Sarume clan

The  was a Japanese clan. It began with the goddess Ama-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko Ōkami. They married, and their children became the clan. Women in the clan danced and did holy rituals. People sometimes saw them as Miko or as the ancestors of the miko. Their dances later became part of miko ceremonies. Over time, records of the  were lost.

There is a  inside Sarutahiko Shrine built for them.

 Overview 
The  are said to come from Ama-no-Uzume, the goddess who helped bring Amaterasu out of the Ama-no-Iwato cave.  
Sarume women danced  during enthronement rites.

In the Department of Divinities, there was a group linked to them.

 women did sacred dances. At first, they were seers and healers. Later, they also danced during enthronements and court events. They said they came from Ame no Uzume no Mikoto and Sarutahiko Ōkami.

 History 

In the myths, Amaterasu and Susano'o fought. Before Susano'o left Heaven, he visited Amaterasu. They made people from each other’s objects. Amaterasu made three women from his sword. Susano'o made five men from her necklace. Amaterasu said the men were hers because they came from her necklace. Susano'o became angry and destroyed her rice fields, threw a dead pony into her loom, and killed her helper. Amaterasu hid inside Ama-no-Iwato, the “heavenly rock cave.” The Sun was gone, and the world was dark.

Ama-no-Uzume (天宇受売命) stood on a bucket and danced. She tore off her clothes. The gods laughed. Amaterasu heard them and looked out. She saw her reflection in a mirror that Uzume had hung on a tree and slowly came out.

Later, Amaterasu sent Uzume with her grandson Ninigi to earth. At the  ("floating bridge of heaven"), Sarutahiko Ōkami blocked them. Uzume talked to him and let them pass. In some stories, she flirted with him.

Ama-no-Uzume and Sarutahiko fell in love and married. Their children formed the .

The Kogo Shui says this is the start of a ritual by the .

The Kojiki says that in Ise, Uzume made fish swear loyalty to Ninigi. The sea cucumber could not speak because it had no mouth, so Uzume cut one. This shows the Sarume were the first to receive offerings at Ise.

Later, they mixed with the .  The Wani had a similar role as mediums, so  women often married Wani men who performed rituals.

Their dances later became part of miko ceremonies. Over time, records of the Sarume were lost.

Sarutahiko Shrine in Ise is part of the same story. Its priests are said to be descendants of Sarutahiko Ōkami, who is worshipped there.

There is also a Sarume shrine, a subshrine of Sarutahiko Shrine, built for them.

 Related pages 

 Amaterasu
 Ama-no-Uzume
 Shinto
 Japanese mythology
 Miko

 Yamato clan
 Izumo clan





 Urabe clan
 Kii no Kuni no Miyatsuko
 Munakata clan

 References 

Category:Monkeys in religion
Category:Ise Province
Category:Yamato Province
Category:Shintoists
Category:Sarume clan
Category:Women clergy
Category:Religious leaders
Category:Female religious workers
Category:Female religious leaders
Category:Miko
Category:Japanese clans