Saruta-Hiko (or Saruta-Biko), is the deity who appeared from the Central Land of the Reed Plains to provide a guide to Ninigi-no-mikoto when he descended to rule the land. His name can be read as “Field-monkey prince.” Because the deity appeared at an eightfold crossroads, he is often viewed as the deity of crossroads; he …
A heavenly warrior deity and thunder god, considered son of the heavenly sword Ame-no-o-habari-no-kami (though he came into being from the blood of the slain Kagutsuchi-no-kami), and the messenger who caused Okuninushi and his sons to surrender the Central Land of the Reed Plains to the authority of the heavenly deities. Sent to Izumo, he …
The scarecrow deity, who enlightened Ōkuninushi about the parentage and nature of the dwarf kami Sukunahikona. This deity, although he is unable towalk, knows all there is to know under the heavens. Kuyebiko may have emerged principally as a kami of the rice paddy; however, he is one of the large number of divinatory kami …
Visiting deities. Mysterious visitors, often from across the seas or deep in the mountains, are a staple of many Japanese local myths. These strangers, if treated kindly, fed, and entertained, are likely to emerge as donors of important foundation gifts. Orikuchi Shinobu (Japanese scholar and poet) defined marebito as spiritual entities that periodically visit village communities from the …
The concept of a monstrous animal under the earth as causer of earthquakes is shared by many peoples. Its Japanese version is that of an enormous catfish (namazu) living under the earth, having its head just under the province of Hitachi where it is kept down by the Kashima god with the help of a …
Ainu culture hero who features in many myths as an extremely pious powerful man who performs all the Ainu rituals, or who calls on the kamui for assistance for his people. Okikurmi is wise and good, but he has a counterpart, Samai-unkur, the chieftain of a neighboring village, who is stupid, careless, and weak. The …
Okikurmi or Ae-oyna Kamui: Ainu Wiseman Or Protective God Read More »
The killer whale, God ruler of the deep sea. As a young boy he was mischievous and unruly, and his sister, who was raising him, punished him for that. They went out to hunt whales, and the sister, after harpooning her own whale, came to the young god’s assistance. Finally they filled their house with …
Daughter of Oyamatsumi-no-kami, a mountain deity; also Ninigi-no-mikoto’s wife, and mother to the quarreling deities Hoderi and Ho-ori. Sometimes also called Kami Ata-tsu-hime. Ōyama-tsumi gave his two daughters, Iwa-naga-hime (Long-rock princess—also a play on “long life”) and Konohanasakuya-hime (Flower-blossom princess) as wives to Ninigi-nomikoto after he descended to earth at Himuka. Ninigi returned the older …
Konohanasakuya-hime: Tale of Japanese Goddess of Mount Fuji Read More »
“Korean dogs.” They protect most shrines and many temple entrances from the evil. One male and one female sit on either side of the entrance. Most are made of stone, although examples can also be found made of bronze, iron, wood, or ceramics and some portray one with horns. They originate from similar lion figures …
Koma-inu: Lion-Dog Protecting Temples and Shrines Read More »
The bear god. Also known as Metotush Kamui and as Nuparikor Kamui (Mountain God). An Ainu myth recounts how one day a beautiful young woman went with her baby on her back to collect forest bulbs. While washing them in a river, she started singing a song, and her sweet voice attracted a bear. Frightened, …