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Glite Dictionary
Amaterasu Omikami

Amaterasu Omikami

9.9
A sun goddess who is central to Shinto and said to be the ancestor of Japan's emperors
  • proper noun
  • Literature
: Amaterasu Omikami
  • In Shinto, Amaterasu Omikami is revered as the sun goddess.

Examples

  • Japanese emperors are said to be descendants of Amaterasu Omikami.

  • Many shrines throughout Japan are dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu Omikami.

  • The legend of Amaterasu Omikami is central to Japanese mythology and Shinto tradition.

  • Many Japanese festivals celebrate Amaterasu Omikami and her significance.

  • Japanese emperors are said to be descendants of Amaterasu Omikami.

  • Many shrines throughout Japan are dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu Omikami.

  • The legend of Amaterasu Omikami is central to Japanese mythology and Shinto tradition.

Synonyms

Amaterasu
vsAmaterasu Omikami
  • Literature
1 9.9

The sun goddess in Shinto who is seen as the ancestor of the family of Japanese emperors

is the more formal ceremonial title used in religious and imperial contexts

Surface Forms

Amaterasu Omikami main

Morphology

Amaterasu + Omikami

This is a compositional proper name: 'Amaterasu' denotes the sun goddess and 'Omikami' functions as an honorific/title meaning something like 'great deity'. If a learner knows those constituent meanings, the overall sense (Amaterasu as the chief sun goddess/ancestral deity) is directly derivable, so it is transparent.

Etymology

Amaterasu Omikami is a Japanese sun goddess from a famous myth where she 'hid in a cave', leaving the world in darkness until the other gods held up a mirror and did a dance to make her come out and bring the light back. That's why she is seen as the great 'sun' deity and is said to be the 'ancestor' of Japan's emperors, making her central to Shinto tradition.