Amaterasu and Susanoo
Amaterasu and Susanoo
Amaterasu is coaxed out of the cave ©
Some of the things we learn in this part of the story explain ingredients of Shinto rituals and festivals:
- kami are not all-powerful - Amaterasu can't be forced out of the cave by the others, but she can't prevent them seizing her when she eventually emerges
- kami have the human characteristics of behaving badly, sulking, curiosity, and laughing
- kami enjoy bawdy entertainment
- one of way of pleasing kami is to entertain them
- crudity has a place in entertaining kami
- dancing has a place in entertaining kami
Izanagi gave Amaterasu authority to rule the land. Susanoo was disappointed and angry. His tantrums led him to behave so badly that he was banished from heaven.
(Things don't end in disaster for Susanoo, who remains an important and powerful kami. Although he has fearful powers of destruction, he is worshipped at many shrines for having the power to prevent disaster.)
Amaterasu was upset by the behaviour of Susanoo, and in a sulk hid herself in a cave. The absence of the sun brought darkness to the world.
The other kami gathered outside the cave and asked Amaterasu to come out. She, still sulking, refused.
The kami had a party during which a female kami did a sexy dance outside the cave, which make them all laugh.
Amaterasu came out of the cave to see what the jollity was about. The other kami grabbed her and persuaded her to take her proper place in the cosmos.