In Japanese mythology, Amaterasu is the supreme sun goddess. According to the Shintoists, the imperial family descended from the deity. Amaterasu is revered as the patroness of the sky, the inventor of rice cultivation, the creator of the technology for producing silk and weaving. She symbolizes beauty and vitality. The largest shrine in honor of the goddess, the Jingu Temple, was built in the city of Ise and is an important pilgrimage site.