Chapter 8 Japan 307brother and sister gods Izanagi and Izanami were instructed to create a
“drifting land.” Izanagi thrust his spear into the ocean below, and as he
withdrew it brine dripping from the tip formed a small island. Izanagi and
Izanami proceeded together by means of a heavenly bridge to the island and
there begot the remainder of the islands of Japan and a vast number of other
deities. In the process of giving birth to the fire deity, Izanami was badly
burned and descended to the nether world. Izanagi went to fetch her but
was so repelled by the appearance of Izanami’s decaying and maggot-
infested body that he hastily retreated. To purify himself, Izanagi went to a
stream and, as he disrobed and cleansed his body, he produced a new flock
of kami. Among these was the Sun Goddess, who sprang into being as
Izanagi washed his left eye, and Susanoo, the god of storms, who appeared
from his nose.
The Sun Goddess was appointed to rule over the plain of high heaven,
and thus became the preeminent figure in the Shinto pantheon. Her brother
Susanoo was given dominion over the sea. A fretful and ill-tempered crea-
ture, Susanoo insisted upon visiting the Sun Goddess in heaven to say
good-bye before taking up his post. Upon arriving in heaven, he committed
a series of offenses against his sister, such as breaking down her field-divid-
ers, destroying her looms, and defecating in her palace. Outraged, the Sun
Goddess secluded herself in a cave and plunged the world into darkness. To
lure her out, the other deities of heaven gathered in front of her cave with
laughter and merry-making. A shamaness deity danced seminude, causing
uproarious laughter. They hung a mirror from a branch in front of her cave
and shouted that there’s a superior deity out front. Curious, she peaked out
and saw her own reflection. As she emerged, another kami grabbed her and
dragged her out, so the universe was again bright with sunlight.The ancient myths of Izanagi, Izanami, and Amaterasu have been a popular theme for artists over
the centuries, above all this moment when the Sun Goddess Amaterasu is lured out of a cave by
scheming deities, thus restoring light to the world. (Utagawa Hiroshige, 1847–1852, woodblock.)