Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess, was known for her beauty and radiance that brought light and warmth to the world. However, after a quarrel with her brother Susanoo, the god of storms, she became so despondent that she hid herself in a cave, plunging the world into darkness.
Concerned for the well-being of the world without Amaterasu’s light, the other gods devised a plan to lure her out of the cave. Uzume, the goddess of laughter and joy, began to dance and perform a comical striptease in front of the cave entrance. The gods laughed so heartily that Amaterasu couldn’t resist peeking out to see what all the commotion was about.
Upon seeing her own radiant reflection in a mirror placed strategically outside the cave, Amaterasu was captivated by her own beauty and was coaxed out of hiding. With her return, light was once again restored to the world.
The story of Amaterasu and Uzume teaches us the power of laughter, joy, and self-appreciation in overcoming darkness and despair. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, all it takes to find our way back to the light is a little bit of laughter and self-reflection.
Image by chinkochan from Flickr.
