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Konjin (金神,"God of metals") is anitinerantKami (divine spirit or deity) fromOnmyōdō (a traditional Japanesecosmology and system ofdivination based on theChinese philosophies ofWu Xing (Five Elements) andYin and yang). Konjin is associated withcompass directions, and said to change position with theyear,lunar month, andseason.
Konjin's momentary location in space at any given time is considered an unlucky direction, because thiskami is stated to be particularly violent and said to punish throughcurses. Based on this, acalendar with astronomical andgeomantic direction relations was created, which included interdictions (kataimi). A practice known askatatagae (changing directions) is used to avoid the worst directions on a given day, usually where Konjin, Ten'ichijin, and Taihakujin are currently located.
Katatagae was favored amongHeian-period nobles and it became a part of their daily lives. The construction and renovation of houses, moving one's residence, public works construction, and traveling was strongly influenced bykatatagae.
Konjin was said to be at tremendous power when residing asKimon Konjin ("Konjin of the demon's gate") at either of the twodemon's gates (the northeast "front" gate, calledomote-kimon, and the southwest "back" gate, calledura kimon. These directions are calledUshitora andHitsujisaru respectively. ).Kyoto was supposedly protected from any bad influences by placingSaichō's temple Enryakuji onMount Hiei (Hiei-zan) to the northeast of Kyoto.
In theSect Shinto faithsKonkokyo andOomoto, Konjin is a benevolentKami who is the primary focus of worship.
Late in theEdo Period, in theprovince of Bitchū (westernOkayama Prefecture),Konkō Daijin (Akazawa Bunji) began to learn a spiritual way later calledKonkōkyō, which began in spiritual experiences with the deity Konjin. However, he stated that Konjin was not an evilkami but a deity who could bestowvirtue. TheOomoto religion founded byNao Deguchi was influenced by Konkōkyō to proclaim that "Ushitora no Konjin" was thekami who would restore the world.
In theOomoto religion, Ushitora no Konjin (艮の金神) is the deity who possessed its founderNao Deguchi in 1892.[1]
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