Dancing Gods, Laughing Lights Up the Sky - The Legend of Amenouzume and Ama-no-Iwato

Dancing Gods, Laughing Lights Up the Sky - The Legend of Amenouzume and Ama-no-Iwato

Amenouzume (Ama-no-Ukemikoto, Ama-no-Mikoto) is a goddess in Japanese mythology and the founder of the performing arts, dance, and kagura. In the Kojiki and Nihonshoki, she played a role in saving the world in the myth of Ama-no-Iwato, showing that the power of dance and laughter could move even the gods.

The Ama-no-Uzume myth of Ama-no-Iwato arose from the conflict between Amaterasu (Amaterasu) and Susano-no-mikoto (Susanoo). Amaterasu and Susanoo were brother and sister, and their father was Izanagi no Mikoto (Izanagi). When Izanagi returned from Hades and performed misogi, Amaterasu was born when he washed his left eye, and Susanoo was born when he washed his nose. Izanagi assigned them their respective roles, ordering Amaterasu to rule over the high heaven and Susanoo to rule over the sea. However, Susanoo refused this command and wished to go to Hades, where his mother, Izanami-no-mikoto (Izanami), lived, which angered his father and eventually led to his banishment.

Before leaving Takamagahara, Susanoo visited his sister, Amaterasu, to bid her farewell. However, Amaterasu, who was suspicious of his sudden visit, suspected that Susano'o had come to take away her kingdom. So the two deities made a vow (ukei) to ascertain whether or not Susanoo had a pure heart. The result of the oath was that the gods born from Amaterasu's possessions were female and those born from Susanoo's possessions were male, and Susanoo, thinking he had been vindicated, began to rage in joy. He trampled over the rice fields, defiled the temple, and even threw a horse's hide into the weaving hut where Amaterasu wove her sacred robe, causing the startled weaver to injure herself with the loom's shuttlecock and die. Deeply hurt by this act, Amaterasu shut herself away in Ama-no-Iwato, and the world lost its light and was enveloped in darkness.

As the world became shrouded in darkness, crops withered, and evil spirits roamed the land, the eight million gods, troubled, gathered at Ama-no-Angawara and devised a plan to bring Amaterasu out of the Iwato. Omokane-no-kami (the god Omoikane) gathered his wisdom, Ishikoridome created the Yata no Kagami (the three-legged mirror), and Tamasama-no-Mikoto prepared the beautiful kagatama (the three-layered jewel). Then, as a final deciding factor, the gods decide to have Amenouzume perform a dance.

Amenouzume stood atop a tub, holding the tendrils and leaves of the Amakagusan vine and tree, and began the dance of the gods. The gods laughed loudly as she disheveled her robe, exposed her breasts, and pushed her costume down to her waist. Her dance brought laughter to the gods and softened the atmosphere of the place. As the lively laughter and cheers echoed, Amaterasu, who had been hiding behind Iwato, wondered why it was so joyous outside, and quietly peeked out through a crevice in the Iwato. At that moment, the gods held a yatagamira (three-legged mirror) in front of Amaterasu and reflected her image back to her. When the astonished Amaterasu leaned forward further, Amaterukinomikoto pried open the Iwato and pulled Amaterasu out. Thus, light returned to the world and order was restored.

Even today, Amenouzume is revered as the patron goddess of the Japanese performing arts and Kagura (Shinto music and dance), and is worshipped by those involved in dance, theater, and music. Her presence symbolizes the origin of Japanese performing arts culture and the mystical power of laughter and dance.