Amaterasu

1Amaterasu-Omikami, the heaven-shining great deity, was given dominion over the Plain of High Heaven. She was the radiant goddess of the sun, from whom the imperial line of Japan descends.

2Her brother Susanoo behaved with great violence in heaven, destroying rice paddies, defiling the sacred weaving hall, and terrifying all the celestial deities.

3In her grief and anger, Amaterasu hid herself in the Heavenly Rock Cave, and all the world was plunged into darkness. Evil spirits ran rampant across the earth.

4The eight hundred myriad deities assembled in the dry bed of the Heavenly River to devise a plan to lure Amaterasu out of the cave.

5They hung a sacred mirror and curved jewels on a sacred tree, and the goddess Ame-no-Uzume performed a wild dance upon an overturned tub, causing all the gods to laugh uproariously.

6Curious at the sound of laughter and music, Amaterasu peeked out of the cave. She saw her own brilliant reflection in the sacred mirror and was drawn out, restoring light to the world.

7The sacred mirror, jewels, and sword became the three imperial regalia of Japan, symbols of the emperor's divine authority as descendant of the sun goddess.