Japanese Sun goddess

The Japanese call their country Nippon or Nihon, which means "origin of the Sun". Even their flag depicting a red ball on a white background symbolizes the Sun. Their legend of the Sun goddess traces the Japanese ancestry and tells how the Japanese islands were formed.

According to folklore the heavenly being Izanasi dipped his jeweled spear into the deep waters and from the crystal drops that were scattered came the islands - Japan. He (Izanasi) had made the Sun goddess Ama-terasu ruler of the heavenly kingdom and she loved the beautiful islands. She proclaimed that they should always be ruled by her descendants. She told her grandson prince Ningi to go and govern the islands and make them prosperous. Ningi then descended over the floating bridge with 3 treasures, which were given to him from the Sun goddess. The treasures were the sword, the necklace, and the mirror. These are to be kept forever in the Japanese islands.

This legend was accepted as history by the Japanese people for hundreds of years. The Grand Shrine of Isle in southern Japan is dedicated to the Sun goddess, and is the family shrine of the Imperial house. Through the years every emperor has come here to pay homage and inform the Sun goddess of every important event.