ORIGIN: Shinto [Japan]
TYPE: Chthonic and weather god
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP: Circa 600 CE and probably earlier until present.
CENTER(S) OF CULT: Throughout Japan
ART REFERENCES: Sculptures and paintings
LITERARY SOURCES: Nihongi and Kojiki texts.
INFORMATION: The brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu, he was born from the nose of the primordial creator god Izanagi and represents the physical, material world. His consorts include the goddesss Insada-Hime, by whom he fathered a son, Ya-Shima-Ji-Nu-Mi, the eight-island ruler, and the goddess Kamu-O-Ichi-Hime. His offspring by her include the great harvest god O-Toshi-No-Kami.
The appearance of Susano-Wo and Amaterasu in the creation account marks the final separation of the ethereal cosmos into a vast multiplicity of material objects. The god and goddess are obliged to join each other in order to survive, but while Susano-Wo recognizes the necessity for this union, Amaterasu finds his excesses repugnant When he tries to enter her house in the heavens she hides herself away in a cave from which she emerges only after considerable effort and ruse on the part of the other members of the pantheon. Susano-Wo is expelled from heaven and takes up residence on earth where he first has to beg food from the goddess Oki-Tsu-Hime-No-Kami. See also Amaterasu.