Aizen Myoo
Japanese god of love. Was worshipped by prostitutes, singers, musicians, and landlords.
Japanese god of love. Was worshipped by prostitutes, singers, musicians, and landlords.
Ama-Terasu
"Great Shining Heaven". Japanese sun goddess, guardian of the Japanese people and ruler of all deities. One of her tasks was to weave sacred robes for the gods.
When Amaterasu's troublesome brother Susanowo wreaked havoc on her land, she had to hide in a cave to escape the misery. He destroyed the forests, rice paddies, and the Heavenly Weaving Hall, killing Ama-Terasu's favorite weaving maiden. He sealed the cave that Amaterasu was hiding in so that no sunlight could reach the earth.
The gods worriedly met to plan a way to free her. After many failures to induce her to leave the cave, the lewd dancer Uzume stepped forth. She danced so that the gods all were delighted and laughed so much that the cave shook.
Amaterasu opened the door of the cave a bit to see what was going on, and asked why they would laugh in such a grim time. Uzume said that they were happy because a new, better, more beautiful sun goddess has come to replace her. Amaterasu immediately demanded to see this goddess, and was shown a mirror. She was startled and spellbound by her own reflection long enough for the gods to drag her from the cave, and so the world was light again and there was much rejoicing.
Amaterasu symbolizes warmth, harvest, love, fertility, goodness, wisdom, peace, light, sun, compassion.
"Great Shining Heaven". Japanese sun goddess, guardian of the Japanese people and ruler of all deities. One of her tasks was to weave sacred robes for the gods.
When Amaterasu's troublesome brother Susanowo wreaked havoc on her land, she had to hide in a cave to escape the misery. He destroyed the forests, rice paddies, and the Heavenly Weaving Hall, killing Ama-Terasu's favorite weaving maiden. He sealed the cave that Amaterasu was hiding in so that no sunlight could reach the earth.
The gods worriedly met to plan a way to free her. After many failures to induce her to leave the cave, the lewd dancer Uzume stepped forth. She danced so that the gods all were delighted and laughed so much that the cave shook.
Amaterasu opened the door of the cave a bit to see what was going on, and asked why they would laugh in such a grim time. Uzume said that they were happy because a new, better, more beautiful sun goddess has come to replace her. Amaterasu immediately demanded to see this goddess, and was shown a mirror. She was startled and spellbound by her own reflection long enough for the gods to drag her from the cave, and so the world was light again and there was much rejoicing.
Amaterasu symbolizes warmth, harvest, love, fertility, goodness, wisdom, peace, light, sun, compassion.
Ama-No Uzume
Japanese fertility goddess, used for good crops.
Japanese fertility goddess, used for good crops.
Amatsu Mikaboshi
Japanese god of evil, darkness.
Japanese god of evil, darkness.
Amida-Nyorai
Japanese god of the paradise realm, the Japanese people turned to him at their moment of death.
Japanese god of the paradise realm, the Japanese people turned to him at their moment of death.
Benten
Japanese-Buddhist river goddess derived from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Goddess of music, eloquence, fortune, and wealth.
Japanese-Buddhist river goddess derived from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Goddess of music, eloquence, fortune, and wealth.
Benzautin
Japanese goddess of happiness and good luck. She is generous and kind, and is known for being sympathetic to men who are being chased by dragons, and helps them out. Queen of the sea. Provides protection from earthquakes; bringer of inspiration and talent, wealth and romance. Can also bring love. Also known as Benzai.
Japanese goddess of happiness and good luck. She is generous and kind, and is known for being sympathetic to men who are being chased by dragons, and helps them out. Queen of the sea. Provides protection from earthquakes; bringer of inspiration and talent, wealth and romance. Can also bring love. Also known as Benzai.
Chimati no Kami
Japanese god of crossroads and footpaths; the positive creative force of life. A phallic deity.
Japanese god of crossroads and footpaths; the positive creative force of life. A phallic deity.
Daikoku
Japanese god of wealth. His "lucky mallet" can bestow fortune with one stroke.
Japanese god of wealth. His "lucky mallet" can bestow fortune with one stroke.
Dosojin
Japanese Shinto god who protected the roads and travelers, was invoked to ensure an abundant harvest. Symbolized by the phallus. Agriculture, sex, fertility.
Japanese Shinto god who protected the roads and travelers, was invoked to ensure an abundant harvest. Symbolized by the phallus. Agriculture, sex, fertility.
Emma-O
Japanese god of the underworld. Depicted wearing a judge's cap and holding a mace. He judged the souls of the males. If the sinner was "saved" through prayer, they would be allowed to pass on to paradise or be reincarnated on earth. Symbolizes destruction, death, and revenge.
Japanese god of the underworld. Depicted wearing a judge's cap and holding a mace. He judged the souls of the males. If the sinner was "saved" through prayer, they would be allowed to pass on to paradise or be reincarnated on earth. Symbolizes destruction, death, and revenge.
Fugen Bosatsu
Japanese god of enlightening wisdom, intelligence, understanding, intuition, long life.
Japanese god of enlightening wisdom, intelligence, understanding, intuition, long life.
Hotei
Japanese god of happiness. One of the seven gods of luck. He is portrayed with a large belly and is sometimes called the "Laughing Buddha". It is said that if you rub his belly, you will receive good fortune!
Japanese god of happiness. One of the seven gods of luck. He is portrayed with a large belly and is sometimes called the "Laughing Buddha". It is said that if you rub his belly, you will receive good fortune!
Huchi
Japanese goddess of fire, both of the hearth and of volcanic erruptions. Protectress of the home, cures illness. A mediator between man and gods.
Japanese goddess of fire, both of the hearth and of volcanic erruptions. Protectress of the home, cures illness. A mediator between man and gods.
Ichimokuren
Japanese one-eyed god invoked to produce rain during droughts.
Japanese one-eyed god invoked to produce rain during droughts.
Ida-Ten
Japanese guardian of the law. Symbolizes legal victory, justice.
Japanese guardian of the law. Symbolizes legal victory, justice.
Inari
Japanese god of rice, business, merchants, prosperity. Could also be a goddess, and shapeshifted into a fox when in the female form. As a god, foxes were his messenger.
Japanese god of rice, business, merchants, prosperity. Could also be a goddess, and shapeshifted into a fox when in the female form. As a god, foxes were his messenger.
Ishikori-Dome
Japanese smith goddess, created the first mirror which is said to be 8-sided and hidden. No one can see it, but many temples have a facsimile of it held important to them.
Japanese smith goddess, created the first mirror which is said to be 8-sided and hidden. No one can see it, but many temples have a facsimile of it held important to them.
Izanagi
Japanese creator god, father god, man of men. Symbolizes magic.
Japanese creator god, father god, man of men. Symbolizes magic.
Izanami
Japanese mother goddess, the female counterpart to Izanagi.
Japanese mother goddess, the female counterpart to Izanagi.
Jizo Bosatsu
Japanese protector of mankind, especially women in childbirth. Rescued souls from the depths of hell. Symbolizes children, comfort, safety, protection from illness and evil, counsel of the dead, and the deceased.
Japanese protector of mankind, especially women in childbirth. Rescued souls from the depths of hell. Symbolizes children, comfort, safety, protection from illness and evil, counsel of the dead, and the deceased.
Kaya Nu Hima
Japanese herb goddess.
Japanese herb goddess.
Kishi-Mojin
Japanese goddess who protected children. Universal mother. She symbolizes compassion, children, life, fertility, and balance.
Japanese goddess who protected children. Universal mother. She symbolizes compassion, children, life, fertility, and balance.
Kono-hana-sakuya-hime
Japanese goddess of the cherry tree, makes the flowers bloom.
Japanese goddess of the cherry tree, makes the flowers bloom.
Nai No Kami
Japanese god of earthquakes.
Japanese god of earthquakes.
Naru Kami
Japanese goddess of thunder, ruler of trees and the forest, patron of artisans.
Japanese goddess of thunder, ruler of trees and the forest, patron of artisans.
Nitten
Japanese Buddhist sun goddess. Based on the Hindu god Surya.
Japanese Buddhist sun goddess. Based on the Hindu god Surya.
No-no-kami
Japanese god of fields and plants.
Japanese god of fields and plants.
Okitsu-Hiko
Japanese kitchen god.
Japanese kitchen god.
O-Kuni-Nushi
Japanese earth god, associated with sorcery, cunning, self-realization, and medicine.
Japanese earth god, associated with sorcery, cunning, self-realization, and medicine.
O-Ryu
Japanese goddess of the willow tree.
Japanese goddess of the willow tree.
O-Wata-Tsumi
Japanese god of the sea and its creatures, the most important of many sea gods.
Japanese god of the sea and its creatures, the most important of many sea gods.
O-Yama-Tsu-Mi
First and most important of eight Japanese mountain gods. God of all mountains and volcanoes.
First and most important of eight Japanese mountain gods. God of all mountains and volcanoes.
Rafu-Sen
Japanese goddess of plum blossoms.
Japanese goddess of plum blossoms.
Raiden
Japanese thunder god. He likes to devour navels so children must be dressed to cover their stomach.
Japanese thunder god. He likes to devour navels so children must be dressed to cover their stomach.
Sakyamuni
Japanese name for Buddha.
Japanese name for Buddha.
Shaka-Nyorai
The historical Japanese Buddha. Virtue, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual lessons, self understanding. [Chinese.]
The historical Japanese Buddha. Virtue, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual lessons, self understanding. [Chinese.]
Susanoo
Japanese thunder and storm god, mischief maker. Also associated with rain, bravery, trees, snakes, agriculture, and the seas.
Tamon
Japanese god of the north and luck.
Toyota Mahime
Japanese sea goddess.
Ukemachi
Japanese goddess who created the earth from her body.
Uso Dori
Japanese goddess of singing.
Yabune
Japanese house god.
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