The land of the rising sun - Japan - culturally stands apart from the rest of the world. Being relatively small in territory, Japan managed to create its own unique style, its own tradition, which bears little resemblance not only to the West, but also to nearby eastern states. Until now, for a huge number of people, the religious tradition of the Japanese and the Japanese gods remain a secret behind seven seals.

Religious world of Japan

The religious picture of Japan consists mainly of two components - Buddhism and Shintoism. If the Russian-speaking reader may still know something about the first of them, then traditional Japanese Shintoism most often presents a complete mystery. But it is from this tradition that almost all traditionally revered Japanese gods and demons come.

It is worth saying that formally the overwhelming majority of the Japanese population associates themselves with Buddhism and Shintoism - up to more than ninety percent, according to some studies. Moreover, almost all of them profess both religions at once. This characteristic feature Japanese religiosity - it gravitates towards syncretic synthesis different traditions, combining various elements of both practice and doctrine. For example, Japanese gods, originating from Shintoism, were adopted by Buddhist metaphysics, and their veneration continued in the Buddhist religious context.

Shintoism - the way of the gods

It is necessary to briefly say about the traditions that gave birth to the pantheon of Japanese gods. The first of these, of course, is Shinto, which means “the way of the gods.” Its history goes back so far into history that today it is impossible to unambiguously establish either the time or the nature of its occurrence. The only thing that can be stated with absolute certainty is that Shintoism originated and developed on the territory of Japan, remaining an untouchable and original tradition, until the Buddhist expansion, which did not experience any influence. The mythology of Shintoism is very peculiar, the cult is unique, and the worldview is quite difficult for deep understanding.

In general, Shintoism is focused on the veneration of kami - the soul or some spiritual essence of various creatures, natural phenomena, places and inanimate (in the European sense) things. Kami can be evil or benevolent, more or less powerful. The patron spirits of a clan or city are also kami. This, as well as the veneration of the spirits of ancestors, makes Shintoism similar to traditional animism and shamanism, inherent in almost all cultures and pagan religions at a certain stage of development. Kami are Japanese gods. Their names are often quite complex, and sometimes extremely lengthy - up to several lines of text.

Japanese Buddhism

The teachings of the Indian prince in Japan found favorable soil and took deep roots. Since the 6th century, as soon as Buddhism penetrated into Japan, it found many patrons in the powerful and influential aristocrats of Japanese society. And after three hundred years he managed to achieve the position of state religion.

By its nature, Japanese Buddhism is heterogeneous and does not represent unified system or schools, but is divided into many varied sects. But at the same time, it is still possible to postulate the involvement of most of them in the direction of Zen Buddhism.

Historically, Buddhism has been characterized by religious integration. In other words, if, for example, a Christian or Islamic mission invites believers of one religion to switch to another, then Buddhism does not enter into this kind of confrontation. Most often, Buddhist practices and teachings are poured into the existing cult, replenishing and Buddhizing it. This happened with Hinduism in Bon in Tibet and many other religious schools, including Shintoism in Japan. Therefore, today it is difficult to answer unequivocally what Japanese gods and demons are - either Buddhist Bodhisattvas or pagan nature spirits.

Influence of Buddhism on Shintoism

From the middle of the first millennium, and especially from the 9th century, Shintoism began to experience the strong influence of Buddhism. This led to the kami initially becoming the protective spirits of Buddhism. Some of them merged with Buddhist saints, and later the teaching was proclaimed that the kami even needed salvation through the path of Buddhist practice. For Shintoism, these are unconventional ideas - from time immemorial there was no concept of salvation or sin in it. There was not even an objective representation of good and evil. Serving the kami, the gods, led the world to harmony, to beauty, to the consciousness and development of man, who himself, inspired by the connection with the deities, decided what was good and what was bad in each specific situation. The internal inconsistency of the two traditions led to the fact that quite early movements appeared to cleanse Shinto from Buddhist borrowings. Attempts to reconstruct the original tradition ended with the so-called restoration of Emperor Meiji in the 19th century, who separated Buddhism and Shintoism.

Supreme Japanese gods

The mythology of Japan includes many stories about the deeds of the gods. The first of these to emerge was a group of three kami called Takamagahara. This Shinto trinity included the supreme god Ame no Minakanushi no Kami, the god of power Takamimusuhi no kami and the god of birth Kamimusuhi no kami. With the birth of heaven and earth, two more kami were added to them - Umashi Ashikabi Hikoi no kami and Ame no Tokotachi no kami. This five deities were called Koto Amatsukami and are revered in Shintoism as a clan supreme kami. Below them in the hierarchy are the Japanese gods, the list of which is virtually endless. There is even a proverb on this topic in Japanese folklore that “Japan is the country of eight million gods.”

Izanagi and Izanami

Immediately following Koto Amatsukami are seven generations of kami, of which the last two are especially revered - the married couple Izanagi and Izanami, who are credited with creating Oyashima - They were the first of the kami who had the ability to give birth to new gods and gave birth to many of them.

Izanami - goddess of life and death

All phenomena of this world are subordinated to kami. Both material things and intangible phenomena are all controlled by influential Japanese gods. Death is also emphasized by a number of Japanese divine characters. For example, there is an interesting legend that tells about the appearance of death in the world. According to her, Izanami died during the birth of her last son - the god of fire Kagutsuchi - and moved to the underworld. Izanagi goes down after her, finds her and even persuades her to return. The wife asks only for the opportunity to rest before the trip and retires to the bedroom, asking her husband not to disturb her. Izanagi violates the request and finds the ugly, decomposed corpse of his former lover in bed. In horror, he runs upstairs, blocking the entrance with stones. Izanami, angry at her husband’s act, swears that she will take revenge on him by taking a thousand human souls to your kingdom every day. Thus, ironically, the Japanese begin their dynasty with the mother goddess, the great kami who gave life to everything. Izanagi himself returned to his place and underwent ritual purification after visiting the world of the dead.

Japanese gods of war

When Izanami died giving birth to her last offspring, Izanagi became enraged and killed him. Shinto myth says that as a result of this, several more kami were born. One of them was Takemikazuchi - the god of the sword. He is probably the first one from whom the Japanese gods of war originate. Takemikazuchi, however, was not perceived as just a warrior. He was closely connected with the sword and embodied it sacred meaning, representing, so to speak, the soul of the sword, its idea. And as a consequence of this, Takemikazuchi became involved with wars. Following Takemikazuchi, the kami associated with battles and battles is the god Hachiman. This character has been a patron of warriors since ancient times. Once upon a time, during the Middle Ages, he was also revered as the patron of the samurai Minamoto clan. Then his popularity increased, he began to patronize the samurai class as a whole, at the same time occupying a prominent place in the Shinto pantheon. In addition, Hachiman served as the guardian of the imperial fortress and the emperor himself along with his family.

Patrons of happiness and good luck

The Japanese gods of happiness comprise a group of seven kami called the Shichifukujin. They are of rather late origin and represent images reworked by one of the monks based on material from Buddhist and Taoist deities mixed with traditional Japanese legends. Actually, the only Japanese gods of luck are Daikoku and Ebisu. The remaining five were introduced or imported from outside, although they have taken root well in Japanese culture. Today, each of these seven has its own sphere of responsibility and influence.

Sun Goddess

One cannot fail to mention one of the most important representatives of Japanese mythology - the sun goddess Amaterasu. The sun has always occupied an important position in the religiosity of mankind, because it is organically connected with life, light, warmth, and harvest. In Japan, this was supplemented by the belief that the emperor was literally a direct descendant of this goddess.

Amaterasu emerged from Izanagi's left eye while he was performing his purifying bath. Several more kami came into the world with her. But two of them took special places. Firstly, there is Tsukuyomi - the moon god born from the other eye. Secondly, Susanoo is the god of wind and sea. Thus, each of this trinity received his own destiny. Further myths tell of the exile of Susanoo. The Japanese gods banished him for a series of grave offenses against his sister and father.

Amaterasu was also revered as the patroness of agriculture and silk production. And in later times she began to be identified with the revered Vairocana. In fact, Amaterasu stood at the head of the Japanese pantheon.

Ajisikitaka-hikone no kami (Youth-High God of Plows)- son of the god Oo-kuninushi and the goddess Takiri-bime.

Amaterasu oo-mi-kami(Sun Goddess). She was also known as the "Great Sacred Goddess Shining in the Sky" - the eldest daughter of the god Izanagi, the Sun Goddess, according to Japanese mythology - the ancestor of the dynasty of Japanese emperors.

Ame-no-hohi-no kami(Heavenly Rice Ear God) is a god born of Susanoo.

Amida(Sanskrit. Amitabha) - the ruler of the Western Paradise, who opens the gates of salvation to believers. The most revered deity in some Buddhist sects.

Ame-no-wakahiko(Heavenly Young Youth) - the son of the god Amatsukunitama no kami, the Heavenly God-Spirit of the Country.

Ashinazuchi(Elder Stroking Feet) - god, father of Kusinadahime, wife of Susanoo.

Bimbogami- god of poverty.

Bishamon-ten- one of the seven gods of happiness. The guardian of the northern direction in the Buddhist model of the world is depicted in the guise of a warrior dressed in samurai armor.

Buddha- Indian prince Siddhartha from the Shakya family (Sakyas), according to Buddhists, who achieved enlightenment (i.e., became Buddha - enlightened) after persistently searching for ways to liberate himself from the suffering that he experienced while in the real earthly world.

Benzai-ten- one of the seven gods of happiness. Goddess of music, eloquence, wealth of wisdom and water. She is depicted with a biwa in her hands, and sometimes with a coiled snake in a high hairstyle, which is associated with the ancient cult of the White Snake - the mistress of river waters.

Eight Ugly Women of Yomi Country- eight monsters in female form.

Daikoku-ten- revered as one of the seven gods of happiness - the most popular Shinto deities. God of wealth and luck. He is usually depicted as a very fat man with a large belly. With one hand he supports a bag of rice thrown over his shoulder, and with the other he holds a magic mallet, which allows him not only to break grains of rice, but also to work miracles.

Daruma- Buddhist deity. Depicted as a toy made of wood or papier-mâché. The shape resembles a watermelon (consists of a body that is not divided into parts). Most often it is painted red, and instead of eyes there are white spots. Having made a wish, they sketch one eye; if it comes true, they sketch the second.

Jizo- god, protector of people; protector of children and travelers. He also shows mercy to the souls of sinners in hell. Stone statues of him are often placed along the road.

Jimmu-tenno(ancient Japanese, “ruler Jimmu”) is the mythological ruler of Japan, whose accession to the throne is officially considered the beginning of the creation of the Japanese state (660 BC).

Jurojin- one of the seven gods of happiness. God of longevity. Depicted as an old man with a gray beard.

Iwanaga-hime(Maiden of the Longevity of the Rocks) - the elder sister of the god Ninigi, the Youth God of Abundance of Rice Ears.

Izanagi and Izanami(God Drawing to Himself and Goddess Drawing to Himself) - the first people and the first Shinto gods. Brother and sister, husband and wife. They gave birth to everything living and existing. Amaterasu, Susanoo and Tsukiyumi are children born from the head of the god Izanagi after the departure of the goddess Izanami to the Land of Darkness.

Inari- a Shinto deity, initially the patron of agriculture, later - a deity who brings good luck in crafts and trade. The cult of the fox is associated with the god Inari, which was considered his messenger or even incarnation.

Indra- Buddhist deity - the lord of the Tori sky, the second celestial world in the “sphere of desires.”

Kagutsuchi no kami(God-Spirit of Fire) - A fire deity born of Izanami and causing her death.

Kamuyamato Iwarebiko no Mikoto(Youth God Iware of Divine Yamato) - This deity is also known as "Emperor Jimmu" - the legendary first emperor of Japan.

Kannon- goddess of mercy or compassion. In Japan it has other names and is depicted depending on the name. For example: Thousand-armed Kannon, Merciful Kannon, Eleven-faced Kannon, etc. Deity of the Buddhist pantheon.

Kishibojin- one of the female Buddhist deities who had many children.

Kojin- deity of the kitchen. Worn dolls are offered to this deity.

Kompira- Shinto shrine in Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku Island). The temple was founded in the 11th century and originally belonged to the Buddhist-Shinto deity Kompira, the generous patron of fishermen and sailors.

Ko-no-hana-no-sakuya-bime(Maiden of Flowers Blossoming on Trees) - wife of the god Niniga, the Youth God of Abundance of Rice Ears.

Kuni no tokotachi no kami(God Eternally Established on Earth) is one of the first deities to appear on Takama no hara (Plain of High Heaven).

Kushinada-hime(Crest Maiden from Inad) - goddess, wife of Susanoo.

Monju- a student of Shakyamuni (Buddha), known for his wisdom. Shown by left hand Shakyamuni riding a lion.

Murakumo no Tsurugi(Heavenly Sword of Clouds) is a sword, one of the most important sacred objects, appearing in Japanese legends and myths. This is one of the three sacred imperial regalia, which, together with the magatama and the mirror, the goddess Amaterasu passes on to her descendant, the god Ninigi, upon his descent to earth.

Ninigi (Youth God of Abundance of Rice Ears)- deity, grandson of the goddess Amaterasu.

Onogorodwinter(Frozen Island) is a mythical island created by the gods Izanagi and Izanami before other islands.

Oo-yama-tsumi-no-kami(God-Spirit of the Great Mountains) is a deity born of Izanagi and Izanami.

Pindola- according to Buddhist legend, one of the closest disciples of Buddha.

Raiden- god of thunder and lightning. Usually depicted surrounded by drums (taiko) and beating them. Thus he creates thunder.

Raitaro- son of the thunder god.

Ryujin- Dragon - god of the seas, god water element, also symbolizes supreme power.

Shio-tsuchi no kami(God-Spirit Sea Waters, or God-Spirit of the Sea Routes).

Shitateru-hime(Dev-Below Luminous Goddess) - goddess, daughter of Oo-kuninushi, God-Ruler of the Great Country, and Takiri-bime, Maiden-Goddess of the Mist.

Country of Yomi no Kuni(Country of the Yellow Spring) - the underground kingdom, the Land of the Dead.

Sumiyoshi- Shinto god, lord of the sea waves, patron of sailors. The famous Shinto shrine dedicated to his cult is located on the coast of Sumiyoshi, in Osaka.

Susanoo no Mikoto(Impetitive God-Husband) - a deity born of Izanagi from drops of water that washed his nose during purification upon his return from Yomi no kuni (Land of the Dead).

Sengen- goddess of Mount Fuji. She is also known as Ko-nohana-no-sakuya-bime (Maiden of Flowers Blossoming on Trees) - the wife of the god Ninigi, the Youth God of Abundance of Rice Ears.

Tai(Red Maiden) - translated from Japanese, the word “tai” means a type of sea bass.

Ask the first person you meet: “What Japanese monsters do you know?” Most of the time you will hear: “Godzilla, Pikachu and Tamagotchi.” This is still a good result, because the Russians fairy creatures through the eyes of the average Japanese, they are something between a matryoshka doll, a Cheburashka and a drunken polar bear. But Russian and Japanese cultures can boast of such ancient menageries that some American Paul Bunyan never even dreamed of.
“World of Fantasy” has already taken a walk along the unknown paths of Slavic myths, studying the traces of unprecedented animals. Today we will travel to the opposite side of the planet and see what bizarre creatures live under the rays of the rising sun.

Spirited Away

You can't understand Japanese folklore without a bottle of sake. It was formed thanks to the centuries-old “cooperation” of Chinese Buddhism and national Shintoism - a unique process during which the principles of one religion were complemented by the commandments of another.

Such syncretism gave rise to an amazing interweaving of myths: Buddhist deities preached Shintoism, and primitive Shinto magic did not at all contradict the complex Buddhist picture of the world. To understand the uniqueness of this phenomenon, it is enough to imagine the idol of Perun in the altar of a modern Orthodox church.

The peculiarities of the national worldview, coupled with Buddhist mysticism and the remnants of primitive beliefs, made Japanese monsters completely different from their Western “colleagues.” Ghosts settled next to people and animals under the red sun - something like fairies in their classical European understanding, but unlike each other and successfully replacing all the chimeras invented by humanity.

Japanese ghosts are not restless souls of the dead or clots of protoplasm from parallel worlds. The concept of obake, derived from the verb bakeru - to transform, to transform, is most often applied to them. Obake may well be creatures of flesh and blood. The main thing about them is that these “ghosts” turn from one thing to another, changing symbols and meanings, and also disrupting the natural course of things.

Yokai and Samurai (artist Aotoshi Matsui).

Supernatural horror in Japanese culture is focused not on some otherworldly objects, but on the irrational modification of familiar forms. A skeleton in a white shroud, glowing eyes in the dark and an eerie howl in a cemetery will frighten a Japanese much less than a crumpled paper lantern or strange television interference. The basis for such fears is a simple (if not primitive) picture of the world. Similar “horror stories” about a black hand or a white sheet were once in great demand in the Ogonyok magazine.

From obake, an independent class of ghosts is sometimes distinguished - yokai (Japanese folklore terminology is very confusing and there is simply no single classification). Their main feature is extraordinary appearance(one eye, long neck, etc.). Yokai resemble Russian brownies or goblins. These creatures live in a certain area and do not seek to meet humans. Yokai can be either friendly or malicious. They are associated with fire and the northeast. In winter, encounters with evil spirits are rare.

In the vastness of Japan you can also find quite normal ghosts of yurei - souls deprived of peace. Shintoism teaches that after death the soul waits for the necessary rituals to be performed on the body, after which it safely departs for the next world. The deceased spirit can meet living relatives once a year - in July, during the Bon holiday.
But if a person dies a violent death, commits suicide, or if the rituals over his body are performed incorrectly, the soul turns into a yurei and gains the opportunity to penetrate the world of the living. Yurei can be found at the place of his death, but you should not strive for this, because the main occupation of the restless ghosts is revenge.

Most yurei are love-stricken women. Initially, the Japanese believed that their appearance was indistinguishable from their lifetime, but soon traditions began to change, and instead of a face, the ghostly lady could have a huge eye.

Today the appearance of yurei is standardized. They are dressed in a white funeral kimono. The hair is jet black, long (supposed to grow after death) and flowing over the face. The arms hang helplessly down, instead of legs there is emptiness (in the Kabuki theater actors are suspended on ropes), and otherworldly lights curl next to the ghost.

Sadako ("The Ring") Kayako ("Malice")

The most famous yurei in the West are Sadako (“Ring”) and Kayako (“Anger”).

In the animal world

As far as common animals are concerned, Japanese fairy tales are very similar to European ones. “Don’t kill me, I’ll be useful to you,” said animals in different parts of the planet. The universal commandment “thou shalt not kill” was especially relevant for Buddhism. As a reward for mercy towards animals main character received wealth or magical abilities. Little frogs rushed to the aid of their saviors, orphaned ducks convinced the evil hunter to give up his craft - after all, it is unknown who he will be reborn into in his next life.

In the shade of sakura

Azuki-arai. In Asia, adzuki beans were always boiled with sugar and were a kind of candy.

Abumi-guchi: When a warrior died in battle, the stirrups from his horse were sometimes left on the battlefield. There they came to life, turning into a strange furry creature, forever searching for its missing owner.

Abura-akago: the souls of merchants who, during their lifetime, sold oil stolen from lamps at roadside shrines. They fly into the room like clots of fire and turn into a baby who sucks all the oil out of the lamp, after which they fly away.

: a little old man or woman washing beans in mountain streams. Sings threatening songs (“Should I wash beans or eat someone?”), but is actually shy and harmless.

Aka-name: “licking dirt” appears in those baths that have not been cleaned for a long time. As its name suggests, it feeds on unsanitary conditions. Its appearance quickly instills in people the habit of cleaning up after themselves in washrooms. His relative - the long-legged tenyo-name - licks the dirty ceilings.

Aka-name. The tongue will take you to the bathroom.

Ama-no-zako: Born from the rage of the thunder god Susanoo. Ugly, has strong teeth that bite through steel. Can fly quickly over long distances.

Ama-no-zaku: An ancient demon of stubbornness and vice. Reads people's thoughts, makes them act in such a way that their plans are accomplished exactly the opposite. In one of the fairy tales, he ate a princess, put on her skin and tried to get married in this form, but was exposed and killed.

Ame-furi-kozo: spirit of rain. Appears in the form of a child covered with an old umbrella and carrying a paper lantern in his hands. Loves to splash in puddles. Harmless.

Ami-kiri: There are a lot of mosquitoes and ghosts in Japan in summer. One of them, looking like a cross between a bird, a snake and a lobster, loves to tear up mosquito nets, as well as fishing gear and drying clothes.

Ao-andon: In the Edo era, people would often gather in a room, light a large blue lantern with a hundred candles, and start telling each other scary stories. At the end of each of them, one candle was extinguished. After the hundredth story, the light went out completely and ao-andon appeared.

Ao-bozu: a short cyclops who lives in young wheat and drags children there.

Ao-niobo: An ogress who lives in the ruins of the imperial palace. During her lifetime she was a maid of honor. Distinguished by black teeth and shaved eyebrows.

Ao-sagi-bi: analogue of the Firebird: a heron with fiery eyes and white luminous feathers.

Asi-magari: A ghostly raccoon dog. At night, it wraps its tail around the legs of travelers. Her fur feels like raw cotton.

Ayakashi: a sea serpent about two kilometers long. Sometimes it floats over boats, forming an arch with its body. This can last for several days, during which the people in the boat are busy scooping out the mucus that oozes profusely from the monster.

Baku: Chinese chimera with the body of a bear, the trunk of an elephant, the eyes of a rhinoceros, the tail of a cow, the paws of a tiger and a spotted skin. Feeds on dreams. If you see a bad dream, you should call on the tank, and it will absorb it along with all the foreshadowed troubles.

Bake-zori: Old sandalwood that has not been well cared for. Runs around the house and sings stupid songs.

Bake-kujira: The skeleton of a whale, accompanied by strange fish and ominous birds. Invulnerable to harpoons.

Bake-neko: If a cat is fed in the same place for 13 years, it will turn into a bloodthirsty werewolf. Bake-neko can be so huge that it will not fit into the house, but instead will rummage around with its paws, looking for people like mice in a hole. Sometimes a werewolf takes on the appearance of a human.

There is a well-known story about how a cat disappeared in one house. At the same time, the behavior of the mother of the family began to change: she avoided people and ate, closing herself in the room. When the household decided to spy on her, they discovered a creepy humanoid monster. The owner of the house killed him, and a day later she again turned into the missing cat. Under the tatami on the floor, the mother's bones were found, gnawed clean.

Cats in Japan were associated with death. Therefore, people were very suspicious of cats of deceased owners. These animals could become kasa, stealing corpses, or two-tailed nekomata, playing with dead bodies like dolls. To avoid such a disaster, kittens need to have their tails docked (so that they do not fork), and the deceased's cat should be securely locked up.

The image of a cat was not always gloomy. Porcelain maneki-neko figurines bring success to store owners. During a thunderstorm, the cat led the rich man away from the tree that was about to be struck by lightning, after which he began to patronize the temple. One geisha's cat did not allow her owner into the restroom where the snake was hiding. Finally, cats often took the form of people and became the wives of single men or the children of childless couples.

Basan. It was found in the territory of modern Ehime Prefecture.

Basan: overgrown rooster. At night he walks the streets and makes a strange noise - something like “bass-bass”. People look out of their houses, but find no one. Can breathe fire, but is generally harmless.

Betobeto-san: when you walk down the street at night and hear footsteps behind you, but there is no one behind you, say: “Betobeto-san, please come in!” The ghost will leave and will no longer stomp behind you.

Gyuki (yushi-oni): A bull-like chimera that lives in waterfalls and ponds. Attacks people by drinking their shadows. After this, the victims begin to get sick and soon die. Gyuki's steps are silent. Having identified a victim, he will pursue it to the ends of the Earth. There is only one way to get rid of the monster - by repeating the paradoxical phrase: “Leaves drown, stones float, cows neigh, horses moo.” Sometimes gyuki takes the form of a beautiful woman.

Jore-gumo: during the day she looks like a pretty girl, and at night she turns into a spider-like monster, laying webs on people.

Jubokko: Trees growing on battlefields soon become accustomed to human blood, becoming predators. They catch travelers with branches and suck them dry.

Doro-ta-bo: the ghost of a peasant who spent his entire life cultivating his piece of land. After the death of the owner, the lazy son abandoned the plot, and it was soon sold. The father's spirit regularly rises from the ground and demands that the field be returned to him.

Inu-gami: if you tie a hungry dog, put a bowl of food in front of it so that it cannot reach it, and when the animal reaches the highest point of frenzy, cut off its head, you will get inugami - cruel spirit, which you can set against your enemies. Inu-gami is very dangerous and can attack its owner.

Inu-gami. In one legend, a dog's head was sawed off with a dull bamboo saw.

Ippon-datara: The spirit of a blacksmith with one leg and one eye.

Isonade: giant fish. It knocks sailors into the water with its tail and devours them.

Ittan-momen: At first glance, it appears to be a long piece of white material floating in the night sky. It may not come to a second glance, since this spirit likes to silently fall on a person, wrap itself around his neck and strangle him.

Itsumaden: When a person dies of hunger, he turns into a huge fire-breathing bird with a snake tail. This spirit haunts those who refused him food during life.

Kama-itachi: If you are caught in a storm and then find strange cuts on your body, this is the work of a kama-itachi, a storm ermine with long claws.

Kameosa: An old sake bottle that magically produces alcohol.

Kami-kiri: a spirit with claws that attacks people in bathrooms and cuts off their hair at the root. Sometimes in this way he tries to prevent the marriage of a person with an animal or spirit.

Kappa (kasambo): One of the most common Japanese perfumes. Many-sided, but always has a recess with water on its head, where all of it is hidden Magic force. People often trick the kappa by bowing and forcing him to make a return bow that spills water. Lives in water, loves cucumbers. It is recommended not to eat them before swimming, otherwise the kappa may smell the treat and drag you to the bottom. Naughty children are taught to bow under the pretext that it is protection from the mouthguard.

Kijimuna: good tree spirits. There is only one thing that can make them angry - an octopus.

Kirin: sacred dragon. It differs from the Chinese qi-lin only in that it has three toes instead of five on its paws.

Kitsune: a werefox, a popular character in romantic fairy tales. Often turns into a girl and starts families with people. Loves to steal and cheat. As foxes age, they grow additional tails (their number can reach up to nine). Kitsune magic does not affect Taoist monks.

You can identify a kitsune by its shadow - it always has the outline of a fox.

• The Japanese believe that a cat has the greatest chance of becoming a werewolf. That is why she should not be allowed to dance, thus demonstrating magical power.
• The highest chances of meeting a ghost in Japan are between 2 and 3 am in the summer, when the border between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest.
• "Kitsune" means either "always red-haired" or "come to the bedroom." Foxes' favorite food is tofu. A person who has gotten rid of his obsession with the fox (penetrating under his fingernails or through his breasts) will have an aversion to tofu for the rest of his life.
• Rain falling in bright sunshine is called a “kitsune wedding” in Japan.

Ko-dama: spirit of an old tree. Likes to repeat human words. It is because of the ko-dam that an echo appears in the forest.

Ko-dama (anime "Princess Mononoke").

Konaki-diji: small child crying in the forest. If someone picks him up, Konaki-diji begins to rapidly gain weight and crushes his savior.

Karakara-she: an ugly mockingbird that chases people and torments them with its laughter.

Lidar elbows: a giant of incredible size. His footprints became lakes. He often moved mountains from place to place.

Namahage- “Santa Claus is the opposite.” Every New Year he goes from house to house and asks if there are naughty children here. Little Japanese who believe in Namahage panic and hide, and their parents convince the demon that their children are good, after which they pour him one hundred grams of sake.

Ningyo: The Japanese mermaid is a hybrid of a monkey and a carp. The meat is very tasty. Having tasted it, you can extend your life for many hundreds of years. If a ningyo cries, it will turn into a human.

Noppera-bo (noperapon): A faceless spirit that frightens people.

Nuri-botoke: if you don’t take good care of your home Buddhist altar, then there will be a ghost in it that looks like a black Buddha with a fish tail and protruding eyes. Every time a careless believer wants to pray, he will be greeted by this monster.

They(emphasis on o): colorful demons - something like European trolls or ogres. Aggressive and angry. They fight with iron clubs. They are scared off by the smell of burnt sardines, but today in Japan it is customary to do this by tossing beans (which for some reason they hate), saying: “They go away, happiness comes!”).

Raiden's animal. Represents ball lightning. He likes to hide in people's belly buttons, which is why the superstitious Japanese sleep on their stomachs during thunderstorms.

Rokuro-kubi: ordinary women who, for some reason, underwent a partial ghostly transformation. At night, their necks begin to grow and their heads crawl around the house, doing all sorts of nasty things. Rokuro-kubi is unlucky in love - after all, men are very nervous about such night walks.

Sagari: A horse's head rattling tree branches. If you met her, you could get sick (probably with a stutter).

Sazae-oni: old snails that have turned into evil spirits. They can turn around beautiful women. There is a well-known story when pirates rescued a drowned beauty. She happily gave herself to each of them. It was soon discovered that the men's scrotums were missing. Sazae-oni proposed a deal: the pirates give her all their gold, and the snail returns their scrotums (the Japanese sometimes call this organ “golden balls,” so the exchange was equal).

Sirime: exhibitionist ghost. He catches up with people, takes off his pants and turns his back to them. An eye pokes out from there, after which spectators usually faint.

Soyo: cheerful alcoholic ghosts. Harmless.

Sune-kosuri: furry animals that throw themselves at the feet of rushing people and make them stumble.

Ta-naga: long-armed people of Japan, who entered into symbiosis with asi-naga(long-legged people). The first sat on the shoulders of the second and began to live together as a single organism. Nowadays you can no longer see these giants.

Tanuki: Were-badgers (or raccoon dogs) that bring happiness. The amount of happiness is directly proportional to the size of a badger's scrotum. Tanuki know how to inflate it to incredible sizes (sleep on it, shelter from the rain with it), or even turn this part of the body into a house. The only way to verify the authenticity of a badger's home is to drop a burning coal on the floor. True, after this act you will no longer see happiness.

Tengu: winged werewolves. Despite the comical nose, like Pinocchio, they are extremely powerful and dangerous. A long time ago they taught people martial arts. If a person suffering from amnesia emerges from the forest, it means that he has been kidnapped by a tengu.

Futa-kushi-onna: An ever-hungry ghost of a woman with an extra mouth on the back of her head, a Japanese version of Tantalus. The second mouth spits curses and uses its hair as tentacles, stealing food from the woman. According to one legend, this curse was imposed on an evil stepmother who deprived her adopted children of food.

Haku-taku (bai-ze): a wise and kind creature with nine eyes and six horns. Speaks human speech. One day, Bai Ze was captured by the great Emperor Huang Di and, in exchange for freedom, told him all the ins and outs about his relatives (11,520 types of magical creatures). The emperor ordered the testimony to be recorded, but, unfortunately, this bestiary has not reached our time.

Hari-onago: an ogress with a powerful head of “living” hair, each of which ends in a sharp hook. Lives on roads. Having met a traveler, he laughs merrily. If someone laughs in response, Hari-onago uses his hair.

Hito-dama: particles of a person’s soul leaving his body shortly before death in the form of clots of flame. They fly away not far and fall to the ground, leaving a slimy trail.

Hitotsume-kozo: a ghost in the guise of a small ten-year-old boy - bald and one-eyed. Harmless, but playful. Loves to scare people. Sometimes it can cause illness. To ward off this spirit, you need to hang a basket near the door. Seeing many holes in it, the little Cyclops will mistake them for eyes and run away, ashamed that he only has one.

Hoko: spirit of camphor tree. Looks like a dog with a human face. Ancient chronicles claim that if you cut down a camphor tree, a hoko will emerge from its trunk, which can be roasted and eaten. Its meat is very tasty. Eating ghosts is a unique feature of Japanese mythology.

Yuki-ona: The "snow queen" of Japan is a pale lady who lives in the snow and freezes people with her icy breath. In erotic stories, Yuki-she freezes people with a kiss, or even through the most interesting place.

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The rules of “ghost etiquette” in Japan are simple: do not keep old things at home, otherwise they will acquire a soul of their own, do not travel on summer nights, do not accept anything from strangers you meet, do not laugh at them, do not be rude and always be careful when choosing a spouse - it is quite possible that she is not the woman of your dreams, but a cunning fox or an evil fury. Even if ghosts don’t exist, and you live in Russia, these simple rules can still save you from unnecessary trouble.

Japanese mythology is a combination of folk legends and traditions, which are mostly based on Buddhist and Shinto teachings.

Shinto features many kami - spirits and gods for which the mythology of the land of the rising sun is famous.

Myths and legends of Japan

Gods of Japanese mythology

The first gods were Izanagi - the god of life and creation, and the goddess Izanami. They lived high in the sky on a floating bridge, and, deciding to find out if there was land under it, they lowered Amanonuhoko's naginata (Japanese halberd) down. There was no land there, and the naginata sank into the ocean, and when it was pulled out, the drops that flowed down the blade, falling onto the water, hardened and formed land - Onogoro Island.

The gods decided to come down and live on the island. Soon they got married and from them the rest of the islands of the Japanese archipelago, as well as a large number of other gods, were born. At the end, the fire god Kagutsuchi is born and cripples Izanami. The sick Izanami is sent away from the world to the underground kingdom of Yomi.

The Legend of Yomi

Izanagi went after Izanami in the hope of saving her. There was impenetrable darkness in Yomi, but the god of life still found his beloved. But when Izanagi lit the torch, he saw that the kingdom of the dead had turned his once beautiful wife into an ugly monster. Frightened, Izanagi tells his wife that their marriage is over and runs away. Izanami becomes furious at her husband’s act and turns into death, which to this day takes people’s lives.

Myths of ancient Japan

Returning from Yomi, Izanagi decided to wash away the filth of the underground monastery and began to take off his clothes and jewelry. Jewels and drops from ablutions fell to the ground and new gods appeared from them:

Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun, sky and agriculture. She is the most famous goddess of Japanese myths, according to them, emperors descended from her.

Tsukuyomi is the god of the moon and night.

Susanoo is the lord of the ocean, snow, ice and storms.

Susanoo had a bad character, he was jealous of his sister Amaterasu, constantly insulted her and tried to set her up. Izanagi got tired of Susanoo's antics and sent his son to Yomi. Before exile, Susanoo visited the heavenly kingdom of Takamanohara to say goodbye to Amaterasu.

- Why did you come here? - asked Amaterasu.

“To say goodbye to you, sister,” Susanoo answered her.

Amaterasu did not believe her brother and arranged a test to test Susanoo's sincerity. The ocean god was supposed to create gods more perfect than the gods of Amaterasu. Susanoo gave birth to five beautiful gods from his sister's necklace. Overjoyed, he got drunk, destroyed the irrigation canals, shit in the refectory and began throwing his feces in all directions. In the end, he skinned the horse and threw the corpse into his sister’s room. Amaterasu was very frightened and ran away from Susanoo into the dungeon in horror, as a result of which the sun disappeared and darkness fell.

In order to return the sun to the world, the gods decided to lure Amaterasu out by cunning and invited the goddess of entertainment and dawn, Ame-no-uzume-no. With a funny dance, she amused the gods, at whose laughter Amaterasu looked out. She asked why they were laughing, and the gods replied that they had met a more noble and beautiful goddess than Amaterasu. To confirm their words, they showed Amaterasu her reflection in the mirror. Bewildered, Amaterasu left the dungeon, and the world was again illuminated by sunlight. The gods expelled Susanoo from the divine monastery.

Amaterasu emerges from the cave in surprise

Descending from heaven, the sea god met an elderly couple. In sobs, they told him that the eight-headed dragon Yamata no Orochi had taken and eaten their daughters, and would soon come for the only one left - the beautiful Kushinada-hime.

Susanoo said that he would kill the dragon if the girl became his wife. Arriving at the monster, he gave it sake to drink and cut off all eight heads in turn, and from the tail he created the divine sword Kusanagi and brought it as a sign of apology to Amaterasu.

Susanoo married the girl he saved from the monster, and continued to be the ruler of the ocean and storms, from time to time allowing himself reckless tomfoolery that made the earth shake.

Susanoo drinks the dragon sake

Japanese mythology video

The video tells about the two most famous gods of folklore of the land of the rising sun.

Article genre - Myths of Japan

Goddess Amaterasu. Amaterasu o-mikami- “Great goddess who illuminates the earth”, goddess of the Sun. Considered the sacred ancestor of the Japanese emperors (great-great-grandmother) and supreme deity. Probably originally revered as a male being "Amateru Mitama" — « Spirit shining in the sky." Myths about her are the basis reflected in the most ancient chronicles (VII century) - "Kojiki" And "Nihon Shoki". Her main sanctuary "Ise jingu" founded at the very beginning of the country's history in the province Ise. The High Priestess of the Amaterasu cult is always one of the emperor's daughters.

God Susanoo no Mikoto. God of hurricanes, the Underworld, waters, agriculture and disease. His name translates as « Impetuous fellow." Goddess's younger brother Amaterasu. For a quarrel with his sister and other family members, he was exiled to Earth from the Heavenly Kingdom (which is called Takamagahara) and performed many feats here, in particular, he killed an eight-headed dragon Yamato no Orochi, and from his tail he pulled out three symbols of imperial power - a sword Kusanagi, mirror and jasper. Then, in order to reconcile with his sister, he gave her these regalia. Subsequently he began to rule the Underground Kingdom. His main sanctuary is in the province Izumo.

God Tsukiyoshi. Moon God younger brother goddesses Amaterasu. After he killed the goddess of food and crops for disrespect Uke-mochi, Amaterasu didn’t want to see him anymore. Therefore, the Sun and Moon never meet in the sky.

Izanami and Izanagi. The first people and, at the same time, the first kami. Brother and sister, husband and wife. They gave birth to everything living and existing. Amaterasu, Susanoo no Mikoto And Tsukiyoshi- children born from the head of the god Izanagi after the departure of the goddess Izanami to the Underground Kingdom and their quarrel. Now Izanami is revered as the goddess of death.

King Emma. Sanskrit name - Pit. The god of the underworld, who decides the fate of all creatures after their death. The path to his kingdom lies either “through the mountains” or “up to the heavens.” Under his command are armies of spirits, one of whose tasks is to come for people after death.

God Raijin. God of thunder and lightning. Usually depicted surrounded and hitting them. Thus he creates thunder. Sometimes he is also depicted in the form of a child or a snake. Besides thunder, Raijin is also responsible for rain.

God Fujin. God of the wind. Usually depicted with a large bag in which he carries hurricanes.

God Suijin. God of water. Usually depicted as a snake, eel, kappa or water spirit. Since water is considered a feminine symbol, women have always played main role in veneration of Suijin.

God Tenjin. God of learning. Originally revered as a sky god, but is now revered as the spirit of a scholar named Sugawara Michizane(845-943). Due to the fault of court intriguers, he fell out of favor and was removed from the palace. In exile, he continued to write poetry in which he asserted his innocence. After his death, his angry spirit was considered responsible for a number of misfortunes and disasters. To calm the raging kami, Sugawara was posthumously forgiven, promoted to court rank and deified. Tejin is especially revered at the shrine Dazaifu Tenmangu in the prefecture Fukuoka, as well as in their temples throughout Japan.

God Toshigami. God of the year. In some places he is also revered as the god of the harvest and agriculture in general. Toshigami can take the form of an old man and an old woman. Toshigami prayers are offered on New Year's Eve.

God Hachiman. God of military affairs. The divine emperor is venerated under this name Odzin. Hachiman is especially revered at the shrine Usa Natimangu in the prefecture Oita, as well as in their temples all over Japan.

Goddess Inari. Goddess of abundance, rice and cereals in general. Often worshiped in the form of a fox. Inari is especially revered at the shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha, as well as in their temples all over Japan. Sometimes Inari is also revered in a male form, in the form of an old man.

Seven Gods of Fortune ( Shichifuku-jin). Seven divine beings who bring good luck. Their names: Ebisu(patron of fishermen and traders, god of luck and hard work, depicted with a fishing rod), Daikoku(the patron saint of peasants, the god of wealth, is depicted with a wish-granting hammer and a bag of rice), Jurojin(god of longevity, depicted as an old man with a staff- shaku, to which is attached a scroll of wisdom, and a crane, turtle or deer, sometimes depicted drinking sake), Fukurokujin(the god of longevity and wise deeds, depicted as an old man with a huge pointed head), Hotei(god of compassion and good nature, depicted as an old man with a big belly), Bishamon(the god of wealth and prosperity, depicted as a mighty warrior with a spear and in full samurai armor), Benten(or Benzaiten, goddess of luck (especially at sea), wisdom, arts, love and thirst for knowledge, is depicted as a girl with biwa- national Japanese instrument). Sometimes they include Kishijoten- Bishamon's sister, depicted with a diamond in her left hand. They are revered both together and individually. They travel on a wonderful Treasure Ship, filled to the brim with all sorts of riches. Their cult is very important in Everyday life Japanese.

Four Heavenly Kings ( Si-Tenno). Four deities protecting the cardinal directions from the invasion of demons. They live in palaces located in the mountains at the ends of the Earth. In the east - Jigoku, in the West - Jocho, on South - Komoku and in the north - Bishamon(one of the seven gods of Luck).

Dragon Lord Rinzin. The strongest and richest of all dragons, lives in a huge crystal palace at the bottom of the ocean, filled with all sorts of riches. He is the richest creature in the world. Rinzin is revered as the god of the seas and oceans under the name Umi no Kami.

There are legends that Rindzin often visited the human world in human form, leaving behind many children - beautiful boys and girls with green eyes, long black hair and the ability to perform magic.

Saints of Buddhism

Buddha Shakyamuni. Or simply Buddha. It was in this rebirth that Buddha learned the Truth and created his teaching. The teachings of Buddha () are the most important part of Japanese culture.

Buddha Miroku. Sanskrit name - Matreya. Buddha of the future. When he descends to Earth, the End of the World will come.

Buddha Amida. Sanskrit name - Amitabha. The main object of worship of one of the branches of northern Buddhism is. Buddha of the Western Land. According to legend, in one of his rebirths, having comprehended the teachings of the Buddha and studied many lands and countries, he made 48 vows, one of which was to build a Pure Land for everyone who turned to him for help ( "Jodo") in the West - the best place in the world for people to live, a kind of Buddhist Paradise. Through many new reincarnations, he fulfilled this vow. His favorite animal is the white Moon Rabbit ( "Tsuki no Usagi").

Bodhisattva Kannon. Another pronunciation of the name is Kangzeon, Sanskrit name - Avalokitesvara(“Listen to the sounds of the world”). The Bodhisattva of Compassion, who took an oath to save living beings everywhere, and for this received the opportunity to manifest himself in « thirty-three forms." Amida's closest companion. In China and Japan it is revered in female form. In India and Tibet - in male form (the Dalai Lama is considered his incarnation). In Japanese Christianity in the 16th century, she was identified with the Virgin Mary. Rules the animal world. Often depicted with many hands - a symbol of the ability to save countless creatures.

Bodhisattva Jizo. He is considered the patron saint of children and those suffering in hell, as well as travelers. Small statues of Jizo are often placed by the roadside, and a piece of cloth is sometimes tied around their necks as a sign of sacrifice.

Five Buddhas of Compassion ( Go-Ti). It is these five divine beings who help people most in achieving Nirvana. Their names: Yakushi, Tacho, Dainichi, Asukuki And Syaka.

Twelve Guardian Gods ( Juni-Jinsho). Twelve guardian gods of the great Yakushi-Nyoraya— Healer of Souls in Buddhist mythology. Their number corresponds to the number of months, and therefore those born in the corresponding month often consider themselves under the protection of the corresponding deity.

Patriarch Daruma. In Russia it is known as Bodhidharma, creator and founder of a Chinese monastery Shaolin- a future martial arts center. His dedication to achieving his chosen goal is proverbial. According to legend, when his eyelids began to stick together from sitting motionless in a meditation pose for a long time, he tore them out, indignant at his weakness.

There is a custom in Japan: when you start doing a difficult task (or ask the gods for a miracle), you buy and paint one eye, and when you finish the task (or get what you asked for), you paint the second eye.