Identity
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Goddess of rice, harvest, and fertility.
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Wife of the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
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Daughter of the divine couple Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, terrestrial deities.
Mythological role
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She appears in the myth in which Susanoo descends to the earthly world after being banished from heaven.
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She is destined to be sacrificed to a giant serpent, Yamata-no-Orochi, which devours one child of her family each year.
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Inadahime is the last surviving daughter, saved at the very last moment by Susanoo.
Famous myth: the rescue of Kushinadahime
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After learning of her fate, Susanoo asks for Inadahime’s hand in marriage in exchange for his help.
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He transforms the young woman into a comb, placing it in his hair to protect her.
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He traps the giant serpent Yamata-no-Orochi with strong sake, then slays it once it has fallen asleep.
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After his victory, Susanoo marries Inadahime and builds a palace for her in Izumo, regarded as one of the foundational sites of the earthly realm.
Symbolism
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A symbol of purity, fertility, and renewal.
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She represents harmony between humans and nature, as well as salvational love.
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Through her connection with rice, she embodies abundance and prosperity.