Definition

Noun: A divine being or god that is venerated within the Japanese religious tradition. This term refers to any of the multitude of supernatural entities found in Japanese mythology and faith, most notably the kami of Shinto, but also including figures from Japanese Buddhism and folk religion.

Usage

The term "Japanese deity" is used to classify and refer to the gods, goddesses, and spirits native to Japan's spiritual landscape. It is a general categorical term.

Examples: * Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is a major Japanese deity. * The shrine is dedicated to a local Japanese deity of the mountain. * Scholars study the stories and attributes of various Japanese deities.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural and Academic Context: The term is often used in comparative religion, anthropology, and studies of mythology to distinguish these figures from deities of other cultures (e.g., Greek deities, Hindu deities).
• "Kami" as a Specific Subset: While many Japanese deities are , the terms are not perfectly synonymous. "Japanese deity" is a broader, more general English term, whereas is a specific Japanese concept often implying a spirit inherent in natural phenomena, objects, or ancestral beings.

Variants and Related Words

• Kami (n): The central concept of Shinto, referring to sacred spirits or phenomena that inspire awe. All are Japanese deities, but not all Japanese deities are exclusively described as (e.g., some Buddhist figures).
• Yaoyorozu no Kami (n): A Japanese phrase meaning "eight million kami," used to express the countless number of deities in Shinto.

Synonyms

• Kami
• Japanese god / goddess
• Nipponic deity (formal/archaic)

Related Phrases

• Shinto deity: A more specific term for a deity primarily associated with the Shinto religion.
• Folk deity: A deity from Japanese folk religion, which may overlap with Shinto and Buddhist traditions.

Noun

1. a deity worshipped by the Japanese