Kunitsukami

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Kunitsukami (国つ神,^[1] 国津神^[2]) are the kami of the land^[3] and live in tsuchi (earth).^[4]

They were contrasted from the Amatsukami,^[1] although modern Shinto no longer makes the distinction between Amatsukami and Kunitsukami.^[5] According to Yijiang Zhong the distinction was made by the writers of the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki to formulate a political discourse.^[6]

Kunitsukami were often presented as tutelary deities. They were also associated with geographical areas along with their inhabitants. Non-royal families also viewed them as their ancestors.^[7] They also were considered personifications of the land.^[8]

According to Ernest Mason Satow and Karl Florenz [de], kunitsukami might have been deified chiefs who migrated to Japan.^[9]

The Three Pioneer Kami (開拓三神, Kaitaku Sanjin) Ōkunitama, Ōkuninushi, and Sukunahikona used in Japanese colonial shrines.^[10]^: 61^[11]^: 53–54 They are all Kunitsukami or earthly kami representing the land.^[11]^: 53–54

Ogasawara Shozo [ja] proposed a system justifying Japanese Imperialism where Japanese people in the colonies were seen as Amatsukami and natives were seen as Kunitsukami,^[12] however he was later censored as his position was considered too supportive of the rights of colonized peoples.^[12]

Mythology

Many myths in the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki are about the conflict between the Kunitsukami and the Amatsukami.^[8]

List of kunitsukami

Sovereign God
- Ōkuninushi
Ōkuninushi no Gokojin
- Ajisukitakahikone, Shimo-shitsu-biki, Kotoshironushi, Takeminakata, Kizumata god, and Tora-kami god
The gods who are the spouses of the lord of the great nation
- Suseri Vipassana, Yagami Vipassana, Numagawa Vipassana, Dokiri Vipassana, Kamiya Taten Vipassana, Tottorijin
Others
- Ōyamatsumi, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Kushinadahime, Sukunabikona, Ōmononushi, Kuebiko, Taka Kagyu, Watatsumi, Ōyamatsumi, Ukanomitama, Toshigami, Konohanasakuya-hime, Tamayori-hime, Toyotama-hime, Omizunu, Chikato no Kami [ja], Moreya, Isetsuhiko, Takiribime [ja], Ichikishimahime [ja]

References

^ ^a ^b Klautau, Orion; Krämer, Hans Martin (2021-03-31). Buddhism and Modernity: Sources from Nineteenth-Century Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-8248-8458-1.
^ Goto, Akira (2020-11-19). Cultural Astronomy of the Japanese Archipelago: Exploring the Japanese Skyscape. Routledge. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-000-22109-1.
^ Bocking, Brian (2005-09-30). A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-79738-6.
^ Picken, Stuart D. B. (2010-12-28). Historical Dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8108-7372-8.
^ "kami | Definition, Translation, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
^ Zhong, Yijiang (2016-10-06). The Origin of Modern Shinto in Japan: The Vanquished Gods of Izumo. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4742-7109-7.
^ Drott, Edward R. (2016-04-30). Buddhism and the Transformation of Old Age in Medieval Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8248-5150-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. ABC-CLIO. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-57607-467-1.
^ Satow (2014-07-16). Ancient Japanese Rituals. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-79291-8.
^ Shimizu, Karli; Rambelli, Fabio (2022-10-06). Overseas Shinto Shrines: Religion, Secularity and the Japanese Empire. London New York (N.Y.) Oxford: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-350-23498-7.
^ ^a ^b Kōji, Suga; 𳜳𨀉𠄈 (2010). "A Concept of "Overseas Shinto Shrines": A Pantheistic Attempt by Ogasawara Shōzō and Its Limitations". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1): 47–74. ISSN 0304-1042. JSTOR 27822899.
^ ^a ^b Kōji, Suga; 𳜳𨀉𠄈 (2010). "A Concept of "Overseas Shinto Shrines": A Pantheistic Attempt by Ogasawara Shōzō and Its Limitations". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1): 47–74. ISSN 0304-1042.
^ Narayanan, Vasudha (2005). Eastern Religions: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places. Oxford University Press. pp. 440–441. ISBN 978-0-19-522191-6.
^ ^a ^b Drott, Edward R. (2016-04-30). Buddhism and the Transformation of Old Age in Medieval Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-8248-5150-7.
^ Picken, Stuart D. B. (2010-12-28). Historical Dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8108-7372-8.

External links

Media related to Kunitsukami at Wikimedia Commons

[:2-1] Klautau, Orion; Krämer, Hans Martin (2021-03-31). Buddhism and Modernity: Sources from Nineteenth-Century Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-8248-8458-1.

[2] Goto, Akira (2020-11-19). Cultural Astronomy of the Japanese Archipelago: Exploring the Japanese Skyscape. Routledge. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-000-22109-1.

[3] Bocking, Brian (2005-09-30). A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-79738-6.

[4] Picken, Stuart D. B. (2010-12-28). Historical Dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8108-7372-8.

[5] "kami | Definition, Translation, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-09-28.

[6] Zhong, Yijiang (2016-10-06). The Origin of Modern Shinto in Japan: The Vanquished Gods of Izumo. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4742-7109-7.

[7] Drott, Edward R. (2016-04-30). Buddhism and the Transformation of Old Age in Medieval Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8248-5150-7.

[:0-8] Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. ABC-CLIO. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-57607-467-1.

[9] Satow (2014-07-16). Ancient Japanese Rituals. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-79291-8.

[:12-10] Shimizu, Karli; Rambelli, Fabio (2022-10-06). Overseas Shinto Shrines: Religion, Secularity and the Japanese Empire. London New York (N.Y.) Oxford: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-350-23498-7.

[:03-11] Kōji, Suga; 𳜳𨀉𠄈 (2010). "A Concept of "Overseas Shinto Shrines": A Pantheistic Attempt by Ogasawara Shōzō and Its Limitations". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1): 47–74. ISSN 0304-1042. JSTOR 27822899.

[:02-12] Kōji, Suga; 𳜳𨀉𠄈 (2010). "A Concept of "Overseas Shinto Shrines": A Pantheistic Attempt by Ogasawara Shōzō and Its Limitations". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 37 (1): 47–74. ISSN 0304-1042.

[13] Narayanan, Vasudha (2005). Eastern Religions: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places. Oxford University Press. pp. 440–441. ISBN 978-0-19-522191-6.

[:1-14] Drott, Edward R. (2016-04-30). Buddhism and the Transformation of Old Age in Medieval Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-8248-5150-7.

[15] Picken, Stuart D. B. (2010-12-28). Historical Dictionary of Shinto. Scarecrow Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8108-7372-8.

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Mythology

List of kunitsukami

See also

References

External links