Japanese Deities

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. shinbutsu 神仏 kami to hotoke - the Deities of Japan .
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Japanese Buddhas and Deities
日本の神仏　 shinbutsu


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.................. Introducing Buddha Statues

History of Buddha Statues in Japan 仏像の歴史



.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Nyorai Group 如来

Amida Buddha 阿弥陀如来
- - - .紅頗梨色阿弥陀如来 Gubari Amida Nyorai in red cloth .

Dainichi Nyorai 大日如来 The Great Sun, Center of the Universe

O-Take Nyorai お竹如来

Shaka Nyorai 釈迦如来 　Gautama Buddha

Tahoo Nyorai 多宝如来 Taho Nyorai - Prabhuta Ratna プラブータ・ラトナ

Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来、Buddha of Medicine


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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Bosatsu Group 菩薩

. Bosatsu 菩薩 　Bodhisattva Group .


Daigen Shuri Bosatsu 招宝七郎大権修理菩薩
monastery-protecting spirit (gogaranjin 護伽藍神)
and temple Anryu-Ji 安竜寺


Fugen Bosatsu 普賢菩薩（ふげんぼさつ) (Samantabhadra)
and the white Elephant


Hoki Bosatsu, Hooki Bosatsu 法起菩薩 ... "Hoodoo Sennin" 法道仙人, Temple Bodaiji 菩提寺, Saint Tokudo 徳道上人


... ... ... Jizo Bosatsu　地蔵菩薩
- with more details -

Ajimi Jizo 嘗試地蔵 and Kobo DaishiKoya san

Jizo as Jigoku Bosatsu 地獄菩薩, Namu Jigoku Daibosatsu
南無地獄大菩薩

Asekaki Jizoo, the Sweating Jizo 汗かき地蔵

Gote Jizoo ごて地蔵 Gote Jizo , Osaka, Kita-Ku
曽根崎警察署の裏

Hadaka Jizoo Naked Jizo　裸地蔵

Hooroku Jizoo ほうろく地蔵 with an earthen pot on his head
(Horoku Jizo 焙烙地蔵)

Miso Jizoo 広島のみそ地蔵

O-Bake Jizoo 化け地蔵 the monstrous Jizo statues Nikko

Omokaru Jizoo, Heavy or Light Jizo おもかる地蔵、重軽地蔵

Shinpei-Ji 心平寺　地蔵　 Kencho-Ji, Kamakura

Shioname Jizo 塩嘗地蔵 Salt-tasting Jizo in Kamakura

Yonaki Jizo and babies crying at night 夜泣き地蔵



... ... ... Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩

Batoo Kannon, Horseheaded Kannon 馬頭観音

Hakodate 33 Kannon Pilgrimage 西国移土三十三観音, 函館市湯川寺

Hatakiri Kannon はたきり観音さん, Shikoku Henro 10

Jundei Kannon, Juntei Kannon 准胝 観音 Mother of all Buddhas
准胝仏母（じゅんていぶっぽ）

Maria Kannon　マリア観音 Christians in Nagasaki

Nyoirin Kannon, Wishfulfilling Kannon如意輪観音
..... Seiryuu Gongen, Dragon Deity Zennyo 清瀧権現

O-Shichi Kannon お七観音 at temple Tanjo-Ji in Okayama 誕生寺 (Tanjooji)

Senju Kannon, with 1000 Arms and Juuichimen Kannon with 11 heads 千手観音, 十一面観音

Shichimen Kannon 七面観音 Nichiren and Mount Minobu
Shichimen Daibosatsu 七面大菩薩

Usuzumi Kannon, Light Charcoal Cherry Tree Kannon 薄墨観音




Kokuuzoo Bosatsu 虚空蔵菩薩 Kokuzo Bosatsu
Akashagarbha Bodhisattva.
Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Memory



Maso Bosatsu, Senrigan and Junpuji 媽祖菩薩, 千里眼, 順風耳

Memyo Bosatsu 馬鳴菩薩. Ashvagosha

Miroku Bosatsu 弥勒菩薩 Maitreya

Monju Bosatsu 文殊菩薩　Manjushri

Myoken Bosatsu (Myooken Bosatsu) 妙見菩薩
and Star Shrines in Japan, Hoshi Jinja 星神社

Nikko Bosatsu (Sunlight) Gakko Bosatsu (Moonlight)
日光菩薩と月光菩薩 Suryaprabha and Candraprabha


Seishi Bosatsu 勢至菩薩 Mahasthamaprapta


Sengen Daibosatsu 浅間大菩薩 Deity of Mount Fuji



Daibosatsu is a term of Buddhist origin, and refers to a "great kami that has awakened to the Way of the Bodhisattva."


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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Myo-O Group 明王の部

Aizen Myo-O　 愛染明王

Daigensui 大元帥明王 Taigen (Atavaka)

Daiitoku Myo-O 大威徳明王 Yamaantaka


. . . . Fudo Myo-O ... see above


Goosanze Myo-O 降三世明王 Gosanze Trilokavijaya


Kujaku Myo-O 孔雀明王 The Pheasant Wisdom King　

Ususama Myo-O 烏瑟沙摩明王
Ucchusma, deity of the toilet

Zao Gongen 蔵王権現


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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Ten Group, Tenbu 天部 Deva, Devas

Many of them are devas are deities coming from India and some have shrines with a torii 鳥居entrance gate dedicated to them. The division between Shinto and Buddhism is difficult here, ecpecially since many sanctuaries were erected before the separation of the two religions in Japan in the Meiji period.


Ashura, Asura (あしゅら) 阿修羅


Benzaiten　弁財天, Benten 弁天 Benzai-Ten
..... Benten and the Gods of Water


Bishamonten、Tamonten 多聞天 (Vaishravana) 毘沙門天、毘沙門の使ひ

Bishukatsuma 毘首羯磨 (Vishvakarman ヴィシュヴァカルマン)
自在天王・工巧天・巧妙天

Daikoku Ten 大黒天 Daikoku sama

Dairokuten Ma-O ... 第六天魔王, 大六天 Take Jizaiten 他化自在天

Dakiniten, Dakini Ten (Vajra Daakini) 荼枳尼天

Datsueba 奪衣婆 or 脱衣婆 the Old Hag of Hell

Ebisu ... 夷　恵比寿　恵比須　えびす、エビス God of Good Luck

Enma Ten, Enma Oo (Emma): The King of Hell閻魔天、閻魔王
..... The Ten Kings of Hell, Juu Oo 十王


Gigeiten 伎芸天 Daijizai Tennyo 大自在天女 and
Daijizai Ten 大自在天 (Shiva)

Gohoojin 護法神 Protectors of the Buddhist law


Hotei 布袋 Pu-Tai

Idaten 韋駄天 (Skanda)

Juuni Shinshoo 十二神将　Twelve Heavenly Generals,
12 Warrior Generals

Kankiten (Ganesh) Elephant-headed deity

Kichijoten 吉祥天 Kichijooten (Lakshmi, Shri Mahadevi)

Kishibojin　鬼子母神, Kishimojin, Kangimo, Kariteimo 訶梨帝母

Kuroyami Ten 黒闇天 Kokuan Ten of the Darkness
Kuroyami Tennyo 黒闇天女（くろやみてんにょ）

Madarajin, Matarajin, Matara Shin 摩多羅神 Mathara, Mahakala

Mao son 護法魔王尊 Gohoo Maoo Son
and the three sonten 尊天 of Kurama mountain temple

Marishiten 摩利支天 Marishi Ten

Nio, Deva Kings 仁王 (Nioo, Niou)


. Ototen 乙天 Bishamonten .


Shakudaijin 石大神 - near Ogisu, Suzuka-gun, Kyoto
- reference -


Shomen Kongo 青面金剛 Shoomen Kongoo
and
- Kooshin 庚申 Kōshin, Koshin Ka-no-e-saru -


Taishakuten, Taishaku Ten 帝釈天
Indra, Sakra Deva, Shakra Devanam Indra
and the Koshin Cult (kooshin 庚申, ka no e saru)


The Gods of the four elements 風水天地の神様
水神　Suijin, 風神 Fuujin, 地神 Chijin, 火神 Kajin


Seven Gods of Good Luck 七福神 Shichifukujin　


. Wakaten　若天 Fudo Myo-O .

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Saints and holy figures


Binzuru 賓頭盧 (Pinzuru)

. MORE Fellow Pilgrims .


. Memorial Days of Poets .


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Hibutsu ... 秘仏 ... Secret and hidden Buddha statues

Temples and Shrines of Japan



Busshi 仏師 ... Buddhist Sculptors Gallery



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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. Shinto Deities 神道の神様


. - - - kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-list - - - .


- - - - - The Gods of Japan and Haiku (kami to hotoke)


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quote
Shingō　神語
A "divine title" affixed to the name of a kami.
A wide variety of titles have come into use in accordance with the unique characteristics of kami, and as a result of historical changes in the way kami have been understood. In the ancient period, the title mikoto was used, while expressions such as myōjin ("shining kami"), daibosatsu (great bodhisattva), and gongen (avatar) came into use as a product of kami-buddha combinatory cults (shinbutsu shūgō). During the Edo period, the title reisha ("spirit shrine") was applied to the departed spirits of human beings.

The title mikoto, written variously with the characters 命 or 尊 was used in ancient classics such as Kojiki and Nihongi as a title of respect for both kami and noble persons. It is believed that mi represents an honorific prefix, while koto means "thing," "event," or "word"; together, the reading mikoto has been interpreted as referring to a "noble personage," "minister" or "medium" (mikotomochi), and "noble child" (miko; see mikogami).

Nihongi differentiates between the usage of characters 尊 and 命 for mikoto, stating that the earlier character is used to refer only to kami of the utmost dignity with direct linkage to the imperial descent, while the latter character is used for all other kami.

The title myōjin 明神 as applied to Japanese kami is believed to evolved from an earlier term myōjin 名神 ("eminent kami"), which was used in ancient works like Engishiki to refer to kami of particularly noteworthy power. Under the influence of the homophonic myōjin 明神 ("shining deity") found in Chinese and Buddhist texts, the latter character combination came to be applied to indigenous kami as well.

Daibosatsu is obviously a term of Buddhist origin, and refers to a "great kami that has awakened to the Way of the Bodhisattva." The title daibosatsu is first seen in 781, when the kami Hachiman was honored with the title Gokoku Reigen Iriki Jintsū Daibosatsu ("Great Bodhisattva of National Protection and Marvelous Spirit Power"). From that time, the title daibosatsu has been applied to numerous other kami, including Fuji Sengen Daibosatsu and Tado Daibosatsu.

Gongen (avatar) is likewise of Buddhist origin, a term deriving from the doctrine of honji suijaku ("original essence, manifest traces"). According to this belief, buddhas may provisionally manifest themselves in this world in the form of kami or deities indigenous to various locales. Some well-known kami bestowed with this title include Kumano Gongen, Kasuga Gongen, and Hakusan Gongen.

The title reisha originates with the Yuiitsu Shinto school of the Yoshida family, which first used the term to refer to a shrine erected over the grave of the school's founder. Mano Tokitsuna's Kokin shingaku ruihen describes reisha as "a general term referring to shrines devoted to the spirits of human beings," but the term was also later used as a title for the kami themselves. Within Yoshida Shintō, the titles reijin reisha and myōjin were all applied to deceased human spirits, and this usage influenced the use of the terms in other schools as well, including Yoshikawa Shintō and Suika Shintō, where they were applied to persons who had mastered the deepest imports of the religion. Some of these individuals included Yoshikawa Koretari, posthumously titled Miaredō Reisha, and Yamazaki Ansai, who was titled Suika Reisha.

Another unusual example of the attribution of shingō to humans is that of Sugawara Michizane, who was titled tenjin or "heavenly deity."
source : Sato Masato, Kokugakuin 2005


More details and introduction:
. shinbutsu 神仏 kami to hotoke .
shinbutsu shūgō 神仏習合 Syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism
shinbutsu bunri 神仏分離 Separation of Shinto and Buddhism


日本の神仏の辞典 - 大島建彦 (編集)

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My Books in German

Buddhistische Kultgegenstände Japans
by Gabi Greve
(Buddhist Ritual and Ceremonial Tools, butsugu, hoogu)

Ich widme dieses Buch, in grosser Dankbarkeit, einem grossen Sensei, Dietrich Seckel.
Okayama Pref., Japan 1996



Buddhastatuen ... Who is Who,
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie von japanischen Buddhastatuen
by Gabi Greve 1994
(All about Japanese Buddhastatues)
With a Review by Dietrich Seckel


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The best ONLINE introduction !

THE FACE OF BUDDHISM and SHINTOISM
IN JAPANESE ART

! Mark Schumacher !
(I am contributing to this site too.)


Article:
Buddhism and Shinto
Michael Hofmann, March 2010


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Buddha Statues and Japanese Deities by
. Master Carver Enku 円空 .
［1632?～1695］


Shinto deities and haiku by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


The first visit or ceremony for a Japanese deity is often a KIGO!
. WKD : New Year Ceremonies


. shinbutsu in Edo 江戸の神仏 Kami and Hotoke in Edo .

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