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Uzume
Jan 1, 2007 11:17:25 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Jan 1, 2007 11:17:25 GMT -5
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Uzume
Jan 1, 2007 11:17:51 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Jan 1, 2007 11:17:51 GMT -5
Uzume by Micha F. Lindemans
The Japanese Shinto goddess of joy and happiness, called the Daughter of Heaven and Heaven's Forthright Female. Her name means "whirling". She is also the goddess of good health, which people obtain from drinking the blessed water of her stream. When the sun goddess Amaterasu had hidden herself in a cave, thus covering the earth in darkness and infertility, it was Uzume who brought her back. With her provoking and curlew dances she managed to make the gods laugh so hard, that Amaterasu left the cave intrigued. Her emerging brought light and life back to earth. Her brother Ninigi married Uzume to the deity who guards the Floating Bridge to Heaven.
The dances of Uzume (Ama-no-uzume) are found in folk rites, such as the one to wake the dead, the Kagura (dance-mime), and another one which symbolizes the planting of seeds.
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Uzume
Jan 1, 2007 11:18:56 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Jan 1, 2007 11:18:56 GMT -5
Uzume is still worshipped today as a Shinto kami, deities indigenous to Japan. She is also known as Amano-Uzume, The Great Persuader, and The Heavenly Alarming Female
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Uzume
Jan 1, 2007 11:19:28 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Jan 1, 2007 11:19:28 GMT -5
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Uzume
Jan 1, 2007 11:19:54 GMT -5
Post by Lady Anastasia on Jan 1, 2007 11:19:54 GMT -5
Amaterasu's brother, the storm god Susan-O ({²”V’j–½), had vandalised her sacred buildings and killed one of her maidens because she refused to trust him. In turn, the goddess became terrified of his wrath and retreated into a cave, Ama-no-Iwato (“V‚ÌŠâŒË). The world, without the illumination of the sun, became dark and the gods could not lure Amaterasu out of her hiding place.
The clever Uzume overturned a tub near the cave entrance and began a dance on it, tearing off her clothing in front of the other deities. They considered this so comical that they laughed heartily at the sight.
Amaterasu heard them, and peered out to see what all the fuss was about. When she opened the cave, she saw her glorious reflection in a mirror Uzume had placed on a tree, and slowly emerged from her hiding spot.
At that moment, the god Ama-no-Tajikarawo-no-mikoto (“VŽè—Í’j–½) dashed forth and closed the cave behind her, refusing to budge so that she could no longer retreat. Another god tied a magic shirukume rope across the entrance. The sun goddess was then asked by the deities, Ama-no-Koyane-no-mikoto (“VŽ™‰®ª–½) and Ama-no-Futodama-no-mikoto (“VŽ™‰®ª–½) to rejoin the divine. She agreed, and light was restored to the earth.
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