The Kami of Shinto
Japanese mythology centers on the kami - divine spirits that inhabit all things. From the radiant sun goddess Amaterasu to the tempestuous storm god Susanoo, these deities emerged from the primordial creative acts of Izanagi and Izanami. Their stories, recorded in the Kojiki (712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (720 CE), form the foundation of Shinto belief and Japanese cultural identity.
🌈 Divine Hierarchy
Kotoamatsukami - Primordial Deities
The first gods who came into being spontaneously in the High Plain of Heaven (Takamagahara):
- Ame-no-Minakanushi: The Center of Heaven, first deity to exist
- Takamimusubi: High Creator deity
- Kamimusubi: Divine Creator deity
Creator Couple
The divine pair who created the Japanese islands and countless kami:
- Izanagi-no-Mikoto: The Male Who Invites, father of the heavenly children
- Izanami-no-Mikoto: The Female Who Invites, now Queen of Yomi
The Three Noble Children
Born from Izanagi's purification ritual, rulers of the primary domains:
- Amaterasu-Omikami: Sun Goddess, Supreme Deity, Ruler of Takamagahara (from left eye)
- Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto: Moon God, Ruler of Night (from right eye)
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto: Storm God, Ruler of the Sea (from nose)
Other Major Kami
- Okuninushi: God of Nation-Building, Magic, and Medicine
- Inari: God of Rice, Foxes, and Prosperity
- Hachiman: God of War and Divine Protector
- Raijin and Fujin: Gods of Thunder and Wind
⛩️ Featured Kami
Amaterasu
天照大神 (Amaterasu-Omikami)
The Supreme Sun Goddess who rules heaven and is the divine ancestor of the Imperial line. Her light sustains all life.
Susanoo
素戒鳴尊 (Susanoo-no-Mikoto)
The Tempestuous Storm God who slew the eight-headed dragon Yamata-no-Orochi and discovered the sacred sword Kusanagi.
Tsukuyomi
月読尊 (Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto)
The Moon God who rules the night realm, eternally separated from his sister Amaterasu after killing Uke Mochi.
Izanagi
伊邪那岐 (Izanagi-no-Mikoto)
The Male Creator who stirred the cosmic waters to create Japan and gave birth to the sun, moon, and storm through purification.
Izanami
伊邪那美 (Izanami-no-Mikoto)
The Female Creator who now rules Yomi, the underworld. Her death giving birth to fire set the cosmic drama in motion.
Inari
稲荷神 (Inari Okami)
God of rice, foxes, fertility, and prosperity. One of the most venerated kami with thousands of shrines. (Coming Soon)
📖 Key Concepts
What Are Kami?
Kami are not gods in the Western sense but rather sacred spirits or divine essences that can manifest in:
- Natural phenomena: Mountains, rivers, trees, rocks, storms
- Ancestors: Deceased family members and clan founders
- Abstract forces: Growth, fertility, creativity
- Exceptional humans: Emperors, heroes, scholars
The Three Sacred Treasures
The Imperial Regalia (Sanshu no Jingi) connect the Emperor to Amaterasu:
- Yata no Kagami: The Sacred Mirror (Amaterasu's reflection)
- Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi: The Grass-Cutting Sword (from Orochi)
- Yasakani no Magatama: The Curved Jewels