Amaterasu Omikami ('the Great Divinity Illuminating Heaven') is the sun goddess and most important deity of the Shinto religion. Amaterasu is the ruler of Takama no Hara (the High Celestial Plain), the domain of the kami or spirits. The most important Shinto shrine in Japan, the Ise Grand Shrine or Jingu, is dedicated to Amaterasu.
More about: AmaterasuDefinition
Timeline
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4 BCETraditional founding date of the Ise Grand Shrine in honour of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu.
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712 CEThe Kojiki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
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720 CEThe Nihon Shoki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
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c. 807 CEImibe-no-Hironari writes the Kogoshui, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.