Ame-no-Uzume- Japanese GodDeity"The Heavenly Alarming Female"

The Cave

Susanoo, the storm god, destroyed Amaterasu's rice paddies and threw a flayed horse through her weaving hall, killing one of her attendants. Amaterasu withdrew into the Ama-no-Iwato, the Heavenly Rock Cave, and sealed it shut. The sun vanished. The Kojiki describes a world of constant night, the cries of the myriad deities filling the darkness, evil spirits flourishing, crops withering.

The eight hundred myriad kami gathered on the banks of the Tranquil River of Heaven. They hung the sacred mirror Yata no Kagami and strings of magatama from a sakaki tree outside the cave. They gathered roosters to crow as if announcing dawn. Then Ame-no-Uzume mounted an overturned tub before the cave entrance.

She bound club-moss around her head as a wreath, tied sasa grass to her wrists, and took up bamboo leaves. She stamped her feet on the hollow tub, and the rhythm echoed across the heavens. She entered a state of divine possession. As her frenzy intensified, she loosened her robes, exposed her breasts, and pushed her skirt down. The assembled gods erupted in laughter so loud the heavens shook.

Amaterasu, hidden in the cave, heard the commotion. How could there be celebration when she, the sun, had withdrawn? She called out. Ame-no-Uzume told her a deity more illustrious than Amaterasu had appeared.

Amaterasu pushed the door open to look. The gods held up the mirror. She saw her own brilliant reflection and leaned closer. The strong god Ame-no-Tajikarao seized her arm and pulled her from the cave. Other gods stretched a shimenawa across the entrance to prevent her return. Light returned.

Sarutahiko at the Crossroads

When Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi descended to take possession of the earthly realm, a fearsome figure blocked the path at the crossroads of heaven and earth. Sarutahiko, chief of the earthly kami, stood with a nose seven hands long and eyes that glowed like mirrors. The celestial gods were intimidated.

Ame-no-Uzume was not. She confronted him, baring her breasts and pushing down her skirt as she had before the cave. Sarutahiko yielded and agreed to guide Ninigi on his descent. Afterward, Ame-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko married.

The Sea Cucumber's Mouth

The Kojiki records that Ame-no-Uzume traveled to Azaka in the province of Ise and gathered the fish and sea creatures together. She asked each one whether they would serve Ninigi. All answered obediently. The sea cucumber remained silent.

Ame-no-Uzume drew a small sword and slit its mouth. This, the Kojiki states, is why the sea cucumber has a slit-like mouth.