Glossary of Shinto

This is the glossary of Shinto, including major terms on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk (*) are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries. __NOTOC__

A – A red papier-mâché cow bobblehead toy; a kind of engimono and an omiyage (a regional souvenir in Japan) that is considered symbolic of Aizu. – A type of fan held by aristocratic women of the Heian period when formally dressed; it is brightly painted with tassels and streamers on the ends. Held today in Shinto by a miko in formal costume for festivals. See also hiôgi. – The term's meaning is not limited to moral evil, and includes misfortune, inferiority and unhappiness. – A malevolent fire spirit, demon or devil. – Also known as the Akujin, the Kibi-no-Ananowatari-no-Kami and as the Anato-no-Kami, Akuru is a malevolent kami that is mentioned in the Keikoki (records regarding the time of the Emperor Keiko), the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan), and the Kojiki (The Records of Ancient Matters). – A malevolent spirit, demon or devil. – A spell or command to dispel a malevolent spirit, demon, or devil. One of the earliest uses of this phrase can be seen in Dōjōji. – The divine/deva realm of incarnation, the highest realm on the Wheel of Reincarnation. – See hōko. – A (living) being who is an incarnation of a divine being; an avatar. Amano-Iwato (, ) – In Shinto, Amano-Iwato is the name of the cave where Amaterasu fled after the violent actions of Susanoo caused the death of one of her weavers. Thus, the land was deprived of light, and mononoke from hell were free to roam the lands and wreak havoc. It took the other kami to lure her out again, restoring the sun to the world. Amatsu-Mikaboshi (, ), also-known-as – Originally a rebellious Shinto god who would not submit to the will of the other Amatsukami. Under Chinese Buddhist influence,New Larousse encyclopedia of mythology, by Félix Guirand and Robert Graves, Hamlyn, 1968, p.415 the god was identified with Myōken, either as the Pole Star or Venus, before being combined with the god of all stars, . In some versions, Amatsu-Mikaboshi was born from the blood of Kagutsuchi spilt by Izanagi, after Kagutsuchi's birth. Amatsu-Mikaboshi is mentioned in passing in the Nihon Shoki as being subdued by Takemikazuchi, during the latter's conquest of the land of Izumo. – An oni-like creature in Japanese folklore; the amanojaku is thought to be able to provoke a person's darkest desires, and can instigate them into perpetrating wicked deeds. Similar to Amanozako. See also jaki and jama. – In Shinto, it is the bridge connecting Earth and Takamagahara. Amanozako (, ) – A goddess mentioned in the Kujiki, which states that she originated when Susanoo let his ara-mitama build up inside him until he vomited her out. Similar to amanojaku. Amaterasu Ōmikami (, ) – The Shinto sun goddess, tutelary kami and ancestor of the Emperor, enshrined at Ise Shrine. – Kami from Takamagahara. – A term for tsumi specifically committed against heaven. For example, the crimes committed by Susanoo-no-Mikoto against Amaterasu are considered amatsu tsumi. The corresponding concept to amatsu tsumi is kunitsu tsumi. – The spear used by Izanagi and Izanami to raise the primordial landmass, Onogoro-shima, from the sea; it is often depicted as a naginata. – The Shinto goddess of the dawn, mirth, meditation, revelry and the arts, and the wife of Sarutahiko Ōkami. See also Otafuku. – A small portable table or platform used during Shinto ceremonies to bear offerings. It may have four, eight or sixteen legs. – See seishinkai. – A type of omamori, specifically for safety, particularly safety at work, frequently requested from a kami, and in fact corporations often have a tutelary shrine specifically to ensure their business prospers. – One of the three main annual festivals held in Kyoto, Japan (the other two being the Festival of the Ages (Jidai Matsuri) and the Gion Festival). It is a festival of the two kamo shrines in the north of the city: Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. The festival may also be referred to as the Kamo Festival. It is held on 15 May of each year. – The rough and violent side of the mitama. The ara-mitama is associated with the colours black and purple, and the cardinal direction north. Ama-no-Zako is actually the incarnated ara-mitama of Susanoo-no-Mikoto. – An itinerant miko that is not in service to a particular shrine, and wanders throughout the country performing services where needed, and living off-of charity. – In Shinto, this term is applied to the plane of existence that exists between Takamagahara and Yomi, or the realm of the living. The term became another word for the country or the location of Japan itself. The term can be used interchangeably with Toyoashihara no Nakatsukuni. – In Shinto-Buddhism, a-un is the transliteration in Japanese of the two syllables "a" and "hūṃ", written in Devanagari as (the syllable, Om). See also Nio and Gozu and Mezu. – An umbrella term that covers ghosts, phantoms, phantasms, apparitions and illusions, goblins, monsters, demons, devils and any kind of supernatural beasts and beings; the corporeal and the incorporeal; real or fantasy; ayakashi is a term more specific for yōkai that appear above the surface of some body of water. See also rinka, shiranui, will-o'-the-wisp, and St. Elmo's fire. – a sacred bow used in certain Shinto rituals in Japan, as well as a Japanese musical bow; made from the wood of the Japanese cherry birch tree (Betula grossa). Playing an azusa yumi forms part of some Shinto rituals; in Japan, it is universally believed that merely the twanging of the bowstring will frighten ghosts and evil spirits away from a house.

B – A monstrous apparition; a monster or ghost. – A term used to refer to the whole world. – A term describing all things. – A subsidiary shrine next to the honden, which may however enshrine an equally important kami. Benzaiten (, ) – Originally a Vedic goddess, Sarasvati, Benzaiten is a syncretic goddess and a member of the Seven Lucky Gods. She is also syncretized with . – Before the shinbutsu bunri, when the Meiji period law forbade the mixing of Shinto and Buddhism, a bettō was a monk who performed Buddhist rites at a Shinto shrine. Bishamonten – Syncretic deity of Buddhist origin part of the Seven Lucky Gods. A symbol of authority, he protects warriors. – A festival celebrated around July 15 in order to console the spirits of the dead. In theory a Buddhist festival, but in practice an ancestor and family festival part of Shinto. – Large bells found in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, used to summon the monks to prayer and to demarcate periods of time. Instead of containing a clapper, bonshō are struck from the outside using either a handheld mallet or a beam suspended on ropes. See also suzu, kagura suzu, rin, and dōtaku. – A bodhisattva. Term of Buddhist origin which is often used for deities of mixed Buddhist/Shinto ancestry such as Benzaiten and jizō, kami like Hachiman, and deified human beings like Tokugawa Ieyasu. – A term for a ghost; a type of yūrei, but one whose identity (and grudge) is unknown. – The act of divining; foreseeing or a foretelling of future events. See also futomani and ukehi. – Another word for a kaguraden, a pavilion or stage dedicated to the performing of the kagura. – A process of division of a kami producing two complete copies of the original, one of which is then transferred to a new shrine by a process called kanjō. – A shrine that is a part of a network headed by a more famous shrine, from whence its kami was transferred by kanjō. – The corporeal world.

C – One of the virtues of bushido. – Forked decorations common at the ends of the roof of shrines. – A type of ceremonial overcoat with a long white hem worn by a Miko in certain Shinto ceremonies; similar to a Kannushi's Jōe over-robes. – The tutelary kami or tutelary shrine of a certain area or Buddhist temple; see also chinjusha. – a small shrine dedicated to the tutelary kami of an area or building (see also Chinju). – Long, thin sticks of red-and-white candy—which symbolizes healthy growth and longevity—sold at festivals for children, specifically for Shichi-Go-San. Chitose ame is given in a bag decorated with a crane and a turtle—which represent long life in Japan. Chitose ame is wrapped in thin, clear, and edible rice paper film that resembles plastic. – Paper lanterns always present at Shinto festivals. – Butterflies native to Japan and to Japanese culture. The chōchō is also featured among engimono (above).It is seen as lucky, especially if seen in pairs; if a symbol contains two butterflies dancing around each other, it is a symbol of marital happiness. – The mortal, animal realm of incarnation, the third-lowest realm on the wheel of reincarnation. See also rinne. – Usually made of stone, a chōzubachi is a water bowl, is a vessel used to rinse the hands in Japanese temples, shrines and gardens; see also Chōzuya. – A Shinto water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite. The pavilion contains a large water-filled basin called a chōzu-bachi. – A Shinto ritual performed for converting ara-mitama into nigi-mitama, quelling maleficent spirits, prevent misfortune and alleviate fear from events and circumstances that could not otherwise be explained; i.e. Ara-mitama that failed to achieve deification due to lack of sufficient veneration, or who lost their divinity following attrition of worshipers, became yōkai. See also; Segaki. – A Shinto Matsuri (a festival) performed for converting ara-mitama into nigi-mitama, quelling maleficent spirits, preventing misfortune and alleviating fear from events and circumstances that could not otherwise be explained. – One of the virtues of bushido.

D – A ceremony marking the beginning of an emperor's reign in which he offers first fruits to ancestors, including Amaterasu. Daikokuten (, ) – A syncretic god, part of the Seven Lucky God fusing Mahakala, and Ōkuninushi. – The fifth level of Jigoku; sinners who have committed murder (even the murder of small creatures such as insects), theft, degeneration, drunkenness, and lying are sent here. – The seventh level of Jigoku. Sinners who have committed murder (even the murder of small creatures such as insects), theft, degeneration, drunkenness, lying, blasphemy, and rape are sent here. – a Japanese hand-held pellet drum that is used in Shinto-Buddhist ceremonies. – A group of liminal kami and Buddhist gods, protectors of roads, borders, boundaries and other places of transition. Dojin (, ) – Another name for any Shinto earth deity. – Large Japanese bronze bells smelted from relatively thin bronze and richly decorated. See also bonshō, rin, and suzu.

E – The kami of prosperity found at both temples and shrines. One of the Seven Lucky Gods. – A type of pointed hat originally worn by Heian era aristocrats and samurai. Worn by Kannushi as formalwear for occasions such as festivals and weddings. See also kanmuri and kazaori eboshi. – The spirit or ghost of a warrior/soldier who fell in battle. – Small wooden plaques on which worshippers at shrines, as well as Buddhist temples, write their prayers or wishes. – An umbrella term for talismans and good luck charms such as omamori and ofuda.

F – The most famous among Japan's three sacred mountains, the . Mt. Fuji is inhabited by a kami called Konohanasakuya-hime. – The kami of the winds who is the brother of Raijin; together, they are both said to be two of the many sons and other children of Izanagi and Izanami. – A term synonymous with kokugaku. – A traditional Shinto system of divination, similar to the Chinese oracle bone technique, that uses stag bones.

G – Ancient court music that was introduced into Japan with Buddhism from the Korean peninsula and China; now played for Shinto and Buddhist rituals and ceremonies.