Japanese Gods and Goddesses

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:31 pm

Aizen-Myoo	God of love, especially worshipped by prostitutes, landlords, singers and musicians. He has a third eye above his other eyes on his forehead and a lion's head in his hair.
Aji-Suki-Taka-Hi-Kone	God of thunder. To quiet him as a child, the gods carried him up and down a ladder, explaining the approaching and receding sound of thunder.
Ama-No-Minaka-Nushi	'Divine Lord of the Middle Heavens' and god of the Pole Star.
Amaterasu	Shinto goddess of the sun and the leader of the Shinto pantheon. She was known as 'shining heaven' and the Japanese Emperors claimed to be descended from her.
Amatsu Mikaboshi	God of evil, his name means "August Star of Heaven".
Amatsu-Kami	Gods of heaven who live 'above' the earthly plain. They are heavenly and eternal.
Ama-Tsu-Mara	Shinto god of smiths. He is pictured as a cyclops.
Ame-No-Mi-Kumari	Shinto water goddess.
Ame-No-Wakahiko	God sent to rule the earth. Killed by the sky god Takami-Musubi.
Amida	God of death, to whom the devout turned at the moment of their death. His realm was beautiful, full of ambrosia trees, gentle breezes and lovely birds.
Am-No-Tanabata-Hime	Goddess of weavers.
Baku	A good spirit, known as the 'eater of dreams'. He brings good fortune by eating the nightmares of those who call on him. Seen as a creature with a lion's head, tiger's feet and a horse's body.
Benten	Goddess of love, the arts, wisdom, poetry, good fortune and water. Originally a sea deity, he became the patroness of the rich and the arts. She is seen as a beautiful woman riding a dragon. In her eight hands she holds a sword, a jewel, a bow, an arrow, a wheel and a key. Her other two arms are folded in prayer.
Benzai-Ten	See Benten.
Bimbogami	God of poverty. Rituals are performed to get rid of him.
Binzuru-Sonja	God of curing illness and good vision.
Bishamon	God of war, justice and protector of the law. He is one of the Shichi Fukujin and is portrayed in full armor, standing on demons and holding a spear in his hand.
Bosatsu	Manifestation of the Buddha in the past, present or future. See bodhisattva.
Butsu	See Buddha.
Chien-shin	A kami which is related to particular geographical area, and protects those living in the area.
Chimata-no-kami	Go of crossroads, highways and footpaths. He was originally a phallic god, and phallic symbols are often associated with him and with crossroads.
Chup-Kamui	Sun goddess of the Ainu. She was originally the moon goddess, but after one night of watching the adulterous behaivors of the people below, she begged the sun god to trade places with her.
Daibosatsu	The Great bodhisattva or the Buddah in his last incarnation.
Daikoku	God of wealth, the soil and patron of farmers. He is seen as a large, happy man seated on two bags of rice with a bag of jewels over his shoulder.
Dainichi	Buddhist personification of purity and wisdom.
Dosojin	God of roads.
Dozoku-shin	Ancestral kami of a dozoku, or clan. The worship of the Dozoku-shin is carried out by the main family of the clan.
Ebisu	God of the wealth of the sea, he is the patron god of fishermen and fishing. He is pictured holding a fish and a fishing pole. Anything washed up on the shore could be Ebisu, including a corpse.

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:32 pm

Ekibiogami	God of plagues and epidemics.
Emma-o	Japanese Buddhist god of the underworld. He is the judge of the dead, and decides on the punishment of evildoers based on Buddha's Law.
Fudo	God of fire and wisdom, he is the patron protector of the people and the god of Astrology. Seen as an ugly old man surrounded by fire, with a sword in one hand and a rope in the other.
Fujin	Shinto god of the wind. Seen as a terrifying dark demon in a leopard skin, with a bag of winds over his shoulder.
Fukurokuju	Shinto god of wisdom, luck and prosperity.
Funadama	The boat-spirit, she is a goddess who protects and helps mariners and fishermen.
Futsu-Nushi-no-Kami	God of fire and lightning, later became a war god and general of Ameratsu.
Gama	God of longevity. Seen as a cheerful old man riding a stag and holding a scroll full of secret wisdom.

Gekka-o	God of marriage. He binds the feet of lovers with a red silken cord.
Hachiman	God of war and agriculture, and the divine protector of the Japanese people.
Haniyasu-hiko	God of the earth.
Haniyasu-hime	Goddess of the earth.
Haya-Ji	God of the whirlwind.
Hiruko	God of the morning sun. Guards the health of little children.
Hoso-no-Kami	God of smallpox.
Hotei	God of happiness, laughter and the wisdom of being content. Seen as a jolly fat man carrying a linen bag full of precious things, including children. He is the protector of the weak and small children.
Ida-Ten	Buddhist god of the law and of monasteries. Seen as a handsome young man.
Ika-Zuchi-no-Kami	Group of even Shinto demons who reside in the Underworld. Their rumblings can be heard during volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Iki-Ryo	The spirit of anger and envy which harms.
Inari	Both a male and female deity, Inari is the god/goddess of rice and agriculture.
Isora	God of the seashore.
Izanagi	Primordial god of the sky and the creator of everything good and right. With his wife Izanami he created the first of the Japanese islands.
Izanami	Primordial goddess of the earth and darkness. With her husband Izangi she helped create the first of the Japanese islands. Died in childbirth and became goddess of the Underworld and the dead.
Jinushigami	Minor deity who watches over a town or plot of land.
Jizo	Japanese Buddha of great compassion. He is the protector of pregnant women, children, and travelers. Identical to the Indian god Kshitigarbha.
Juichimen	Buddhist god of mercy.

Gekka-o	God of marriage. He binds the feet of lovers with a red silken cord.
Hachiman	God of war and agriculture, and the divine protector of the Japanese people.
Haniyasu-hiko	God of the earth.
Haniyasu-hime	Goddess of the earth.
Haya-Ji	God of the whirlwind.
Hiruko	God of the morning sun. Guards the health of little children.
Hoso-no-Kami	God of smallpox.
Hotei	God of happiness, laughter and the wisdom of being content. Seen as a jolly fat man carrying a linen bag full of precious things, including children. He is the protector of the weak and small children.
Ida-Ten	Buddhist god of the law and of monasteries. Seen as a handsome young man.
Ika-Zuchi-no-Kami	Group of even Shinto demons who reside in the Underworld. Their rumblings can be heard during volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Iki-Ryo	The spirit of anger and envy which harms.
Inari	Both a male and female deity, Inari is the god/goddess of rice and agriculture.
Isora	God of the seashore.
Izanagi	Primordial god of the sky and the creator of everything good and right. With his wife Izanami he created the first of the Japanese islands.
Izanami	Primordial goddess of the earth and darkness. With her husband Izangi she helped create the first of the Japanese islands. Died in childbirth and became goddess of the Underworld and the dead.
Jinushigami	Minor deity who watches over a town or plot of land.
Jizo	Japanese Buddha of great compassion. He is the protector of pregnant women, children, and travelers. Identical to the Indian god Kshitigarbha.
Juichimen	Buddhist god of mercy.

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:33 pm

Jurojin	Shinto god of longevity and a happy old age. He is one of the Shichi Fukujin, the seven gods of luck.
Kagutsuchi	Japanese god of fire.
Kamado-gami	Gods of the hearth.
Kami-kaze	God of wind, storms and viscous cold weather.
Kaminari	Goddess of thunder, known as the Thunder Queen and the Heavenly Noise.
Kanayama-hiko	God of metals.
Kanayama-hime	Goddess of metals.
Kawa-no-Kami	God of rivers. Although many rivers had their own god, he was the ruler of all rivers.
Kenro-Ji-Jin	God of earth.
Kishi-Bojin	Goddess of children and childbirth, it is to Kishi-Bojin that women pray for children.
Kishijoten	Goddess of luck and beauty, she is the patron of song and dance and protector of the Geishas.
Kishimo-jin	Buddhist goddess of compassion and protectoress of children.
Kojin	Ancient tree deity and goddess of the kitchen. She lives in an enoki tree.
Ko-no-Hana	The Blossom Princess, she is the goddess of spring and the one who makes the flowers blossom.
Koshin	God of the roads.
Koya-no-Myoin	God of the sacred Mount Koya. Seen as a hunter with a red face and two hounds.
Kukunochi-no-Kami	Shinto god of the trees.
Kuni-Toko-tachi	Earth deity who lives in Mt. Fuji.
Kura-Okami	God of rain and snow.
Marisha-Ten	Queen of heaven, goddess of the light, sun and moon.
Mawaya-no-kami	Kami, or deity of the toilet. Occasionally invoked to help with gynecological diseases or ailments of theeyes and teeth.
Miro	Japanese name for Maitreya.
Miyazu-Hime	Goddess of royalty.
Monju-Bosatsu	Japanese Buddhist bosatsu of wisdom and knowledge.
Musubi-no-Kami	God of love and marriage. Appears as a handsome (and ardent) young lover.
Nai-no-Kami	God of earthquakes.
Naka-Yama-Tsu-Mi	God of mountain slopes.
Nikko-Bosatsu	Buddhist god of sunshine and good health.
Ninigi-no-mikoto	Rice god and ancestral god of the Japanese imperial family.
Nominosukune	God of wrestling.
Nyorai	Japanese name for all of the Buddha's appearances.
Oanomochi	God of the crater of Mt. Fuji.
Ohonamochi	A god of the earth.
Oho-Yama	The great mountain god.
Okuni-Nushi	God of majic and medicine, he is the ruler of the unseen things and the spirit world.
Owatatsumi	God of the sea.
Oyamatsumi	A god of the mountains.
Raiden	God of thunder and lightning. He is pictured as a red demon with sharp claws and carrying a large drum.
Ryo-Wo	God of the sea. known as the Dragon King.
Sae-no-Kami	A group of kami, or deities, who guard the roads of Japan.
Sambo-kojin	God of the kitchen. He is pictured with three faces and two pairs of hands.
Sarutahiko Ohkami	God of crossroads, paths and overcoming obstacles. He is pictured as a huge man with a large beard and a jeweled spear, with holy light shining from his eyes, mouth and posterior. He is the chief of the kami on earth.
Sengen	See Ko-no-Hana.
Shaka	The silent sage, the wisest and first appearance of Buddha on earth. Shaka corresponds with the Hindu Shakyamuni
Shichi Fujukin	The Seven Gods of Luck, they are: Benten, Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu, Fukurokuju, Hotei and Jurojin.
Shinda	Ainu fertility god of the island of Hokkaido.
Shine-Tsu-Hiko	God of the wind, he fills the space between heaven and earth.
Shoden	See Ganesha.
Shoki	God of the afterlife and exorcism.
Suijin	Deity of the water.
Suitengu	Child god of the sea.
Sukuna-Biko	Dwarf god of healing, agriculture and hot springs.
Susanowa	God of the winds, storms, ocean and snakes in Shinto mythology. He is the brother and consort of Ameratsu.

Admin 10/24/2008, 2:33 pm

Takami-Musubi	Primordial sky god and creator of living things in Shinto belief.
Takemikadzuchi	A thunder god.
Taki-Tsu-Hiko	God of rain.
Tatsuta-hime	Goddess of autumn.
Tenjin	God of learning, language and calligraphy. He taught humans to write.
Toyo-Uke-Bime	Goddess of earth, food and agriculture.
Toyouke-Omikami	Goddess of grain.
Tsuki-Yumi	God of the moon and brother of the sun goddess Ameratsu.
Uba	Spirit of the pine tree. Means 'old woman' or 'wet nurse'.
Uga-Jin	Serpent god of the waters and fertility of the earth.
Uga-no-Mitama	Goddess of agriculture.
Ukemochi	Goddess of fertility and food.
Uzume	Shinto goddess of joy and happiness.
Wakahiru-me	Goddess of the rising sun.
Wata-tsu-mi	God of the sea.
Yabune	Japanese house god.
Yama-no-kami	Goddess of the hunt, forest, agriculture and vegetation.
Yamato	The soul or spirit of Japan.
Yuki-Onna	The Snow Queen or goddess of winter.

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Japanese Gods and Goddesses

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