Final answer:
Shinto is an indigenous religion in Japan that venerates various gods and spirits, known as kami, including the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Amaterasu has a central role in the Shinto pantheon and is believed to be an ancestor of the Yamato clan. The concept of imperial descent from Amaterasu helped establish the legitimacy of the Yamato line.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shinto is an indigenous religion in Japan that venerates various gods and spirits, known as kami. One of the most significant kami in Shintoism is the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. She has a central role in the Shinto pantheon and is believed to be an ancestor of the Yamato clan, who were the rulers of Japan. The idea of imperial descent from Amaterasu helped solidify the authority of the Yamato line and was institutionalized through the organization and administration of Great Goddess shrines and rituals.