Outline of Japanese Mythology "Ama-no-Iwato" and Amanoiwato Shrine

Outline of Japanese Mythology “Ama-no-Iwato” and Amanoiwato Shrine

2023/04/17

In Takachiho town, Miyazaki Prefecture, there is a cave where Amaterasu-omikami hid herself in the old days of the mythological age. I summarized the mythology briefly.

There is a famous cave written in “Kojiki” and also “Nihon-shoki” in Takachiho town, Miyazaki Prefecture. There is a myth remains that the world was covered with the dark because of too much outrageous behavior of Susanoo-no-Mikoto. This cave is called “Amano Iwato” and this place is now enshrined as “Amanoiwato Shrine”.

About 10 minutes on foot along the Iwato River from Amano Iwato Shrine, there is a river beach called “Amanoyasugawara” and there is a myth when Amaterasu-omikami shut herself in “Amano Iwato”, the world became dark and myriads of gods gathered at this river beach and talked.

The following is an outline of “Amano Iwato”.

Japanese myth "Amano Iwato" An Illustration of Susanoo-no-mikoto defecating in the Takamagahara shrine.

Amaterasu-omikami who is the sun god had a rough younger brother named Susanoo-no-Mikoto.Susanoo-no-Mikoto destroyed Amaterasu-omikami’s levees of rice field, or scattered feces to a sanctuary. Amaterasu-omikami had difficulty with her younger brother’s rampageous behavior in “Takamagahara” (the world where the gods live).

Japanese myth "Amano Iwato" An illustration of Susanoo-no-Mikoto throwing a horse from the roof of the weaving hall and the weaving woman who was inside died.

When Amaterasu-omikami was weaving sacred clothes in a weaving room, Susanoo-no-Mikoto made a hole in the roof and threw a peeled horse into the room so a woman who was weaving the cloth was dead. Amaterasu-omikami was furious and shut herself in Amano Iwato.

Japanese myth "Amano Iwato" An Illustration of eight hundred gods consulting in Amano Yasugawara.

As Amaterasu-omikami, the sun god, hid herself in Amano Iwato, the world was covered with the dark. Myriads of gods who were in trouble gathered in “Amanoyasugawara” and talked.

An illustration of the Japanese myth "Amano Iwato" Amaterasu Omikami opening the Iwato(rock door).

In front of the cave, myriads of gods laughed uproariously because “Ama no uzume” was dancing sensually. When Amaterasu-omikami, who was concerned about the noise outside, opened the rock door a little, then Ama no uzume said “Here is a god nobler than you”, and showed Amaterasu-omikami herself in a mirror. Amaterasu-omikami leaned forward to look in the mirror more, then “Ama-no-Tajikarao” who was hiding right next to the rock door, held the hand of Amaterasu-omikami and pulled her out.

So, the world got the light back.