Week 7 Story: The Jealousy of the Gods

Set of padded silks. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons

    Back in the days when gods ruled the heavens and men walked the earth, the gods assembled together for a consultation. They noticed that the earth was full of evil, and they felt compelled to protect the humans they loved and restore balance. The queen of gods, Ameterasu, asked the council who would be brave enough to descend to the earth and report back to the council. Young Amewaka volunteered himself, saying he was excited to serve Ameterasu and the other deities in any way.

    Unfortunately for the gods and men, Amewaka had another plot. He and his mother, Ame-no-kuno, were tired of being ruled by Ameterasu. They were jealous of her power and wanted it for themselves. They hatched a plan: Amewaka was to go to the earth, not to balance nature, but to disrupt it. He was to encourage the men to engage in feasting and debauchery, cutting all of their ties to Ameterasu, and convincing them to swear their allegiance to himself and Ame-no-kuno.

    When he arrived upon the earth, Amewaka was struck with the beauty of the first woman he saw. Without hesitation, he persuaded her father to allow him her hand in marriage. What followed was several years of feasting and celebration. 

    After this time had elapsed, Ameterasu was confused by the long delay. She sent her pheasant, Na-naki, to spy on Amewaka. Amewaka's bride noticed Na-naki and cried out to her husband. Without hesitation, he lifted his bow and arrow and shot the pheasant down. The moment the arrow pierced Na-naki's heart, Ameterasu cried out in pain. "Surely, the man who shot my faithful servant must be punished," she proclaimed. She lifted her spear up and declared, "Let this spear find the head of the man who murdered Na-naki and bring him justice." She threw the spear to earth, and Amewaka was immediately felled. 

    When Ame-no-kuno heard of the death of her son, she was stricken with grief. Not only had she lost her dearest child, but, with him died any hopes of becoming the goddess of heaven. Ame-no-kuno hid her pain from the other immortals, biding her time until she could avenge herself and her son.

Author's Note: I stayed mostly faithful to the story I chose, "The Heaven-Descended," but I wanted to add a little bit of explanation to the characters. I didn't think it made sense for Ame-no-kuno to be mourning her son if he had truly forsaken the gods (including her) for his life on earth. If she knew him to be evil, I thought the attitude was a little confusing. So I thought it would be fun to come up with a plot where she and he are in cahoots, explaining her sadness at his death.

Bibliography: "The Heaven Descended," Romance of Old Japan by E.W. Champey and F. Champey, 1917