The Sun, a Cave, a Mirror, and a Sacred Striptease
Japan has a rich tradition of mythology and folklore, and its myths come from a great variety of texts and sources. Most of the myths about the Kami, however, are recorded in the Kojiki, a mythological record of the history of Japan beginning with the creation of the world and going through the early history of Japan’s first mythical emperors.
One of the two myths most definitive of Shinto is the story of Amaterasu and the cave. In the stories, Amaterasu, the sun goddess, has a long standing rivalry with her brother Susanoo, the storm god, which escalates to the point where Susanoo gets so angry that he trample Amaterasu’s rice fields, flinging piles of shit at her palace, and throwing a dead, skinned horse into her workshop, killing one of her handmaidens (incidentally by causing her vagina to be skewered by a pole…. ouch. The Kojiki doesn’t mess around with the body parts).
Amaterasu was so distressed that she had a breakdown, shutting herself inside of a cave and vowing never to come out again. The results were disastrous. With the sun disappeared, crops failed, famine spread, and the land was plunged into perpetual darkness. The eight million Kami gathered outside the cave wondering what to do until Uzume, the goddess of beauty, revelry, and love, had an idea.
After placing a large mirror before the entrance of the cave, Uzume stood on an upturned tub and began a wild dance. She played percussion by stomping the tub with her feat, and performed with abandon for the myriad of Kami. Eventually, the dance turned into a hilarious striptease. Uzume flashed her boobs and her vagina as she danced, causing the throng of Gods to roar with laughter. Everyone was having a marvelous time.
Amaterasu, still in the cave, heard the noise and peeked out to see what was going on. She saw her reflection in the mirror and saw how resplendent and how radiant she was, and started to walk towards it. The cave door was shut behind her, barring her from going back inside. She then agreed to return to her position in the heavens, as the foremost Kami and sustainer of the universe.
This story is a wonderful myth and is charming and enchanting in its own right, but it’s important to derive some sort of meaning from religious stories such as this. My interpretation may different from other Shinto’s interpretations, or it may be the same, but this is the interpretation that works for me and my relationship with the Kami.
We all have our role to play in the universe. Every single one of us. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, every single thing, every plant, every animal, every stone, person, river, mountain, or other thing, has a specific cog in this incredible machine we call the universe, and if that cog is removed, the universe ceases to function as it was meant to. No matter what goes on in one’s life, family, job, or whatever, one’s place in the universe stays consistent and vital. Everybody, yes, everybody has something wonderful to contribute.
Sometimes, however, we forget that. Whether its because of hard times, forces beyond our control, or, in Amaterasu’s case, vicious abuse, we sometimes forget our worth, and we retreat back, not showing ourselves, letting our lights shine, or showing our gifts with the world, and we are plunged into the darkness of depression and self-doubt.But if we truly take a good hard look at ourselves, see the bigger picture, and recognize our own power and what we truly have to offer, we can come out triumphant as the blazing sun again.
Idk if this makes sense… what do you guys think? If you have thoughts I’d love to hear them.