This is a list of divinities native to Japanese beliefs and religious traditions. Many of these are fromShinto, while others were imported viaBuddhism and were "integrated" intoJapanese mythology andfolklore.
Izanagi: (伊邪那岐神) was a creation deity; he makes up the seventh generation of theKamiyonanayo, along with his wife and sister, Izanami.[1]
Izanami: (伊邪那美神) was a creation deity; she makes up the seventh generation of the Kamiyonanayo, along with her husband and brother, Izanagi.[1]
Kuni no Tokotachi (国之常立神) was a deity classified as ahitorigami. He was, by himself, the first generation of the Kamiyonanayo. He was considered one of the first two gods, according to theKojiki, or one of the first three gods, according to theNihongi.[2]
Omodaru and Ayakashikone: (淤母陀琉神 and阿夜訶志古泥神) Sixth generation of the Kamiyonanayo.[3]
Otonoji and Otonobe: (意富斗能地神 and大斗乃弁神) Fifth generation of the Kamiyonanayo.
Toyokumono: (豊雲野神) was a hitorigami, and constituted the second generation of the Kamiyonanayo.
Tsunugui and Ikugui: (角杙神 and活杙神) Fourth generation of the Kamiyonanayo.
Uhijini and Suhijini: (宇比邇神 and須比智邇神) Third generation of the Kamiyonanayo.
Amaterasu-Ōmikami (天照大神), she is thegoddess of the sun as well as the purported ancestress of theImperial Household of Japan. Her name means "Shines from Heaven" or "the great kami who shine Heaven". For many reasons, one among them being her ties to the Imperial family, she is often considered (though not officially) to be the "primary god" ofShinto.[4][5]
Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命 or天鈿女命) Commonly called Uzume, she is the goddess of dawn and revelry in Shinto.[6]
Fūjin (風神) Also known asKaze-no-kami, he is the Japanese god of thewind and one of the eldest Shinto gods, said to have been present at the creation of the world. He is often depicted as anoni with a bag slung over his back.
Hachiman (八幡神) is the god ofwar and the divine protector of Japan and its people. Originally anagricultural deity, he later became the guardian of theMinamoto clan. His symbolic animal and messenger is thedove.
Ninigi-no-Mikoto (瓊瓊杵尊) Commonly called Ninigi, he was the grandson of Amaterasu. His great-grandson was Kan'yamato Iwarebiko, later known asEmperor Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan.
Ōkuninushi (大国主) A god of nation-building, farming, business, and medicine.
Omoikane (思兼) The deity of wisdom and intelligence, who is always called upon to "ponder" and give good counsel in the deliberations of the heavenly deities.
Ōmononushi (大物主神) in theNihongi, Ōmononushi was considered an alternate name forŌkuninushi. But, it appears that the two were separate kami.[8]
Raijin (雷神) is the god of thunder and lightning and is often paired with Fūjin. As with the latter, Raijin is usually depicted as an oni.
Ryūjin (龍神) Some traditions consider him andŌwatatsumi as the same god. He is adragon, as well as god of the sea.[9]
Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命 or素戔嗚尊) is a god ofstorms, as well as the ruler of the sea in some cases. He is also somewhat of a trickster god, as Japanese mythology extensively documents the "sibling rivalry" between him and Amaterasu. Susanoo was also responsible for the slaying of the monsterYamata no Orochi and the subsequent discovery of the sacred swordKusanagi.[10]
Takemikazuchi, (建御雷/武甕槌) known as a god of thunder and the god of swords.
Toyotama-hime (豊玉姫) was the daughter of Ryūjin and the grandmother of Emperor Jimmu. It is said that after she gave birth to her son, she turned into a dragon and disappeared.
Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto (月読命 or月夜見尊) is thegod of the moon. He killedUkemochi, out of disgust and anger in the way she had prepared a meal. This caused Amaterasu never to face him again, causing the sun and moon to be in different parts of the sky.
Ame-no-Koyane (天児屋命 or天児屋根命) A male deity, he is considered the "First in Charge of Divine Affairs," as well as the aide to the firstEmperor of Japan.[14] He is also considered to be the ancestor of theFujiwara family.
Kanayago-kami/Kanayako-kami (金屋子神), aKami of metal and metalworking, who, as believed by blacksmiths, lives mainly in theChūgoku Region. Similar toInari, Kanayago can be either male or female.
Kaya-no-hime, the goddess of vegetation, grass and fields.
Kisshōten (吉祥天), goddess of good fortune;[21] also known asKichijōten,Kisshoutennyo (吉祥天女), and asKudokuten (功徳天),Kisshōten is theShinto adaption, viaBuddhism, from theHindu goddess,Lakshmi.
Kuebiko (久延毘古), the god of knowledge and agriculture, represented in Japanese mythology as a scarecrow who cannot walk but has comprehensive awareness.
Kukunochi, believed to be the ancestor of trees.[22]
Shōtoku Taishi was sometimes worshipped by Shintoists inPrince's Hall (太子堂 Taishido) as the Kami of building trade and easy birth, like in the Hokai-ji ofKamakura.
All Emperors and Empresses of Japan are technically worshipped because of their descent fromAmaterasu Ōmikami, but there are many esteemed and highly revered ones who are not enshrined.
Aizen Myō-ō (愛染明王), aWisdom King known to transform earthly desires (love/lust) into spiritual awakening.
Amida Nyorai (無量光佛 or無量壽佛), commonly referred to as Amida-butsu (阿弥陀如来), he is the primaryBuddha of thePure Land school ofBuddhism. He is believed to possess infinite meritorious qualities and is known as the "Lord of the Beyond and the Afterlife." He is one of theFive Dhyani Buddhas.
Daruma (達磨), traditionally held inBuddhist mythology to be the founder ofZen Buddhism, as well as the founder ofShaolin Kung Fu. One legend reports that after years of facing a wall in meditation, Bodhidharma's legs and arms fall off due toatrophy.Daruma dolls were created in honor of this legend.
Fudō Myōō (不動明王), a fierce and wrathfulWisdom King who protects all by burning away impediments and defilements, and aiding them towards enlightenment.
Idaten (韋駄天), guardian of Buddhist monasteries and monks.
Jizō (地蔵), aBodhisattva known as the protector of the vulnerable, especially children, travelers, and expectant mothers. He is also regarded as the patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses and the savior of hell-beings. His statues are a common sight, especially by roadsides and in graveyards.
Benzaiten (弁才天 or弁財天) Also known as Benten or Benzaitennyo, she is the goddess of everything that flows: words (and knowledge, by extension), speech, eloquence, and music. Said to be the third daughter of the dragon-king of Munetsuchi, over the course of years, she has gone from being a protective deity of Japan to one who bestows good fortune upon the state and its people. She was derived fromSaraswati, the equivalent Hindu goddess.[38]
Bishamonten (毘沙門天) Also called Bishamon or Tamonten, he is the god of fortunatewarriors and guards, as well as the punisher ofcriminals. Said to live halfway down the side ofMount Sumeru, the smallpagoda he carries symbolizes the divine treasure house that he both guards and gives away its contents. Bishamonten is the Japanese equivalent of the IndianKubera and the BuddhistVaishravana.[39][40]
Daikokuten (大黒天) Often shortened to simply Daikoku, he is variously considered to be the god ofwealth (more specifically, theharvest), or of thehousehold (particularly the kitchen). He is recognized by his wide face, smile, and flat black hat. He is often portrayed holding a goldenmallet, seated on bales ofrice, withmice nearby (which signify plentiful food). He was derived fromMahākāla, the buddhist version of the Hindu deityShiva.
Ebisu (恵比須,恵比寿,夷 or戎) The sole member of the gods believed to have originated in Japan, he was originally known as Hiruko (蛭子), the first child of Izanagi and Izanami. Said to be born without bones, he eventually overcame his handicaps to become the mirthful and auspicious Ebisu (hence one of his titles, "The Laughing God"). He is often depicted holding a rod and a largered sea bream orsea bass.Jellyfish are also associated with this god, and thefugu restaurants of Japan will often incorporate Yebisu in their motif.
Fukurokuju (福禄寿) Often confused with Jurōjin, he is the god ofwisdom andlongevity and said to be an incarnation of theSouthern Polestar. He is a star god accompanied by acrane and aturtle, which are considered to be symbols of longevity, and also sometimes accompanied by a blackdeer. The sacred book tied to his staff is said to contain the lifespan of every person on Earth.
Hotei (布袋) Best known in the Western world as the Laughing Buddha, Hotei is likely the most popular of the gods. His image graces manytemples,restaurants andamulets. Originally based on aChineseChan monk, Hotei has become a deity ofcontentment and abundance.
Jurōjin (寿老人) Also known as Gama, he representslongevity. He is often seen with a fan and a staff and accompanied by a black deer.
The goddessKichijōten (吉祥天), also known as Kisshoutennyo, is sometimes considered to be one of the seven gods,[41] replacing eitherJurōjin orFukurokuju.[42] She embodieshappiness,fertility andbeauty. Daikoku sometimes manifests as a female known as Daikokunyo (大黒女) or Daikokutennyo (大黒天女).[43] When Kisshoutennyo is counted among theseven Fukujin[42] and Daikoku is regarded in feminine form,[43] all three of the HinduTridevi goddesses are represented in the Fukujin.
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