The Chinese deity Susano was banned from heaven and came down to earth. He was joined by two elderly couples, Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, and a monstrous serpent named Yamata no Orochi (eight-forked serpent). This creature is also known as Kushinadahime and Kushiinadahime.
Amaterasu
Amaterasu is a powerful female deity in the Chinese pantheon. She is also the goddess of fertility. The story of her birth dates back 4,000 years. Her parents, Oho-kun-nushi and Ohi-kun-nushi, were powerful gods who ruled the earth and underworld. However, they were eventually overthrown and were replaced by Amaterasu.
Legend has it that Amaterasu had a rivalry with Susano’o. Susano’o was ordered to leave the heavens, and Amaterasu was suspicious. The two goddesses challenged each other to create gods using their swords and necklaces. After the fight, Amaterasu was the victorious goddess, because five male deities were born from her necklace. Susano’o was furious.
According to legend, the two goddesses had a dispute over the rule of Heaven. Susanoo, the storm god, was the first one to challenge Amaterasu. The two fought with swords and grand jewel necklaces. Afterwards, Amaterasu fought back, and defeated her with her sword Totsuka-no-Tsurugi.
After a fight with Susanoo, Amaterasu decided to lock herself in a cave. Susanoo was causing havoc on earth, uprooting trees and ruining sacred buildings. In addition, Amaterasu’s patience was tested when Susanoo threw a horse’s body into the hall where she was sitting. Moreover, her brother’s actions left many weavers and farmers injured.
Amaterasu is the celestial sun goddess and the most important deity in Shinto. She is the daughter of Creator Kami Izanagi, who had previous children with his wife Izanami. However, when Susanoo took his daughter back to rule the sea plain, he abandoned Amaterasu. She was eventually freed by a ribald dance.
Ne-no-Kuni
The Susano religion is a mixture of Zen Buddhism and Shinto, and its roots can be traced back to ancient China. The Chinese gods influenced Chinese mythology and were transferred to Japan during the medieval period. These gods were adapted for worship in Japanese mythology and did not have the same narrative as the original Chinese ones.
In the Kojiki, Izanagi sealed an entrance to the mountain Yomi, in the Izumo province. He took a boulder and placed it at the base of a steep slope that led to Yomi. This boulder was later known as ‘Chugeshi no okami Dao Fan no-Kuni’, or ‘Hang Quan Ping Ban’, or ‘Hang Quan Bi-Liang Ban’. The mountain is a symbol of pollution and Izanagi’s message is reflected in the name of the goddess.
The name of Ne-no-Kuni may come from the same root as the Proto-Indo-European word for ‘Netherworld’. Moreover, the word ‘no’ means ‘down’ or ‘nether’. The name Ne-no-Kuni may also have roots in the same linguistic family as the word ‘down’.
Among the deities of the Susano people, Ne-no-Kuni has special significance. It is a descendant of Amaterasu, the goddess of rice. Her name means ‘luxuriously ripening ears of rice’ in Japanese, and Takachiho-mine means ‘a place of innumerable ears of rice’.
Take-haya-Susa-no-wo
The Take-haya-Susa-wo is a Shinto deity. As the younger brother of Amaterasu, he is associated with the elements of wind and water. He is also the god of love and marriage. A major shrine honors him in the Izumo Province of Japan.
Amenohohi
In Japanese mythology, Susano-o is one of the major deities. He is the younger brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. He is often associated with agriculture, the sea, and storms. But he is also a multifaceted figure, exhibiting traits of both good and evil.
Susano-O had a great deal of power, and was able to transform people into various forms. Apparently, he could change anything into another form, including himself. According to legend, Susano-O once turned Princess Kusinada into a comb, which she hid in his hair.
Susano deities have many different names. In addition to Amenohohi, there is Benzaiten, Benten, and Benzaitennyo. These are the four primary types of deities in the Susano tradition.
The Susano-o deity is found in the ancient Japanese book, the Nihonshoki. This book describes the conflict between Amaterasu and Susano and the gods created by their union. According to the Nihongi and Kojiki, Susano was the son of the god Izanagi and was born to rule over the ocean. However, he did not like his father’s decision and cried for the chance to go to the land of the dead. The conflict caused great damage to both earth and heaven.
The Susano deity is the younger brother of the god Amaterasu. He was sent to Izumo to prepare for the “transfer of the land” to the next generation. The name means “stalwart and teeming rice ears” and “hohi” means “rice-ear spiritual power.”
Oshihomimi
The Japanese have many names for the Chinese deity Susano, but the actual origin of the word is unknown. It is thought to be derived from the verb susabu, which means “to rule.” However, some linguists claim that the word is not of Japanese origin.
The Susano deity is the patron of the land and the sea. It is also considered the trickster god. He was responsible for the slaying of the giant monster Yamata no Orochi and the discovery of the sacred sword Kusanagi. Other deities associated with him include Takemikazuchi (god of thunder) and Takeminakata (god of wind and water).
Another Susano deity is Otoshi-no-Kami. He is the son of Susanoo’s second wife. In addition, he is the god of agriculture and food. Both these deities are related to the kagamitsukuri ancestral god.
Oshihomimi was also known as the son of Amaterasu. He was the first deity to examine the human world during the Kuni-Yuzuri period. Afterwards, he returned to heaven. He was later replaced by his wife, Ame-no-Sagume, who encouraged Ame-no-Wakahiko to kill the goddess.
Daikokuten is the god of wealth and abundance. He is often depicted with a flat black hat. He is also often shown holding a golden mallet. Moreover, he is represented with mice, which symbolize plentiful food.
