Definition

Noun: 1. A Shinto deity or sacred power: In the Shinto religion of Japan, a kami is a divine being, sacred essence, or spiritual force. This term encompasses a wide range of entities, including mythological gods and goddesses, spirits of revered ancestors, natural phenomena (like mountains, rivers, or storms), and even the unique spirit inherent in remarkable objects or places.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The shrine is dedicated to a kami of the forest.
  • In Shinto belief, the sun is personified as the great kami Amaterasu.
  • They performed a ritual to honor the kami of their ancestors.

Advanced Usage

• "Yaoyorozu no kami" (八百万の神): This Japanese phrase, meaning "eight million kami," is an expression for the countless, infinite number of believed to inhabit all things in the natural world, reflecting the animistic aspect of Shinto.
• "Kami-gami" (神々): The plural form in Japanese, often used to refer to multiple deities collectively.

Variants and Related Words

• Kamui: The analogous concept in the Ainu spirituality of northern Japan.
• Shin (神): The Sino-Japanese reading of the character for , often found in compound words.

Synonyms

• Deity
• Divinity
• Spirit
• God (Note: is a broader, more immanent concept than the transcendent "God" in monotheistic religions.)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Kami-sama" (神様): A more respectful and personified term, often translated as "god" or "deity," with the honorific "-sama." It can refer to specific major deities or be used as a general term of reverence.
• "Kami no michi" (神の道): Literally "the way of the kami," another name for the Shinto religion.

Noun

1. one the Shinto deities (including mythological beings, spirits of distinguished men, forces of nature)