The Legend of the Sun and the Moon in Japanese Mythology | Why do they never meet?

The country of the rising sun is one of the richest and most enigmatic nations on earth. Its ancestral temples, its particular typical gastronomy and its culture are truly fascinating. But if we delve a little deeper and get to the legends contained in Japanese mythology, we find one of the best facets of the country. Buddhism and Shintoism are the main religious doctrines from which the most varied Japanese legends are derived. Fantastic beings, unattainable gods, magical animals, psychedelic trees or playful spirits can appear in them. But at our favorite myths are those that, in a charming way, seek to explain the relationships between man and his natural environment. Today we want to tell you everything about the legend of the Sun and the Moon. Will you join us on this journey? Let us begin!

The origin of the legend of the Sun and the Moon in Japanese mythology

To delve into this legend with knowledge of the facts, we must broadly understand how Japanese mythology worked. The Kotoamatsukami were the first deities to emerge at the time of the creation of the universe. After these came the seven generations of gods of the It was of the gods. The last generation, the seventh, was formed by a couple, a god and a goddess called Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, whose names translated mean impetuous man and impetuous woman They would be in charge of creating the archipelago of Japan and would also give birth to other gods in their marriage.

But bad luck would touch the couple’s lives. Izanami died giving birth to her last child, and her husband Izanagi, filled with anger at having lost his wife, killed the child. Due to his action he went down to the underworld and after trying, without positive results, to rescue his wife, he returned to the land of the living. He needed purification and approached the water to wash. Right after that traumatic experience and his bathing in the river, the starting point of the legend of the Sun and the Moon would be found, as it became popular much later. Let’s see what happened.

What is the legend of the Sun and the Moon?

According to the myth in this regard, Izanagi returned to the world of the living with a very weak will. As best he could, he reached the river bank, seeking to purify his body and his spirit for the dark acts he had just committed. He took off his clothes and began to wash his face, but he could barely contain his surprise when he realized that three new gods emerged from his own body, specifically from his face. From his left eye Amaterasu was formed, who is the incarnation of the sun, from his right Tsukuyomi, god of the moon, and from his nose came Susanoo, the god of storms. Between them he divided the world: to Amaterasu he gave the sky, to Tsukuyomi the night and the Moon, and to Susanoo he gave the seas and storms.

Now, the legend of the Sun and the Moon already suggests a very peculiar birth for these deities of Japanese mythology. But what is even more curious is what happened next. We have become accustomed to seeing Amaterasu shine and dominate the world during the day, with the powerful light of the sun. Tsukuyomi, the Japanese god of the night, instead makes darkness and the stars his kingdom, shining over the sky. The two stars must never coincide in the sky, but according to ancient legends, this was not always the case. There was a time when brothers were able to share the firmament. So… What could have happened between them? What kind of disagreement could have occurred for them to separate so definitively?

What happened between Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi?

The legend of the Sun and the Moon finds its most interesting point in the separation of the brothers. Japanese mythology says that Amaterasu lived in the sky at his ease. And that Tsukuyomi went up to see him through the heavenly staircase, until he stayed to live with her. On one occasion, The goddess of the sun sent her brother to present honors to Uke Mochi, the creator goddess of flora, fauna and everything that serves as food. to the men. Uke Mochi was so pleased with the visit that he prepared a great party in honor of the Moon god.

In the middle of the celebration, He began to expel exquisite dishes and foods from his nose and mouth. But far from being flattered, the Moon God felt such disgust, repulsion and offense that he simply killed her. When her sister Amaterasu found out, she was so enraged by her brother’s excessive reaction that she promised to never see him again. Since then, the god of the Moon had to leave for his own abode, and the Sun and the Moon alternate their presence in the sky, without ever meeting.

This tragic murder, according to Japanese mythology, was very beneficial for human beings, since Uke Mochi, once deceased, did not stop producing piece-rate food. Millet sprouted from his ears, rice came from his eyes, dried beans came from his nose, soybeans came from his rectum, wheat came from his genitals, and silkworms came from his eyebrows. All these elements collected and cultivated represented life and wealth for men.

Other curiosities about Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi in Japanese mythology

Although the legend of the Sun and the Moon is the one that most highlights the action of these deities in Japanese mythology, it is well worth delving into some of their other curiosities. For example, When it comes to Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess, her name is known to mean the great august goddess who shines in the heavens, and it is also believed that all the emperors of Japan descend from her. They say that she was a very quiet woman, who lived surrounded by maidens and liked to weave different fabrics and cultivate rice fields.

For his part, the Japanese god of the Moon, Tsukuyomi, ruled freely in the night sky and the stars. However, The separation from his sister forced him to always chase the sun and be expelled from the daytime sky.. The last of the brothers in Greek mythology also deserves a brief mention. Susanoo, the god of storms, land, and seas, was dissatisfied with Amaterasu’s assignment of dominion over the sun, so he did not limit himself to challenging her sister. In short, both the god of the Moon and the god of the seas ended up in disputes with the goddess of the sun.

And you, Did you know the legend of the Sun and the Moon? Did you know that these brothers fought badly, and that is why they never meet in heaven? Without a doubt, Japanese mythology is full of amazing stories, which capture the surprise of all lovers of knowledge. If you want to continue learning about the most ancient culture of the Japanese country, don’t miss this selection of the most important Japanese gods.