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天の岩戸 (あまのいわと) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, noun
Gate of the Celestial Rock Cave
Shinto
In Shinto mythology, the rock door that Amaterasu hid behind, plunging the world into darkness. Used in references to the myth or metaphorically for a hidden or secluded state.
彼かの 女じょ は まるで 天あま の 岩いわ 戸と に こもっ た か の よう に 部屋へや から 出で て こ ない 。
She won't come out of her room, as if she's shut herself behind the Gate of the Celestial Rock Cave.
Written forms 天あま の 岩いわ 戸と
Standard kanji spelling for this mythological term.
天あま の 磐いわ 戸と
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 磐 is an older character for 'rock'.
Kanji 戸 door, counter for houses, door radical (no. 63) Similar words 天照大神あまてらすおおみかみ Amaterasu is the sun goddess who hid behind 天の岩戸; the term refers to the deity, not the cave entrance.
岩いわ 戸と 隠がく れ Refers to the event of Amaterasu hiding in the cave, while 天の岩戸 is the physical gate itself.
Etymology From 天 (ama, 'heaven') + の (no, possessive particle) + 岩戸 (iwato, 'rock door'). The term originates from the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki creation myths.
