Shinto
This article is part of a series on Shinto
Practices and Beliefs
Kami · Ritual purity · Polytheism · Animism · Japanese festivals · Mythology · Shinto shrines
Notable Kami
Amaterasu Omikami · Sarutahiko Okami · Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto · Inari Okami · Izanagi-no-Mikoto · Izanami-no-Mikoto · Susanoo-no-Mikoto · Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto
Important Literature
Kojiki · Nihon Shoki · Fudoki · Rikkokushi · Shoku Nihongi · Jinnō Shōtōki · Kujiki
See also
Japan · Religion in Japan · Glossary of Shinto · List of Shinto divinities · List of Shinto shrines · Sacred objects · Japanese Buddhism · Mythical creatures
Shinto Portal  v • d • e

Table at the Ama-no-Uzume, Takachiho

Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto (天宇受売命, 天鈿女命^?) is the goddess of dawn and revelry in the Shinto religion of Japan. She famously relates to the tale of the missing sun deity, Amaterasu Omikami. Her name can also be pronounced as Ama-no-Uzume.

Amaterasu's brother, the storm god Susano'o, had vandalized her sacred buildings and brutally killed one of her maidens due to a quarrel between. In turn, Amaterasu became terrified of his wrath and retreated into the Heavenly Rock Cave, Amano-Iwato. The world, without the illumination of the sun, became dark and the gods could not lure Amaterasu out of her hiding place.

The clever Uzume overturned a tub near the cave entrance and began a dance on it, tearing off her clothing in front of the other deities. They considered this so comical that they laughed heartily at the sight.

Amaterasu heard them, and peered out to see what all the fuss was about. When she opened the cave, she saw her glorious reflection in a mirror which Uzume had placed on a tree, and slowly emerged from her hiding spot.

At that moment, the god Ame-no-Tajikarawo-no-mikoto dashed forth and closed the cave behind her, refusing to budge so that she could no longer retreat. Another god tied a magic shirukume rope across the entrance. The deities Ame-no-Koyane-no-mikoto and Ame-no-Futodama-no-mikoto then asked Amaterasu to rejoin the divine. She agreed, and light was restored to the earth.

Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto is still worshiped today as a Shinto kami, spirits indigenous to Japan. She is also known as Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, The Great Persuader, and The Heavenly Alarming Female. She is depicted in kyogen farce as Okame, a woman who revels in her sensuality.

[edit] See also

• Music, Ame-no-Uzume Op.4 (1980) composed by Hiroaki Zakoji

[edit] References

Littleton, C. Scott (2002). Mythology: The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling. London: Duncan Baird Publishers. pp. 464-467. 

[edit] External links

• A substantial article on this subject
• Uzume on Encyclopedia Mythica
• Amaterasu and Uzume, Goddesses of Japan, at Goddess Gift
• A one-paragraph glossary entry in Italian

v • d • e Japanese mythology and folklore Mythic texts and folktales: Kojiki | Fudoki | Nihon Shoki | Kujiki | Otogizōshi | Kogo Shūi | Nihon Ryōiki | Konjaku Monogatarishū | Urashima Tarō | Kintarō | Momotarō | Tamamo-no-Mae | Issun-bōshi | Shita-kiri Suzume | Yotsuya Kaidan Divinities: Izanami | Izanagi | Amaterasu | Susanoo | Tsukuyomi | Ame-no-Uzume | Inari | List of divinities | Kami | Seven Lucky Gods Legendary creatures: Oni | Kappa | Tengu | Tanuki | Kitsune | Yōkai | Dragon | Shōjō | Mythology in Popular Culture Mythical and sacred locations: Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji | Izumo | Ryūgū-jō | Takamagahara | Yomi Religions | Sacred objects | Creatures and spirits | Japanese deities

This article relating to Japanese mythology is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This article relating to Shinto is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e