3 Japanese

Japanese history has many recorded instances of solar eclipses. For centuries in Japan, the occurrence of an eclipse would result in the closing of offices across the nation on the day of the eclipse. A number of total or very large eclipses were recorded prior to AD 1600. However, many accounts of the events are scattered.

The first legends describing a solar eclipse relate to early Shinto practices. One story is told of a quarrel between Susanoo, the god of the sea, and Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun.

Susanoo committed a series of offenses toward his sister before he went to his dominion over the sea. Amaterasu did not take kindly to her brother’s actions and hid herself away from the other gods.

With Amaterasu gone, the Sun disappeared from the sky. To bring light back to the world, the other gods decided to lure her out of the cave where she was hiding. The other deities created a parade of riotous entertainment and celebration.

Curious about the sounds outside, Amaterasu decided to take a look. As she exited the cave, she was seized and light returned to the world. According to Shinto belief, a solar eclipse is merely Amaterasu hiding herself away again.

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