Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: god

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Kannon

観音観世音菩薩
alternative words: Kanzeon Bosatsu
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Bosatsu , Jizo , Nyorai , Buddhism
explanation: Attendant (Bosatsu) of Buddha Nyorai, he is supposed to be able to hear everybody who are suffering in order to save them. With Jizo, he is one of the most popular deities in Japan. Frequently he is represented by a statue with many hands (Senju Kannon i.e. Kannon with 1000 hands) or many faces. His Sanskrit name is Avalokite浡ra and means "those who observe freely what's occurring in the world".

Kongo rikishi

金剛力士仁王
alternative words: Konkou rikishi, Kongorikishi, Kongourikishi, Nio, Niou, Benevolent king, Vajrapani, Vajradara
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Buddhism , Kamakura period , Unkei
related web sites: http://www5.freeweb.ne.jp/art/kbi/index.files/shurui.html , http://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~segi/trip/199909/favorite.html
explanation: Kongorikishi is a Hindu god who has accepted to become a guardian of Buddhism. He frequently appears 2 angry worriors at the gate of Japanese temples: Mitsushaku Kongo stands on the left and carries a thunderbolt stick while Naraen Kongo on the right with a saber. The statues created by Unkei and Kaikei and located at the south main gate of Todaiji temple are a master piece of Kamakura sculpture. Vajrapani or Vajradara means "thunderbolt stick holder" in Sanskrit.

Nyorai

如来
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Kannon , Buddhism
explanation: One of epithets of Buddha. The translation of the Sanskrit word "tathagata" and means "those who came from the truth". For example, Shaka Nyorai (the historical Buddha Sakyamuni) has returned back to the earth to save the people after having reached the truth. Yakushi Nyorai, a god of healing, is another example.

Okuninushi

大国主命大物主命大己貴命
alternative words: Okuninushi no mikoto, Okuninushi no kami, Onamuchi no mikoto, Ookuninushi
keywords: god , mythology
related topics: Shintoism , Susano , Izumo dynasty , Fudoki , Kojiki , 7 fortune gods , Daikoku
related web sites: http://www.izumooyashiro.or.jp , http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~etra/history3.html
explanation: Shinto deity of Izumo dynasty and son or son in law of Susano. According to Kojiki, he had been tormented by brothers but finally he got the throne by marrying princess Suseri. He also saved a white rabbit nearly killed by sharks (legend of Inaba no shirousagi). According to Izumo Fudoki, he was not merely a local deity but a creator of the world together with Sukunahikona no mikoto. During the middle ages, Okuninushi was confounded with Daikokuten of 7 fortune gods.

Susano

須佐之男命須佐之男
alternative words: Susano no mikoto, Susanou, Susanou no mikoto, God Susano, Prince Susano
keywords: god , mythology
related topics: Izanagi Izanami , Amaterasu , Yamato dynasty , Izumo dynasty , Yamata no orochi , Kojiki
explanation: Born from god Izanagi, he is considered responsible of the ocean. His sister, Amaterasu, being furious with his violence, had driven him away from the Heaven (Takamagahara) and he went to Izumo (actual Shimane prefecture). There he killed a big snake with 8 heads (Yamata no orochi) when Princess Kushi inada was going to be scarified. He founded then Izumo dynasty. Amaterasu is said his sister but it may mean rather a political alliance between Yamato and Izumo dynasties.

Tengu

天狗
keywords: god , mystery , religion
related topics: Heian period , Minamoto no Yoshitsune , Yamabushi
related web sites: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~fd4h-krng/
explanation: Humanoid creatures living in Japanese mountains. They were wearing clothes like training Buddhist monks (Yamabushi) and feared to be responsible of kidnapping thanks to their magical powers (able to fly with their fan and to make themselves invisible). Because of their physiognomy (red face and great nose), there exists a thesis that they might be survivors of a wrecked Arabic or Jewish merchant ship. Minamoto no Yoshitsune was considered as a Tengu because of his ability when he was young.

Tenjin

天神天神様
alternative words: Tenjinsama, Tenjin-sama, Tenjin sama
keywords: god
related topics: Heian period , Dazaifu
related web sites: http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp , http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp
explanation: After a high ranked politician of Heian period, Sugawara no Michizane, had been forced to exile to Dazaifu in Kyushu due to a false accusation and died there in 803, many natural calamities occurred in Kyoto. People, being afraid of his angry spirit, built a shrine at Kitano in Kyoto (Kitano Tenmangu shrine) to enshrine him as Tenjin (Heavenly god). Maichizane being also a well known scholar, Tenzin became a god of school and studies, and there exist 5000 child shrines of Tenmangu.

Tsukuyomi

月読命月夜見尊
alternative words: Tsukuyomi no mikoto
keywords: god , mythology
related topics: Izanagi Izanami , Amaterasu , Susano , Kojiki , Nihonshoki
related web sites: http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~siwamura/05.htm
explanation: One of 3 Japanese gods created at the same time as Amaterasu and Susano by Izanagi after the death of Izanami. Tsukuyomi is a moon god but contrary to Korean mythology, his role remains minor compared to Sun goddess, Amaterasu. His power base being on Shikoku island, he may have stemmed from south-east Asian folklore, i.e. Malay-Polynesian. Tsukuyomi means "reading the moon" in Japanese.

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18 articles extracted from postgresql database.