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, often referred to by the honorific title Susanoo-no-Mikoto (), is a in Japanese mythology. The younger brother of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line, he is a multifaceted deity with contradictory characteristics, being portrayed in various stories either as a wild, impetuous god associated with the sea and storms, as a heroic figure who killed a monstrous serpent, or as a local deity linked with the harvest and agriculture. Syncretic beliefs of the Gion cult that arose after the introduction of Buddhism to Japan also saw Susanoo becoming conflated with deities of pestilence and disease.
Susanoo, alongside Amaterasu and the earthly Ōkuninushi (also Ōnamuchi) – depicted as either Susanoo's son or scion depending on the source – is one of the central deities of the imperial Japanese mythological cycle recorded in the ( CE) and the (720 CE). One of the gazetteer reports () commissioned by the imperial court during the same period these texts were written, that of Izumo Province (modern Shimane Prefecture) in western Japan, also contains a number of short legends concerning Susanoo or his children, suggesting a connection between the god and this region.
Name Susanoo's name is variously given in the as , , or simply as . -no-Mikoto is a common honorific appended to the names of Japanese gods; it may be understood as similar to the English honorific 'the Great'. He is meanwhile named in the as , , , and . The of Izumo Province renders his name both as and . In these texts the following honorific prefixes are attached to his name: , , and .
The in Susanoo's name has been variously explained as being derived from either of the following words:
The verb or meaning 'to be impetuous,' 'to be violent,' or 'to go wild' The verb , 'to advance' The township of in Iishi District, Izumo Province (modern Shimane Prefecture) A word related to the Middle Korean , meaning 'master' or 'shaman'
Mythology Parentage The ( CE) and the (720 CE) both agree in their description of Susanoo as the son of the god Izanagi and the younger brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. The circumstances surrounding the birth of these three deities, collectively known as the , however, vary between sources.
In the , Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo came into existence when Izanagi bathed in a river to purify himself after visiting Yomi, the underworld, in a failed attempt to rescue his deceased wife, Izanami. Amaterasu was born when Izanagi washed his left eye, Tsukuyomi was born when he washed his right eye, and Susanoo was born when he washed his nose. Izanagi then appoints Amaterasu to rule , Tsukuyomi the night, and Susanoo the seas. Susanoo, who missed his mother, kept crying and howling incessantly until his beard grew long, causing the mountains to wither and the rivers to dry up. An angry Izanagi then "expelled him with a divine expulsion."Chamberlain (1882). Section XI.—Investiture of the Three Deities; The Illustrious August Children.Chamberlain (1882). Section XII.—The Crying and Weeping of His Impetuous-Male-Augustness. The main narrative of the has Izanagi and Izanami procreating after creating the Japanese archipelago; to them were born (in the following order) Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, the 'leech-child' Hiruko, and Susanoo. Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were sent up to heaven to govern it, while Hiruko – who even at the age of three could not stand upright – was placed on the and set adrift. Susanoo, whose wailing laid waste to the land, was expelled and sent to the netherworld (Ne-no-Kuni). (In the , Hiruko is the couple's very first offspring, born before the islands of Japan and the other deities were created; there he is set afloat on a boat of reeds.) A variant legend recorded in the has Izanagi begetting Amaterasu by holding a bronze mirror in his left hand, Tsukuyomi by holding another mirror in his right hand, and Susanoo by turning his head and looking sideways. Susanoo is here also said to be banished by Izanagi due to his destructive nature. A third variant in the has Izanagi and Izanami begetting Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Hiruko, and Susanoo, as in the main narrative. This version specifies the Rock-Camphor Boat on which Hiruko was placed in to be the couple's fourth offspring. The fifth child, the fire god Kagutsuchi, caused the death of Izanami (as in the ). As in other versions, Susanoo – who "was of a wicked nature, and was always fond of wailing and wrath" – is here expelled by his parents.
Susanoo and Amaterasu
Before Susanoo leaves, he ascends to Takamagahara, wishing to say farewell to his sister Amaterasu. As he did so, the mountains and rivers shook and the land quaked. Amaterasu, suspicious of his motives, went out to meet him dressed in male clothing and clad in armor, but when Susanoo proposed a trial by pledge () to prove his sincerity, she accepted. In the ritual, the two gods each chewed and spat out an object carried by the other (in some variants, an item they each possessed).
Both the and the 's main account relate that Amaterasu broke Susanoo's into three, chewed them and then spat them out. Three goddesses – Takiribime (Tagorihime), Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime – were thus born. Susanoo then took the strings of beads Amaterasu entwined in her hair and round her wrists, likewise chewed the beads and spat them out. Five male deities – Ame-no-Oshihomimi, Ame-no-Hohi, Amatsuhikone, Ikutsuhikone, and Kumano-no-Kusubi – then came into existence.Chamberlain (1882). Section XIII.—The August Oath. A variant account in the has Amaterasu chew three different swords she bore with her – a ten-span sword, a , and an – while Susanoo chewed the necklace that hung on his neck. Another variant account in the has Susanoo meet a named on his way to heaven. This deity presented him with the beads used in the ritual. In this version, Amaterasu begets the three goddesses after chewing the beads Susanoo obtained earlier, while Susanoo begets the five gods after biting off the edge of Amaterasu's sword. A third variant has Amaterasu chewing three different swords to beget the three goddesses as in the first variant. Susanoo, in turn, begat six male deities after chewing the magatama beads on his hair bunches and necklace and spitting them on his hands, forearms, and legs.
Amaterasu declares that the male deities were hers because they were born of her necklace, and that the three goddesses were Susanoo's.Chamberlain (1882). Section XIV.—The August Declaration of the Division of the August Male Children and the August Female Children. Susanoo, announcing that he had won the trial, thus signifying the purity of his intentions, "raged with victory" and proceeded to wreak havoc by destroying his sister's rice fields, defecating in her palace and flaying the 'heavenly piebald horse' (天斑駒, ame-no-fuchikoma), which he then hurled at Amaterasu's loom, killing one of her weaving maidens.Chamberlain (1882). Section XV.—The August Ravages of His Impetuous-Male-Augustness. A furious Amaterasu in response hid inside the Ama-no-Iwato ("Heavenly Rock Cave"), plunging heaven and earth into total darkness. The gods, led by Omoikane-no-Kami (思金神), eventually persuade her to come out of the cave, restoring light to the world.Chamberlain (1882). Section XVI.—The Door of the Heavenly Rock-Dwelling. As punishment for his misdeeds, Susanoo is thrown out of Takamagahara:Chamberlain (1882). Section XVII.—The August Expulsion of His-Impetuous-Male-Augustness.
A fourth variant of the story in the Shoki reverses the order of the two events. This version relates that Susanoo and Amaterasu each owned three rice fields; Amaterasu's fields were fertile, while Susanoo's were dry and barren. Driven by jealousy, Susanoo ruins his sister's rice fields, causing her to hide in the Ama-no-Iwato and him to be expelled from heaven (as above). During his banishment, Susanoo, wearing a hat and a raincoat made of straw, sought shelter from the heavy rains, but the other gods refused to give him lodging. He then ascends to heaven once more to say farewell to Amaterasu.
The two then perform the ukehi ritual; Susanoo produces six male deities from the magatama beads on his hair knots. Declaring that his intentions were indeed pure, Susanoo gives the six gods to Amaterasu's care and departs.
KojikiNihon Shoki(main text) Nihon Shoki(variant 1) Nihon Shoki(variant 2)Nihon Shoki(variant 3)Nihon Shoki(variant 4) Goddesses(in order) 1. Takiribime-no-Mikoto(多紀理毘売命)2. Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto(市寸島比売命)3. Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto(多岐都比売命) 1. Tagorihime(田心姫)2. Tagitsuhime(湍津姫)3. Ichikishimahime(市杵嶋姫) 1. Okitsushimahime(瀛津島姫)2. Tagitsuhime3. Tagorihime 1. Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto2. Tagorihime-no-Mikoto3. Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto 1. Okitsushimahime-no-Mikoto, a.k.a. Ichikishimahime-no-Mikoto2. Tagitsuhime-no-Mikoto3. Tagirihime-no-Mikoto(田霧姫命) - Born when Amaterasu Broke Susanoo's ten-span sword into three and chewed them Broke Susanoo's ten-span sword into three and chewed them 1. Ate her ten-span sword2. Ate her nine-span sword3. Ate her eight-span sword 1. Bit off the upper part of Susanoo's magatama beads2. Bit off the middle part of the beads3. Bit off the lower part of the beads 1. Ate her ten-span sword2. Ate her nine-span sword4. Ate her eight-span swordAte her ten-span sword Gods(in order) 1. Masakatsu-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto(正勝吾勝勝速日天之忍穂耳命)2. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto(天之菩卑能命)3. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto(天津日子根命)4. Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto(活津日子根命)5. Kumano-no-Kusubi-no-Mikoto(熊野久須毘命) 1. Masaka-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto(正哉吾勝勝速日天忍穂耳尊)2. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto(天穂日命)3. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto(天津彦根命)4. Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto(活津彦根命)5. Kumano-no-Kusuhi-no-Mikoto(熊野櫲樟日命) 1. Masaka-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihone-no-Mikoto(正哉吾勝勝速日天忍骨尊)2. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto3. Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto4. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto5. Kumano-no-Oshihomi-no-Mikoto(熊野忍蹈命) 1. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto2. Masaka-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihone-no-Mikoto3. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto4. Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto5. Kumano-no-Kusuhi-no-Mikoto 1. Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihomimi-no-Mikoto(勝速日天忍穂耳尊)2. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto3. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto4. Ikutsuhikone-no-Mikoto5. Hi-no-Hayahi-no-Mikoto(熯之速日命)6. Kumano-no-Oshihomi-no-Mikoto, a.k.a. Kumano-no-Oshikuma-no-Mikoto(熊野忍蹈命, 熊野忍隅命) 1. Masaka-Akatsu-Kachihayahi-Ame-no-Oshihone-no-Mikoto(正哉吾勝勝速日天忍穂根尊)2. Ame-no-Hohi-no-Mikoto3. Amatsuhikone-no-Mikoto4. Ikumetsuhikone-no-Mikoto(活目津彥根命)5. Hihayahi-no-Mikoto(熯速日命)6. Kumano-no-Ōsumi-no-Mikoto(熊野大角命) Born when Susanoo 1. Chewed the strings of magatama beads entwined in Amaterasu's left hair bunch2. Chewed the beads entwined in Amaterasu's right hair bunch3. Chewed the beads on the vine securing her hair4. Chewed the beads wrapped around Amaterasu's left wrist5. Chewed the beads wrapped around Amaterasu's right wrist Chewed the strings of magatama beads entwined in Amaterasu's hair and wrists Chewed his necklace of magatama beads Bit off the end of Amaterasu's sword 1. Chewed the magatama beads entwined in his left hair bunch and spat them on the palm of his left hand2. Chewed the beads entwined in his right hair bunch and spat them on the palm of his right hand3. Chewed the beads of his necklace and laid them on his left forearm4. Laid the beads on his right forearm5. Laid the beads on his left foot6. Laid the beads on his right foot1. Chewed the magatama beads entwined in his right hair bunch and laid them on the palm of his left hand2. Chewed the beads entwined in his right hair bunch and laid them on the palm of his right hand
Susanoo and Ōgetsuhime