<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBuddhist deity Benzaiten, also known as Benten, was revered by geisha as a protector of the arts and women. A goddess of good fortune, she is also the only female member of the “Seven Gods of Fortune” in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is frequently pictured either riding a sea monster or performing a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute. Ryuko-ji in Enoshima, Japan, is said to be the resting place of a five-headed dragon that terrorized coastal fishing settlements because of her beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ebisu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Yebisu, another of Japan’s “Seven Gods of Fortune,” is another name for Ebisu, the god of fishermen and tradespeople. As a red snapper and fishing rod in one hand, he’s generally shown as a fat, joyful fisherman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because its Japanese name, tai, is phonetically similar to the phrase for an auspicious or festive occasion, omedetai, the snapper, also represents good fortune. Ebisu’s origin may be traced back to the misconceived Hiruko, the first god born by Izanagi and Izanami, who was thrown into the sea because of his deformity. According to some, Okuninushi, the “Great Land Master,” was his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cans of the famous Japanese brew Yebisu often feature him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tengu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Tengu are influential and legendary figures in Japan’s yokai folklore tradition, even though they are not deities. Long, crimson noses, immense strength and magical powers, martial arts prowess, and the ability to fly are just a few of these birds’ characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of their aggressive pursuit of Buddhists, they were first viewed as enemies of the religion, attempting to corrupt their beliefs and deter them from attaining nirvana. As a result, they’ve developed a reputation as tricksters, but that hasn’t stopped people from seeing them as protectors or guardians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raijin and Fujin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Fujin is a kami of wind, while Raijin is a god of lightning, thunder, and storms. Raijin is usually shown on the left, hammer in hand, flanked by drums, whereas Fujin is shown on the right, bag of wind in hand, hair wildly out of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the Mongols invaded Japan for the second time in 1281, Raijin and Fujin were feared as much as revered, and the kamikaze divine wind they are supposed to have created is credited to them. As a result, they can frequently be seen guarding the entrances to Buddhist and Shinto sites all around Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oni<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The last of the weird Shinto gods is Oni. For ages, Oni has been one of Japan’s most popular figures in art, literature, and theater… In folklore, they are described as enormous, horned beasts with a fearsome aspect. A tiger’s skin is used for their loincloths, and they carry enormous iron clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oni, like Tengu, is more of a demon than a god, although he is revered despite his greater level of dread than Kami. People believe that demons are responsible for natural disasters, the spread of disease, and the retribution of sinners. An oni is born when a bad human dies and is sent to one of the many Buddhist hells. They are then transformed into Oni by Hell’s Great Lord Enma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onis are notorious for their wickedness. As punishment for their sins, they strip off their skin, shatter their bones, and inflict pain on their victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onis have lost their reputation for evil in modern society. Instead, it is employed as a form of protection and is thought to ward off bad fortune. Buildings in Japan are increasingly sporting onigawar, or oni-faced, tiles as a decorative accent to ward off evil spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n We learned about the eight weird Shinto gods today. Eight million kami are claimed to exist. However, this isn’t a precise figure; instead, it was utilized in ancient Japan to signify infinity. These beings are more like spirits than gods, but they’re just as powerful. Even though the stories told by our ancestors never cease to amaze us, we always go along with the flow and are taken in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Shinto religion of Japan is deeply based in nature, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n