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 …
How A Catfish Became Namazu The Japanese Earthquake God Read More »
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 …
Repun Kamuy: Ainu Sea God (Portrait, Powers, Role) Read More »
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 …
All about Konohana-sakuya-hime: Japanese Goddess of Mount Fuji Read More »
“Korean dogs.” The Koma-inu, similar to amulets that protect the wearer against demons, guard 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 …
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, …
God of rivers. Larger rivers have their own gods, but all waterways are under Kawa-no-kami’s authority. When rivers flooded in archaic times, the gods were sometimes appeased with human sacrifices. The introduction of Buddhism meant the end of this practice. Instead, dolls made of straw or flowers were substituted and offered to the Kawa-no-kami. This …
All about Kawa-no-Kami: Japanese Mythology River God Read More »
Raiko was a legendary archer and hero during the reign of Emperor Murakami, who killed numerous demons during his career (948–1021). His original name was Minamoto no Yorimitsu, and though of the bushi (warrior) class (that is, not aristocrat in Heian Japan), he was appointed to several governorships. He was approached in a dream by …
Story of Raiko (Minamoto Yorimitsu) in Japanese Mythology Read More »