Read, reflect, pray
Nihon Shoki: Kami gather before the rock cave
Nihon Shoki · Story 8 of 17
岩戸の前に集まる神々
Prayers welcoming light, in two tellings.
English translation of this site’s published story summary and reading notes. This is a selected reading guide, not a complete translation of the ancient chronicle.
A variant account (issho, introduced as “one writing says”) is a different tradition preserved beside the main narrative. It is labeled separately below.
Main narrative
Book 1, section 7
Susanoo ruins Amaterasu’s fields and defiles the ritual hall. He then throws a flayed horse into the weaving hall. Startled, Amaterasu injures herself on a weaving implement and angrily withdraws into the heavenly rock cave.
When the world darkens, the deities gather beside the heavenly river Yasu. Omoikane devises a plan; Amenokoyane and Futodama hang jewels, mirror, and offerings on sakaki; Ame no Uzume dances before the cave. When Amaterasu opens the door a little, Tajikarao pulls her hand, and the deities stretch a rope to prevent her return.
Variant account (issho)
Book 1, section 7 variant 1
Here Wakahirume, who is weaving, is startled by the horse, injured, and dies. Amaterasu enters the cave in response. The deity harmed differs from Amaterasu herself in the main narrative.
Compare with the Kojiki
In the main narrative Amaterasu injures herself on a weaving implement; in variant 1 Wakahirume is injured and dies. In the Kojiki, the heavenly weaving woman dies. The victim differs among traditions.
The heavenly rock cave and returning light →Connected figures
Names and relationships in a chronicle may differ from later traditions. Each figure’s introduction identifies its sources.
Sources and edition (2)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.