PLATE VIII
The Sun-goddess Reappearing from the Heavenly Cave, in Front of Which the Gods are Trying to Induce Her to Come Out by Means of Charms and a Dance
On the left side stands the sakaki tree on which a mirror, jewels and strings are hanging. The dancer is Uzume (cf. Plate XXIII) who wears a curious dress, together with stag horn moss, which is used as a charm. She dances on a flat tub put upside down. Beside the tub there are cocks, the "long singing-birds of the Eternal Land." One god on the right side is raising a mirror, a sign of sym.pathetic magic to welcome the sun, while other gods are engaged in opening the Heavenly Cave. The Sun-goddess is represented as a young lady, wearing jewels on her breast. See p. 226, and cf. Aston's Shinto, pp. 100—101.
The picture is by Yeitaku, a modern genre painter.
