Amano-Iwato

Ama-no-Iwato (天岩戸) literally means "The cave of the sun goddess" or "heavenly rock cave". In Japanese mythology as related in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters), the bad behavior of Susano'o, the Japanese god of storms, drove his sister Amaterasu into the Ame-no-Iwato cave. The land was thus deprived of light.^[1]

In order to get Amaterasu out of the cave the other gods called Yao-yorozu-no-kami threw a party outside with wisdom of Omoikane. The goddess Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto performed a lewd dance, eliciting much laughter. Amaterasu grew curious about the source of such mirth and peeked out of the cave entrance. She became fascinated by her own reflection in the Yata no Kagami mirror which the other gods had crafted and hung before the cave for that purpose, and stood transfixed. Ame-no-tajikarao then forced the cave open and the world was bathed in light once again. As Amaterasu stepped out of the cave a holy seal was applied to it so that she could never go back into hiding.

The Takamagahara pantheon is thought to have gathered and discussed how to get Amaterasu out of the cave at this riverside, 天安河原 (Ama no Yasugawara), at Amanoiwato-jinja in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Japanese mythology

Mythic texts	Kojiki Nihon Shoki Fudoki Kujiki Kogo Shūi Hotsuma Tsutae Nihon Ryōiki Konjaku Monogatarishū Shintōshū

Japanese creation myth	Kotoamatsukami Kamiyo (Kamiyonanayo) Kuniumi Kamiumi Izanami Izanagi Kagutsuchi Watatsumi Shinigami

Takamagahara mythology	Amaterasu Susanoo Tsukuyomi Ame-no-Uzume

Izumo mythology	Yamata no Orochi Hare of Inaba Ōkuninushi

Hyūga mythology	Tenson kōrin Ninigi Konohanasakuya-hime Hoderi Hoori Toyotama-hime Ugayafukiaezu

Human age	Emperor Jimmu Tagishimimi Kesshi Hachidai

Mythical locations	Ryūgū-jō Takama-ga-hara Amano-Iwato Yomi Ashihara no Nakatsukuni

Major Buddhist figures	Amida Nyorai Daruma Five Dhyani Buddhas

Seven Lucky Gods	Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fukurokuju Hotei Jurōjin Kisshōten

Shinto deities Japanese deities Sacred objects Japanese religions

References

↑ Philippi, Donald L. 1968/1969. Kojiki. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press and Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.

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