles of Japan”
The Nihon Shoki and Kojiki accounts of
Amaterasu’s origin differ. Nihon Shoki states
that she was the offspring of Izanagi and
Izanami, the first Shinto gods, while the
Kojiki explains that she was born from
Izanagi’s left eye when he ritually washed it
from visiting hell.

5. Shintoism
• Is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the
people of Japan.
• It is a set of practices, to be carried out
diligently, to establish a connection between
present day Japan and its ancient past

6. Who is Amaterasu?
•Amaterasu is the the SUN GODDES OF
JAPAN according to Shinto Religion.
•Her full name is Amaterasu
Omikami, which means GREAT SPIRIT
ILLUMINATING THE HEAVENS
•a beautiful and compassionate goddess
who ruled both the sun and the heavenly
fields of rice that fed the Japanese
people.

7. • She is the offspring of Izanagi and Izanami
, the supreme Japanese diety who created the
world and the gods.
• Another story states that she came from
Izanagi’s left eye.
• She and her brothers, the storm
god, Susanowa, and the moon god, Tsuki-
yomi, shared the power of governing the
universe. Amaterasu, as the sun goddess, was
responsible for illuminating the world and for
insuring the fertility of the rice fields.

8. The Myth of AMATERASU
The myth explains:
• The separation between the sun and the moon.
• The origin of food on earth.
• The beginning of agriculture and silkworm
industry.

9. Separation of Sun and Moon
• Amaterasu was reigning in the heavens when
she sent her brother and husband, the god of
the moon down to the reed plains to serve the
goddess of food.
• When the goddess of food saw him, the
goddess spit boiled rice, fish and fur-coated
animals from her mouth for him to eat. This
made the moon god insulted.

10. • The moon god drew his sword and killed the
goddess of food.
• He returned to Amaterasu and told her of his
deed. This made Amaterasu very angry and
said: “You are an evil god! Take yourself from
my presence and see to it that we do not meet
face to face again.
• So, the sun and the moon lived apart from one
another, separated by day and night.

12. The Origin of Food, Agriculture and
Silkworm Industry on Earth. 
• The goddess of food was
indeed dead after the moon god
killed her.
• The ox and horse had issued
forth from her head, grain had
grown from her
head, silkworms had come
forth from her
eyebrows, cereals had emerged
from her eyes, rice had grown
from her stomach, and wheat
and beans had grown from her
abdomen.

13. • Amaterasu was delighted with the
variety of foods. She extracted the
seeds from various grains and planted
them in the dry fields. She took the rice
seed and planted them in the water
fields.
• She placed the silkworms in her mouth
and collected silken thread from them.
Thus, the goddess initiated the art of
raising silkworm.
• It is then the beginning of

14. Why did Amaterasu hide in the
cave?
• Susano-o-no Mikoto, Amaterasu’s
rude, violent and evil brother decided to visit
his shining sister – Amaterasu.
• Susano-o-Mikoto became possesed by jealous
anger. He destroyed and ruined everything –
the rice field, the channels and the troughs and
pipes.
• Amaterasu remained calm and tolerant.

15. • When Amaterasu was weaving cloth for the
god in her sacred weaving hall, her evil brother
silently removed the roof tiles and threw a colt
of heaven in to room.
• Amaterasu was so starled that she pricked
herself with her shuttle.

19. • All of the gods gathered along the banks of the
peaceful river of heaven and they planned how
to make Amaterasu get out of the cave.
• They made prayers and offerings for her.
• The goddesses danced and chanted by the
door.

20. • Amaterasu’s curiosity
overcame her anger and
she opened the door a
crack to look outside.
• The gods and the people
rejoiced in the return of
the sun’s brilliant rays.
• They took Amaterasu by
the hand, had her among
them and convinced her
to join them.

21. • The gods punished
Susano-o-Mikoto.
• He is banished from
heaven and from the
central weed plains
as well.
• He left heaven
forever and began his
journey to the
netherland.

22. MOTIFS
1. GODS OF THE UPPER
WORLD
2. THE HEAVENS
3. ORIGIN OF CUSTOMS
4. REWARDS AND
PUNISHMENTS

23. ARCHETYPES

24. THE
END