Japanese Mythology – Mythopedia
Japanese mythology is a combination of primarily Shinto and Buddhist traditions. In addition to the most powerful gods and goddesses, there are also millions of kami, or “holy powers,” associated with forces of nature, geographical features, and the spirits of the venerated dead.
Japanese Gods - Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Japanese gods and goddesses include everyone from powerful creator gods to minor, localized kami. Particularly notable is the sun goddess Amaterasu, held to be the divine ancestor of the first emperor of Japan, a lineage that remains unbroken into the current day.
Susanoo - Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Susanoo-no-Mikoto is the Japanese god of the sea and storms. A powerful and boisterous guardian kami, Susanoo’s moods are often as temperamental as his actions are chaotic. His fight with the dragon Orochi led to the creation of the sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one part of Japan’s sacred regalia.
Kannon - Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Kannon is the bodhisattva (a revered Buddhist figure on the path to enlightenment) of compassion and mercy, worshiped in Buddhism across Eastern and Southern Asia. In Japanese mythology she takes on divine features and is a popular deity, perhaps the most widely worshiped bodhisattva in Japan. Sendai Daikannon, a giant statue of Kannon …
Raijin - Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Raijin (雷神) is the Japanese god of storms, a chaotic being born of death who brings the world vital rains as well as chaos and destruction. He flies across the sky on dark clouds and throws lightning onto unsuspecting denizens below. A popular kami (a type of god or spirit in the Shinto religion) despite his connection to death and ...
Inari – Mythopedia
Dec 5, 2022 · Inari is the Japanese kami (a type of god or spirit in the Shinto religion) of prosperity, tea, agriculture (especially rice), industry, and smithing. A complex deity with many faces, Inari is variously referred to as male, female, and androgynous, depending on the context. Although Inari’s role has changed over time, they have been popular ...
Amaterasu – Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Amaterasu is the great and glorious goddess of the sun. An embodiment of the rising sun and Japan itself, she is the queen of the kami and ruler of the universe. The Japanese Imperial Family claims to have descended from her, and this is what gives them the divine right to rule Japan. She is the center of Shinto, and Japanese spiritual life.
Japanese God Names - Mythopedia
In Japanese myth, the gods and goddesses personify the Japanese experience; Amaterasu is the eastern sun, for example, as Raijin is the chaotic Japanese god of storms. Expect Japanese god names to sound highly descriptive, even if they are singular words—these words often seek to match the element the god symbolizes.
Ebisu - Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Ebisu is a Japanese god of luck, wealth, and prosperity, particularly where the sea is concerned; he is also the patron god of fishermen. Perpetually smiling and often dressed as a fisherman, Ebisu is one of the Seven Lucky Gods, and is in fact the only one original to Japan. His image has seen widespread use throughout Japan due to his close ...
Tsukuyomi – Mythopedia
Nov 29, 2022 · Mythology. Tsukuyomi’s appearances in Japanese mythology are brief, but important. Origins. Izanagi, having failed to returned his wife from Yomi, the Land of the Dead, placed a boulder at its entrance to prevent her escape. Soaked in the impurities of Yomi, Izanagi sought to purify himself at a nearby hot spring.