Dōsojin

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Dōsojin represented by stones (with Shimenawa ) at Karuizawa (Nagano)

Dōsojin or Dōsoshin ( Japanese道 祖 神), in some areas of Japan also Sai-no-kami (賽 の 神) or Sae-no-kami (障 の 神), Dōrokujin (道 陸 神; "Road-country- Kami ") Or Shakujin (石 神;" stone-kami ") are collective terms for the deities of the ways, roads and borders in the mythology of Japan .

The stone representations of the Dōsojin can often be found on the borders of old villages, mountain passes, crossroads and bridges.

Since they are also generally considered to be fertility or reproduction deities, these stones often have the shape of male or female genitals or show a couple made up of a man and a woman.

The original function of the Dōsojin is believed to be both to protect travelers and to ward off external misfortunes and evils at the borders of communities. The latter, along with corresponding interpretations in the mythological writings of ancient Japan, was evident in the fact that protection rites were held in their honor up to modern times when foreign ambassadors were expected to visit.

Furthermore, they are celebrated in many communities on January 14, with festivities that involve fire in any way, an element which in the religious landscape of Japan (both Shinto and the Japanese Buddhism and Shugendō ) very often a cleansing and revitalizing Effect is attributed. These festivals were temporarily banned as superstitious under the Meiji government .

In Shinto shrines , the dosojin is relatively rare. This may have something to do with the fact that they are relatively often worshiped by Buddhist priests or monks. Another reason that is often cited for this is that they are so ubiquitous that they do not need their own shrines.

Among the most prominent dosojin are among others

  • Chimata-no-kami (岐 の 神), according to the kojiki of the kami, which arose when Izanagi took off his trousers ( mihakama ) in order to wash himself off from the impurities that he had contracted during his excursion into the underworld.
  • Sarudahiko or Sarutahiko, the same kami as Chimata-no-kami in Nihonshoki and Kogoshūi , who, however, also waited in Kojiki at the eight forks of heaven for Ninigi , who had been sent to earth to take possession of Japan.
  • Yachi-mata-hiko and Yachi-mata-hime, a royal couple from the Engishiki , whom Motoori Norinaga identifies with Chimata-no-kami in his Kojiki-den .
  • Funada-no-kami or Kunado-sae-no-kami (in Nihonshoki) or Tsukitatsu-Funado-no-kami (in Kojiki), the kami that was created by Izanagi's staff and with the, according to an alternative Nihonshoki version, Izanagi blocked the way to the upper world for his undead sister and wife Izanami .
  • Jizō , a bodhisattva and patron god of (unborn) children and travelers.

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