japanese mythology myths and legends

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Amaterasu Sealing Herself Inside the Heavenly Rock Cave, Plunging the World into Darkness

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAmano-Iwato Shrine, Miyazaki, JapanAmaterasu • Susanoo • Ame-no-Uzume

Driven to deep despair and grief by the destructive, reckless actions of her brother Susanoo, the sun goddess Amaterasu seals herself within the Heavenly Rock Cave, Amano-Iwato. Her withdrawal plunges both the heavens and the earth into complete, terrifying darkness and unleashes countless evil spirits. Through a clever, festive plan devised by the assembly of gods, Amaterasu is lured out of...

Tsukuyomi Born from Izanagi's Right Eye, Becoming the God of the Moon

⛩️ Japanese MythologyGekū (Outer Shrine of Ise), Mie, JapanIzanagi-no-Mikoto • Izanami-no-Mikoto • Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto

Following his harrowing journey to the underworld of Yomi to rescue his wife Izanami, the creator god Izanagi underwent a ritual purification to cleanse himself of the underworld's impurities. As he washed his face, three major deities, known as the Three Noble Children, were born from his ablutions. From Izanagi's right eye emerged Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, who was destined to rule the realm of...

Susanoo Chasing Okuninushi but Ultimately Blessing His Union with Suserihime

⛩️ Japanese MythologyYomotsu Hirasaka, Shimane, JapanOnamuchi (Okuninushi) • Suserihime • Susanoo-no-Mikoto

This myth tells of the young god Onamuchi, later known as Okuninushi, who flees to the underworld to escape his murderous brothers. There, he falls in love with Suserihime, the daughter of the storm god Susanoo, who subjects Onamuchi to a series of deadly trials. After escaping with Suserihime and Susanoo's sacred treasures, Onamuchi is chased to the gates of the underworld, where Susanoo...

Okuninushi Tying Susanoo's Hair to the Rafters and Escaping with His Treasures

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Susanoo • Suseri-hime

To escape his eighty jealous brothers, the young god Onamuji travels to the underworld, where he falls in love with the storm god Susanoo's daughter, Suseri-hime. Susanoo subjects him to a series of deadly trials, but with the help of Suseri-hime and a helpful field mouse, Onamuji survives them all. Finally, Onamuji outwits the storm god by tying Susanoo's hair to the palace rafters while he...

Suserihime Giving Okuninushi a Magical Scarf to Ward Off the Aggressive Snakes

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

To survive the deadly trials imposed by her father Susanoo, the young deity Okuninushi must rely on the quick wit and magical artifacts of Suserihime. In the first and most terrifying trial, Suserihime secretly gifts him a mystical, venom-repelling scarf. By waving the sacred garment three times, Okuninushi tames a chamber overflowing with aggressive, poisonous snakes, cementing their love...

Susanoo Testing Okuninushi by Locking Him in a Chamber Full of Venomous Snakes

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Region, Shimane, JapanSusanoo-no-Mikoto • Okuninushi • Suseri-hime

Seeking the hand of Princess Suseri-hime, the earthly god Okuninushi travels to Ne-no-Kuni, the underworld realm of her father, the storm god Susanoo. Susanoo subjects Okuninushi to a series of deadly trials, beginning by locking him in a chamber filled entirely with venomous snakes. With the help of Suseri-hime's magical scarf, Okuninushi survives this and subsequent trials to eventually...

Princess Suserihime Falling in Love with Okuninushi When He Flees to Ne-no-kuni

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

This myth recounts how the young deity Okuninushi fled the murderous plots of his eighty jealous brothers and sought refuge in Ne-no-kuni, the dark netherworld ruled by Susanoo. Upon his arrival, Okuninushi met Susanoo's daughter, Princess Suserihime, and the two immediately fell in love. Despite the grueling and lethal trials Susanoo forced upon his daughter's suitor, Suserihime's devotion...