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Shintoism Shinto Shrine Kami Way
Way of Kami Goddesses Gods
Amaterasu (Ama Terasu, Omikami, Tensho Daijan), was a highly revered Japanese Shinto sun goddess. The daughter of the Creator god Izanagi and goddess Izanami, Amaterasu was known as She Who Shines in the Heavens, Illustrious Goddess and Ruler of the Plain of Heaven, and the Japanese Imperial family was descended from her.
She created rice fields called inada where she cultivated rice. Amaterasu also taught the people how to cultivate wheat and silkworms, as well as, how to weave with a loom. Her primary sanctuary, a temple where Amaterasu's body is represented by a mirror, is pulled down every twenty years and then rebuilt in its original form. It is located at Ise-Jingue on Ise on the island of Honshu.
Benten (Benzai-ten Benzai-tennyo) is a beautiful Japanese goddess of the arts, good fortune, knowledge, language, water, wealth, and wisdom. One of the Shichi Fujukin, Seven Japanese Shinto Happiness Beings, Enoshima Island rose from the waters to receive her footsteps.
There are many sanctuaries dedicated to her like the popular Zeniarai Benten Shrine in western Kamakura. Benten is also the protectress of children, dancers, geishas, and musicians.
Okuninushi is the Japanese Shinto
god of magic, marriage, and medicine who as a skilled shaman journeyed
to the underworld several times, and underwent many spiritual tests. After he
successfully completed them, Okuninushi returned renewed and restored to become
the symbol of the dying and budding nature.
Outer Shrine of Izumo Taisha which is the oldest Shinto Shrine in Japan
Izumo Taisha, which is located at the outer edge of Izumo City about an hour from Matsue, was constructed in the Taisha-Tsukuri Japanese architectural style, Izumo is Japan's oldest shrine, and it is also where the eight million kami Shinto gods and goddesses have their annual gathering.
The Izumo Taisha Shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi, the Kami of Marriage, who was the son of the storm god Susanowa, and the nephew of the sun goddess Amaterasu. When visitors come to Izumo Taisha, they clap four times rather than twice, twice for oneself and twice for one's beloved partner.
Sengen, (Asama, Ko-no-Hana-Saku-ya-Hime, Sengen-Sama) is a Japanese Shinto sacred mountain and blossom goddess. Dawn of Good Luck, Child-Flower, The Princess who makes the Tree-Blossom Bloom, and Tsubaki, Pink Blossom Princess, Sengen guards the secret well of eternal youth.
Susanowa, (Susanoto, Susano-Wo) is a Shinto wind, storm, weather, and sea god. According to Japanese mythology, he was born from the nose of the Izanagi and represents the both the physical world and the chthonic otherworld. Susanowa was the archetypal shamanic journeyer, spiritual warrior, and vision quester.
Susanowa gained notoriety as a Shinto Kami who followed the dictates of his
own inner voice and heart even if they were at odds with conventional wisdom and
the customary ways of the other Kami. Conquering Kami, Powerful Transformative
Healer of Illnesses, and Wielder of the Grass Cutting Sword, he was
credited with wiping out the plaque, as well as, defeating enemies and
monsters...Go
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Shinto Shrine Kami Way Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
Permission GNU FDL given to use Image Outer Shrine of Izumo Taisha which is the oldest Shinto Shrine in Japan,
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Izumo-shrine_Haiden01.jpg]. Accessed March 21, 2007.
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