How Did Amaterasu Come Into Being? What Role, According to Legend, Did She Play in Japanese History?

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KERI GARCIA MODULE 2 #17 How did Amaterasu come into being? What role, according to legend, did she play in Japanese history? Word count: 511 Amaterasu is the Japanese Sun Goddess and Supreme Goddess of the Shinto faith. It is a part of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major God of the Shinto religion. She is the Goddess of the Sun, but also of the Universe. Her name Amaterasu came from Amateru meaning, "Shining in Heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-omikami, is "The Great August Kami (Gama or God) Who Shines in the Heaven". It was said that “She was the most beautiful woman in all the world or Heaven.” (WebsiteTitle: "Amaterasu: Goddess of the Japanese Sun.", written by: Powered by MSN TV, URL: http://community-2.webtv.net/Toomuwik/Amaterasu/) Amaterasu was the one who showed the people their beauty and potential. She is the ancestress of the Imperial family of Japan. She is the sister of Susanoo, the god of storms and the sea and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. All three were born from Izanagi, when he was purifying himself after entering Yomi, after failing to save Izanami, his wife. Amaterasu was born when Izanagi washed out his left eye, Tsukuyomi was born from the washing of the right eye, and Susanoo from the washing of the nose. Originally, Amaterasu shared the sky with Tsukuyomi, her brother until, out of disgust, he killed the goddess of food, Uke Mochi, when she pulled food from her rectum, nose, and mouth. This killing upset Amaterasu causing her to label Tsukuyomi an evil god and split away from him. Amaterasu was an archer, and she could hold one thousand arrows. She was also a weaver and made the garments of the Gods. Her younger brother named Susano-o always seemed to undo all of the good deeds that she had ever done. Soon enough, she became frustrated and she shut herself inside of a cave and refused to come out. The other

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