Gods of Japan. Shinigami

At the same time interesting and incomprehensible to many is Japanese mythology, which includes a lot of sacred knowledge, beliefs, traditions of Shinto and Buddhism. The pantheon has a huge number of deities who perform their functions. A considerable number of demons are also known, in which people believe.

pantheon of japanese gods

The myths of this Asian country are based on Shintoism - the “way of the gods”, which appeared in ancient times and it is simply impossible to determine the exact date. The mythology of Japan is peculiar and unique. People worshiped various spiritual essences of nature, places and even inanimate objects. The gods could be evil and good. It is worth noting that their names are often complex, and sometimes too lengthy.

Japanese goddess of the sun

The goddess Amaterasu Omikami is responsible for the celestial body and in translation her name is called "the great goddess illuminating the heavens." According to beliefs, the goddess of the sun in Japan is the progenitor of the great imperial family.

1. It is believed that Amaterasu told the Japanese the rules and secrets of the technology of growing rice and obtaining silk through the use of a loom.
2. According to legend, she appeared from drops of water when one of the great gods was bathing in a pond.
3. Japanese mythology tells that she had a brother Susanoo, with whom she married, but he wanted to go to the world of the dead to his mother, so he began to destroy the world of people so that other gods would kill him. Amaterasu was tired of her husband's behavior and hid in a cave, cutting off all contact with the world. The gods managed to lure her out of the shelter by cunning and return her to heaven.

Japanese Goddess of Mercy

One of the main goddesses of the Japanese pantheon is Guanyin, who is also called the "Buddhist Madonna." Believers considered her a beloved mother and a divine mediator, who was not alien to the daily affairs of ordinary people. Other Japanese goddesses were not of such great importance in antiquity.

1. Guanyin is revered as a compassionate savior and goddess of mercy. Her altars were placed not only in temples, but also in houses and roadside temples.
2. According to existing legends, the goddess wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven, but she stopped at the very threshold, hearing the cry of people living on earth.
3. The Japanese goddess of mercy is considered the patroness of women, sailors, merchants and artisans. Women who wanted to get pregnant also sought her help.
4. Often Guanyin is represented with a lot of eyes and hands, which personifies her desire to help other people.

Japanese god of death

Emma is responsible for the other world, who is not only the ruler of the god, but also the judge of the dead, who controls hell (in Japanese mythology - jigoku).

1. Under the leadership of the god of death, there is a whole army of spirits that perform many tasks, for example, they take away the souls of the dead after death.
2. They represent him as a large man with a red face, bulging eyes and a beard. The god of death in Japan is dressed in traditional Japanese attire, and on his head is a crown with the hieroglyph "king".
3. In modern Japan, Emma is the hero of horror stories that are told to children.

Japanese god of war

The famous warlike patron god Hachiman is not a fictional character, as he was copied from the real Japanese warrior Oji, who ruled the country. For his good deeds, loyalty to the Japanese people and love of battles, it was decided to rank him in the divine pantheon.

1. There are several options for how the Japanese gods looked, so Hachiman was portrayed as an elderly blacksmith or, conversely, a child who provided all kinds of help to people.
2. He is considered the patron of the samurai, so he is called the god of the bow and arrows. His task is to protect people from various life misfortunes and wars.
3. According to one legend, Hachiman represents the fusion of three divine beings. It also says that he was the patron of the imperial family, so the ruler Oji is considered his prototype.

Japanese god of thunder

Raijin is considered the patron saint of lightning and thunder in mythology. In most legends, he is represented together with the god of the wind. They depict him surrounded by drums, which he beats, creating thunder. In some sources, he is represented as a child or a snake. The Japanese god Raijin is also responsible for rain. It is considered the Japanese equivalent of the Western demon or devil.

Japanese god of fire

Kagutsuchi is considered responsible for the fire in the pantheon. According to legend, when he was born, he burned his mother with his flame and she died. His father, being in despair, cut off his head, and then divided the remains into eight equal parts, from which volcanoes later appeared. From his blood came the other gods of Japan.

1. In Japanese mythology, Kagutsuchi was held in high esteem and people worshiped him as the patron of fire and blacksmithing.
2. People were afraid of the wrath of the god of fire, so they constantly prayed to him and brought various gifts, believing that he would save their homes from fires.
3. In Japan, many people still observe the tradition of celebrating the Hi-matsuri at the beginning of the year. On this day, it is necessary to bring a torch to the house, lit from the sacred fire in the temple.

Japanese wind god

One of the oldest Shinto deities that inhabited the earth even before the advent of mankind is Fujin. For those who are interested in which god in Japan was responsible for the wind, and what he looked like, it is worth knowing that he was often represented as a muscular man who constantly carried a huge bag full of a huge amount of winds on his shoulders, and they walk on the ground when he opens it.

1. In the mythology of Japan, there is a legend that the first time Fujin released the winds at the dawn of the world to dispel the fogs and the sun could illuminate the earth and give life.
2. Initially, in Japanese mythology, Fujin and his friend, the god of thunder, belonged to the forces of evil that opposed the Buddha. As a result of the battle, they were captured and then repented and began to serve good.
3. The god of the wind has only four fingers on his hands, which symbolize the directions of the light. On his feet he has only two fingers, meaning heaven and earth.

Japanese god of water

The responsibility for the water estates was Susanoo, which was mentioned earlier. He appeared from drops of water, and is the brother of Amaterasu. He did not want to rule the seas and decided to go to the world of the dead to his mother, but in order to leave a mark on himself, he invited his sister to give birth to children. After that, the Japanese god of the sea did many terrible things on earth, for example, he destroyed the canals in the fields, desecrated the sacred chambers, and so on. For his deeds, he was expelled by other gods from the high sky.

Japanese god of luck

The list of the seven gods of happiness includes Ebisu, who is responsible for good luck. He is also considered the patron of fishing and labor, and also the guardian of the health of young children.

1. The mythology of Ancient Japan contains many myths, and one of them tells that Ebisu was born without bones, because his mother did not observe the wedding ritual. At birth, he was named Hirako. When he was not yet three years old, he was swept into the sea and after some time was thrown ashore in Hokkaido, where he grew his bones and turned into a god.
2. For his benevolence, the Japanese called him "the laughing god." A festival is held every year in his honor.
3. In most sources, he is presented in a high hat, with a fishing rod and a large fish in his hands.

Japanese moon god

The ruler of the night and the satellite of the earth is considered to be Tsukiemi, who is sometimes represented in mythology as a female deity. It is believed that he has the power to control the ebb and flow of the tides.

1. The myths of ancient Japan explain the process of the appearance of this deity in different ways. There is a version that he appeared along with Amaterasu and Susanoo during the bathing of Izanagi. According to other information, he appeared from a mirror made of white copper, which was held in his right hand by a majestic god.
2. The legends say that the moon god and the sun goddess lived together, but one day the sister drove her brother away and told him to stay away. Because of this, the two celestial bodies cannot meet, since the moon shines at night. And the sun during the day.
3. There are several temples dedicated to Tsukiyami.

gods of happiness in japan

In the mythology of this Asian country, there are as many as seven gods of happiness, who are responsible for various areas that are important to people. Often they are represented as small figures that float along the river. The ancient Japanese gods of happiness have a connection with the beliefs of China and India:

1. Ebisu is the only god that is of Japanese origin. It was mentioned above.
2. Hotei- the god of kindness and compassion. Many turn to him to fulfill their cherished desire. He is depicted as an old man with a huge belly.
3. Daikoku- the deity of wealth, which helps people fulfill their desires. He is also considered the protector of ordinary peasants. Represent him with a hammer and a bag of rice.
4. Fukurokuju- the god of wisdom and longevity. Among other deities, he stands out with an overly elongated head.
5. Bezaiten- the goddess of luck, who patronizes art, wisdom and learning. Japanese mythology represents her as a beautiful girl, and in her hands she holds the national Japanese instrument - biwa.
6. Dzyurozin- the god of longevity and he is considered a hermit who is constantly in search of the elixir of immortality. They represent him as an old man with a staff and an animal.
7. Bishamon- the god of prosperity and material wealth. Consider him the patron saint of warriors, lawyers and doctors. He is depicted in armor and with a spear.

Japanese mythology - demons

It has already been mentioned that the mythology of this country is unique and multifaceted. There are also dark forces in it, and many Japanese demons played an important role in the life of ancient people, but in the modern world, both children and adults are afraid of some representatives of the dark forces. Among the most famous and interesting are:

The image of the Shinigami is present in many animated films, manga and other Japanese media content. But everywhere Shinigami are portrayed in such different ways that for many it is bewildering. How does it come out? Let's take a look at the role they play in Japanese culture, including modern.

I think it's no secret to anyone that the word shinigami is written with two characters, meaning 死 si "death" and 神 kami "deity". Shinigami in Japan are considered those creatures that bring death to a person. Not in the sense that they ruthlessly kill everyone they meet, but simply come at the moment when the hour of a person has struck. Surprisingly, shinigami are a relatively new concept in Japanese mythology. They were not mentioned in Japanese written sources until the Edo period.

Buddhism and Shinto

In Japanese Buddhism, the role of the god of death was played by one of the aspects of the Buddhist demon Mara - Mrityu-mara. True, unlike the generally accepted concept of the Shinigami, Mrityu-mara moved into people and caused them to spontaneously die by committing suicide. In one of the ancient texts of the Buddhist school of Yogachara, there was also a demon who determined the time of death of a person. Also a fairly well-known character is the King of Hell - Emma (aka Yama), strongly associated with death and who was considered a kind of deity of death.

In Shintoism, the progenitor goddess Izanami was often considered as the god of death. However, both Izanami and Emma are very different from the later concept of the Shinigami, which are much more similar to the well-known image of the European Death with a scythe. The same applies to Buddhism, which, in principle, is characterized by an atheistic vision of the world (here it is worth saying that the presence of any share of mysticism in Buddhism varies from school to school). Thus, we see that the modern image of Shinigami as guides from life to the afterlife developed later and is weakly associated with those deities and spirits that were associated with death in Buddhism and Shinto.

The emergence of Shinigami in Japanese culture

As mentioned above, for the first time Shinigami began to be mentioned in the literary works of the Edo period, especially in those where the subject of double suicides of couples appeared. But there are very few such references. Therefore, it cannot be said that in the Edo era there was some kind of formed idea of ​​\u200b\u200bShinigami. Rather, it was a kind of verbal personification of impending death.

For the first time, a full-fledged Shinigami appears in a 19th-century play, which is called “Shinigami”. However, here we are in for a surprise. This play was an adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Death in the godfathers". And all subsequent appearances of Shinigami in literature are directly based on the image from this play. And so it turns out that Shinigami is a very high-quality Japanese adaptation of the European Death.

Modern Shinigami

Over time, the Shinigami evolved from a single entity into an entire race of anthropomorphic human guides to the afterlife. In our era of postmodernism, they are quite a popular element of Japanese popular culture. Due to the pronounced syncretic Japanese religion and spiritualism, the features of Buddhist, Shinto and even Taoist deities associated with death are intertwined in various types of Shinigami in different ways. For example, the idea of ​​a society of shinigami and divine beings, in which there is a strong social stratification and a flourishing bureaucracy, is characteristic of Chinese Buddhism, which reflects the bureaucratic system of the Han Dynasty in the real world. We can see such Shinigami in such anime and manga as Bleach, Descendants of Darkness, YuYu Hakusho.

Since the presence of Shinigami next to every dying person in the world - and this, to put it mildly, is not enough - would require the authors to somehow explain how all Shinigami manage to control this process, they do it easier and explain that Shinigami are present only when special cases of death, leaving all the rest to the will of the universe. But you would not advise even your worst enemy to interfere in the course of the work of a Shinigami. This threatens to be fatal.

Sometimes, Shinigami are depicted as goblin-like and skeletal figures that cause accidents and sudden deaths, however, modern popular culture tends to portray Shinigami as much more like Western vampires. As a rule, these are immortal attractive young girls and boys with a different set of superpowers. They are engaged in the fact that they bring death in order to maintain their existence, or in order to peacefully escort the souls of the departed to the afterlife, and also kill various demons and ghosts that upset the balance of life and death. There are a huge number of options.

Sometimes the Shinigami act as a counterweight to the angels. Also, do not confuse "shinigami" with "shikigami". We will tell you more about them.

Examples in anime and manga

Bleach. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of Shinigami society. The gods of death from Bleach spend more time slaughtering crowds of all kinds of demonic entities and fighting villains than working as soul guides. Escorting the souls of the dead to the afterlife is the job of the lowest-ranking Shinigami, and the stronger Shinigami are engaged in protecting the world from various supernatural threats and administer the work of ordinary Shinigami.

Death note. The second most famous image of a Shinigami in popular culture. Shinigami from Death Note are represented by a very diverse appearance. For example, Ryuk resembles a monster-like clown, while Rem and Shido are more like mummies. They all have wings that allow them to fly, are invulnerable to any human weapons, and can also pass through objects. They are invisible to normal people unless they touch the Death Note belonging to a Shinigami. They maintain their existence by writing the names of people in the Death Note, after which the person dies, and his remaining years of life pass to the Shinigami. Despite their strength, they are a very lazy community and spend their time playing cards. Ryuk dropped his Death Note into the human world just because he was bored to death.

Soul Eater. In this story, the Shinigami is a god-like being in a physical body that lives in the City of Death, and has set the goal of his life to protect humanity from the oppression of witches, evil supernatural entities and corrupt people. For this purpose, he establishes the Shinigami Academy for people who then go to eliminate potential threats to humanity. Shinigami-sama, as everyone calls him, has a son named Kid or Death Junior, who is also called Shinigami.

Inuyasha. Here, the blade of one of the characters called Tenseiga can kill goblin-like Shinigami that appear near recently dead people.

Murder Princess. A Goblin-like Shinigami character appears in the Murder Princess manga. But even though he is the god of death, he works for the main character. At the very beginning of the story, when she sees her own body, she thinks she has died and asks the Shinigami to take her to the afterlife.

Apart from this, Shinigami also appear in:

Risky Safety

Ballad Of A Shinigami

Descendants of Darkness

Full Moon o Sagashite

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki

YuYu Hakusho

Black Butler

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai.

virgin ripper

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu

Goddess Amaterasu. Amaterasu o-mikami- "Great goddess, illuminating the earth", the goddess of the Sun. It is considered the sacred ancestor of the Japanese emperors (great-great-grandmother) and the supreme deity. Probably originally worshiped 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 « A dashing fellow." Goddess' younger brother Amaterasu. For a quarrel with his sister and other family members, he was exiled to Earth from the Kingdom of Heaven (which is called Takamagahara) and performed many feats here, in particular, he killed the eight-headed dragon Yamato no Orochi, and his tail took 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 Underworld. His main sanctuary is in the province Izumo.

God Tsukiyoshi. God of the moon, younger brother of the goddess Amaterasu. After he killed the goddess of food and crops for disrespect Uke-mochi, Amaterasu didn't want to see him again. 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 Underworld 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 heaven." In his submission are the army of spirits, one of whose tasks is to come for people after death.

God Raijin. God of thunder and lightning. Usually depicted surrounded and beating them. Thus he creates thunder. Sometimes he is also depicted in the form of a child or a snake. In addition to 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 female symbol, women have always played a major role in the veneration of Suijin.

God Tenjin. God of teaching. Originally revered as a god of the sky, but is currently revered as the spirit of a scientist named Sugawara Michizane(845-943). Through the fault of court intriguers, he fell into disfavor and was removed from the palace. In exile, he continued to write poetry, in which he assured of his innocence. After his death, his angry spirit was held responsible for a number of misfortunes and catastrophes. To calm the raging kami, Sugawara was posthumously forgiven, promoted to the 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 war. The deified emperor is venerated under this name Ojin. Hachiman is especially revered in the sanctuary Usa Nachimangu in the prefecture Oita as well as in their temples throughout Japan.

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

Seven Gods of Luck Shichifuku-jin). Seven divine beings who bring good luck. Their names: Ebisu(patron of fishermen and merchants, god of luck and diligence, depicted with a fishing rod), Daikoku(the patron of peasants, the god of wealth, is depicted with a wish-fulfilling hammer and a sack of rice), Jurojin(the god of longevity, depicted as an old man with a staff- shaku, to which a scroll of wisdom is attached, and a crane, a tortoise or a deer, sometimes depicted drinking sake), Fukurokujin(the god of longevity and wise deeds, depicted as an old man with a huge pointed head), Hotei(the 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, the goddess of luck (especially at sea), wisdom, arts, love and craving for knowledge, depicted as a girl with biwa- the national Japanese instrument). Sometimes they are also included Kishijōten- Bishamon's sister, depicted with a diamond in her left hand. Honored as all together, and separately. They move on the wonderful Ship of Treasures, filled to the brim with all sorts of riches. Their cult is very important in the daily life of the Japanese.

Four Heavenly Kings Sea Tenno). Four deities guarding the cardinal points 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 Rinjin. 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 being in the world. Rinjin is revered as the god of the seas and oceans under the name Umi no Kami.

There are legends that Rinjin often visited the world of people in human form, leaving behind many children - beautiful young men and women with green eyes, long black hair and magical abilities.

Saints of Buddhism

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

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

Amida Buddha. Sanskrit name - Amitabha. The main object of worship of one of the branches of northern Buddhism is. West End Buddha. According to legend, in one of his reincarnations, having comprehended the teachings of the Buddha and having studied many lands and countries, he made 48 vows, one of which was to build for everyone who turned to him for help, the Land of the Pure Land ( "Jodo") in the West - the best land 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 Kanzeon, Sanskrit name Avalokiteshvara("He who listens to the sounds of the world"). Bodhisattva of compassion, who swore an oath to save living beings everywhere and everywhere, and for this he received the opportunity to manifest himself in « thirty-three forms. Close associate of Amida. In China and Japan, it is revered in female form. In India and Tibet - in male form (the Dalai Lama is considered to be his incarnation). In Japanese Christianity in the 16th century, it was identified with the Virgin Mary. Governs the world of animals. Often depicted with many hands - a symbol of the ability to save innumerable multitudes of creatures.

Bodhisattva Jizo. It is considered the patron of children and those tormented in hell, as well as travelers. Small statues of Jizō are often placed along the road, and a piece of cloth is sometimes tied around their neck as a sign of sacrifice.

Five Buddhas of Compassion Go-Ti). It is these five divine beings that most of all help people in achieving Nirvana. Their names: Yakushi, Tacho, Dainiti, Asukuki and Syaka.

Twelve Guardian Gods Juni-jinsho). The twelve guardian gods of the great Yakushi-Nyoraya- Doctor 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. Known in Russia as Bodhidharma, creator and founder of the Chinese monastery Shaolin- the future center of martial arts. His dedication to achieving his chosen goal is proverbial. According to legend, when his eyelids began to stick together from sitting motionless for a long time in a meditation posture, he tore them out, indignant at his weakness.

In Japan, there is such a custom: when you start doing a difficult thing (or ask the gods for a miracle), you buy and paint over one eye, and when you finish the job (or get what you ask for) - the second eye.

Examples

Ballad of a Shinigami

Bleach

naruto

Shinigami - a huge monster in a white robe with a scroll in his mouth and wakizashi in his hands. Called by a Shinigami Forbidden Technique shiki fujin(jap. 屍鬼封尽 Shiki Fu:jin?), which was used twice in the entire series: by the fourth hokage to seal the Kyuubi no Yoko (jap. 九尾の妖狐 Kyu:bi no Yo:ko?) inside Naruto and the third hokage in the battle against Orochimaru. Using shiki fujin, the Shinigami takes the soul of the ninja who uses this technique.

Death note

Shinigami are gods living in their own separate from the human world (from there you can watch the world of people). They exist to take people's lives. They kill with the help of Death Notes. These Notebooks have very complex rules, even Shinigami may not know everything, but the main rule is simple: the person whose name is written in the notebook will die if the writer knows the face of the victim. The notebook can be used not only by Shinigami, but also by a person.

Shinigami have eyes that allow them to see the real name and lifespan of any person. A person who wields the Notebook can make a deal with a Shinigami and gain Shinigami eyes in half of their remaining life. When a Shinigami writes a person's name in the Notebook, they gain the life span that person has left. Therefore, if a Shinigami does not sit idle, then he will never die.

A Shinigami cannot be killed in the usual way (by shooting or writing the name in the Death Note). But they are strictly forbidden to prolong the life of a person. If a Shinigami falls in love with a person and writes down the name of his killer in a notebook, then the Shinigami will die. The person saved by him will receive the rest of the life of the Shinigami who saved him. According to the story, the gods of death are very bored in their world, so one of them decided to “drop” the Notebook in the human world (fortunately he has a second one, which he lured from the Shinigami king) and see what happens. High School Student Light Yagami (Japanese: 夜神月 Yagami Laito?), picking up the Notebook, begins using it to rid the world of crime.

Yami no Matsuei

According to Shinto mythology, Meifu is the land of the dead, a place where sakura blossoms forever and the dead souls find peace. There, people are judged for their lifetime actions and determine what the eternal life of the deceased will be like. The Shinigami are responsible for the delivery of souls.

It's not all that scary. According to Yami no Matsuei, the Shinigami of the Japan Division are quite handsome, wear jackets and ties, drink coffee, and generally look more like detectives than menacing angels of death. Even their department building, Enma-cho, resembles a police station and a hospital. If strange events or murders occur somewhere in the reporting territory, instead of the police, a Shinigami with a partner is sent to the scene of the crime.

soul eater

Shinigami in this series and manga is a force that opposes the destruction of the world. Shinigami here appears in the singular (although, however, he has a son, who is also considered a Shinigami). In order to facilitate his work, the Shinigami creates an Academy in which candidates for the role of the Death Scythe are trained - the best weapon in the fight against the ancient enemy Kishin. Shinigami himself is a rather passive force, hiding under the mask of an almost harmless varmint. A Shinigami resembles a large, angular blob on one side, or a man in a tailcoat and top hat on the other. The face of the Shinigami is a living mask, reminiscent of the mask of an angel from the Evangelion series.

Yu Yu Hakusho

In the Yu Yu Hakusho story, one of the heroines introduces herself as indicating that she would be called a Shinigami in the West. Nerd is a lively, cheerful girl, sometimes acting like an anecdotal blonde. At the beginning of the story, he works as an escort to the afterlife of the spirits of the dead. Her duties include clarifying the situation to the deceased, an initial assessment of his prospects with viewing the book of life assessments and accompanying the deceased to the world of spirits for the final court, and her immediate superior is the ruler Reikaya(literally, the world of spirits).

Botan's blue long hair is gathered in a ponytail, a light pink kimono, wrapped in reverse (the right side over the left), serves as uniform. A nerd can come to the world of people in the form of a person or a spirit invisible to people. Among supernatural abilities, Botan has moderate healing powers and the ability to create protective barriers. With a wave of thought, she is able to materialize an oar, which she regularly uses for flights, most often sitting on it like a side saddle.

Fragments of the image are drawn from Chinese and Japanese mythologies. Blue (usually as the color of the skin and also of the eyes) was associated with the world of the dead. The same world was supposed to be the opposite or reverse side of the ordinary world, with which the manner of wearing a kimono is associated. Finally, the girls, as opposed to powerful boatmen like Charon, ferried lost souls across the Sanzu River.

”,“ Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro ”,“ InuYasha ”,“ Risky Safety ”,“ Hellsing ”,“ Inukami ”,“ Noir ”,“ Zombie loan ”and others.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what "Shinigami" is in other dictionaries:

The Bleach anime series can be roughly divided into story arcs. All of them are created by TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Studio Pierrot under the direction of director Noriyuki Abe based on the Bleach manga by Taito Kubo. Season 13 is called "Zanpakto Rebellion". ... ... Wikipedia

Jack the Ripper ... Wikipedia

The cover of the Russian-language edition of the 1st volume of the Bleach manga, released on December 9, 2008 The Bleach manga, created by Taito Kubo, is published weekly in Japanese magazine ... Wikipedia

Contents 1 Hellsing Organization 1.1 Integra Hellsing 1.2 Alucard ... Wikipedia

Volume 1 (cover) 銀魂 Silver Soul Genre absurd comedy *, fantasy, parody, adventure Manga ... Wikipedia

Is one of the characters in the anime and manga "Bleach" (Bleach) http://s59.radikal.ru/i166/0905/e2/bca75a10ce5e.png Nanao's appearance has never been high, even now she is about 164 centimeters, which does not spoil at all girl. Slender legs all the time ... ... Wikipedia

This article or section has a list of sources or external links, but the sources of individual statements remain unclear due to the lack of footnotes ... Wikipedia

In Japan, there are many deities - kami.
Along with the adoption of Buddhism, the Japanese borrowed a huge pantheon of gods from Chinese and Korean religious ideas, distorting their names in the Japanese manner, or calling them by other names. It should not be forgotten that the Buddhist teaching, in turn, came to China and Korea from India, where it developed under the strong influence of Hinduism, a religion that was rather confusing and incomprehensible to the uninitiated. In the Japanese islands, Buddhism was further confused by merging it with the traditional Japanese religion of Shinto. The deities that came from India to Japan through China often changed beyond recognition - they not only changed their appearance, but also their functions, and often one deity was divided into several deities or hypostases, little similar to each other. In addition, the Japanese often combined the Buddhist and Shinto deities into one if the functions were similar. Therefore, it is not surprising that the same image of a deity in Japan can be called by different names - in this case, its original Sanskrit name, as well as Chinese and Japanese, or even several Japanese ones, can be used. Conversely, images of deities of different appearances can represent one god in his various incarnations.

Buddha Shakyamuni

Japanese Shakyamuni Buddha Tattoo

Buddha Shakyamuni (literally translated from Sanskrit as "The Awakened Sage of the Shakya clan") is a key figure in Buddhism. It is believed that this religion was founded by a real person who had the name Siddhartha Gautama before "enlightenment", who lived in 563 - 483 years. BC e., who became a spiritual teacher for his followers. Nevertheless, according to Buddhist ideas, Shakyamuni Buddha is only one of the countless number of Buddhas, since anyone who has reached the highest level of spiritual self-improvement and entered the state of “bodhi” (enlightenment, awakening) can become a Buddha. Buddha is not a god as such, but a teacher capable of leading intelligent beings out of the cycle of new births and reaching nirvana. Borrowing Buddhism from China and Korea, where it came from India, the Japanese gave it distinctive features. For the Japanese, the Buddha became an omnipotent deity with unlimited powers and possibilities. He became a patron in all areas of human life, but did not replace other deities, and is revered on a par with other kami, some of whom are also elevated to Buddhahood. In addition to Buddha Shakyamuni, the Japanese also revere Buddha Maitreya (in Japanese - Miroku) - the Buddha of the Future, whose arrival will mark the end of the world.
Buddha tattoos are classified as religious. The owners of such tattoos consider themselves invulnerable to evil spirits. The Japanese believe that the Buddha lives in every person, and applying such a tattoo is the best way to adhere to the moral principles of Gautama Buddha, and show your loyalty to his teachings.

Tara

Tattoo depicting the Japanese deity Tara

Tara (Sanskrit for "Saviour") is a female Buddha or female bodhisattva. This is a female being who has achieved personal perfection and liberation, but out of compassion for people, refused to go to nirvana. There are several similar creatures, each of which has its own skin color and attributes. White Tara, apparently depicted on a tattoo, has seven eyes - ordinary ones, in her forehead, on her hands and feet. With these eyes, she can see suffering all over the world. She heals and brings good luck. White light emanates from Tara, and in her left hand she holds a lotus flower, symbolizing the "Three Jewels of Buddhism." The wearer of Tara's tattoo hopes to receive health and relief from her suffering. Surprisingly, this tattoo depicts Tara in a male form, that is, her appearance is merged with the traditional image of the Buddha.

Buddha Fudo Myo-o

Fudo Myo-o (不動明王) (in India he is known as Akala), "Someone Immovable", which can be translated as "Passionless, Indifferent to human Passions" - one of the incarnations of the Buddha, the fierce guardian of Buddhism. Despite his terrifying appearance, this deity is benevolent to people, and is the embodiment of the God of Wisdom, the Great Illuminator, who is invoked for spiritual protection. An ugly appearance should scare away demons.
Traditionally, Fudo is depicted surrounded by the flame of wisdom, in which crows are hidden - the eyes of the gods that monitor the behavior of people, which indicates his other function as the god of fire. In one hand he holds a sword with the sign "vajra" (in Japanese "sanko"), which cuts off people's temptations and delusions, and in the other a rosary, or a rope with which he catches people trying to go astray from the righteous path. Fudo symbolizes perseverance and helps in achieving the goal. Fudo Myo-o is also the patron of trade operations, and in the criminal environment, a tattoo with his image is popular with smugglers and drug dealers.

Daijizaiten

Japanese tattoo depicting the deity Daijizaiten

Daijizaiten. Like Fudo Myo-o, he is the protector of the teachings of the Buddha. It originates from one of the forms of the Hindu deity Shiva - Mahakala (translated from Sanskrit "Great Black"). This is the embodiment of the wrath of the Buddha. It is depicted as a multi-armed evil monster with an eye in its forehead. According to one of the legends, it was a demon who sided with the Buddha. However, he is able to quickly change anger to mercy, and allows a person to overcome internal and external obstacles. Another, more peaceful form of the same deity is one of the gods of luck - "Daikokuten" ("Great Black", which is a literal translation of the name Mahakala). Daikokuten is revered as the patron of business, the god - the guardian of the house and the protector of the harvest. Apparently, his formidable form is also related to trade affairs and protects the owner of the tattoo from evil forces, just as Fudo Myo does - oh.

Light kings

Japanese tattoo depicting the Japanese deity Kongoyasa Myo-o

"Light Kings"
(or “Kings of Light”, in Japanese “myo-o”) are the messengers of the Buddha (those who turn the Wheel of Dharma by decree), and are engaged in educational activities. The main one is Fudo-myo-o. If the faces of bodhisattvas are shown calm and peaceful, then the “bright kings” are distinguished by a ferocious expression on their ugly faces. They are trying to intimidate bad people who are deaf to Buddhist teachings in order to give them the opportunity to improve. Around the heads of these creatures are shown halos, a symbol of light. Other "light kings" are Aizen - myo-o (in Hinduism, Raga), Gosanze myo-o (in Hinduism, Trailokyavijaya), Dai - itoku - myo-o, Gundari-myo-o (also called Daisho-myo-o, Kirikiri -myo-o, Kanro Gundari, Nampo Gundari-yasha) and Kongoyasa - myo-o.
The tattoo depicts Kongoyasa - myo-o.

Seven Gods of Fortune

Shichifuku-jin is the name of the seven deities in Shinto who bring happiness and good luck to people. The seven deities, which were included in Shinto from both traditional Japanese beliefs and from Chinese and Hindu mythology, began to gain popularity in Japan from the 15th century. According to legend, it was then that the magic ship Takarabune (“transporting to a better world, on the other side of the sea”) arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun, which brought the gods of happiness.
On tattoos, these deities can be depicted as all together (sailing on a ship or in various scenes), or separately. In the latter case, this may symbolize a special reverence for one or another deity, who is the patron of a particular profession.

Hotei. Laughing Buddha.

Japanese Hotei tattoo

Hotei. This name translates as "canvas bag", which is also called Budai or Laughing Buddha, one of the seven deities of fortune, whose cult was especially widespread among the merchants in the 17th century - the century of the highest heyday of tattoo fashion. These deities are still very popular among the Japanese.
It is believed that the Chinese monk Tsitsy, the hero of many legends and stories, who fell in love with people for his cheerful character and kindness, served as the prototype of this deity. The monk got his nickname for the begging bag (“hotei”) - the only thing, except for the staff, his property, in which, as he claimed, the whole world is located, as well as for the huge belly, similar to another bag. Wherever he appeared, good luck and prosperity came to people. He is depicted as a laughing fat man, often surrounded by children. In this tattoo, he is depicted with a rat, another symbol of wealth.

Ebisu

Japanese god Ebisu tattoo

Ebisu is one of the seven gods of luck. He is considered the god of fishing and labor, and is also considered the patron of small children, endowing them with good health.
According to an ancient Japanese legend, he was born without arms and legs, and as a small child, he was taken to the sea in a reed boat that washed up on the shores of Hokkaido. He was picked up by Ain Ebisu Saburo, who adopted the unfortunate child. After overcoming many difficulties, he managed to grow his limbs and turned into the god Ebisu. This god, the patron of fishermen, workers and seafood merchants, is often depicted as riding a huge carp, with a fishing rod and fish under his arm.

Benzaiten

Tattoo sketch depicting the deity Benzaiten

Benzaiten or Benten (弁才天, 弁财天) - the Japanese name for the Indian goddess Saraswati, which translates from Sanskrit as "flowing water", became the only female deity among the Seven Gods of Fortune in Japan. In Japan, Benzaiten became the goddess of everything connected with the flow, the flow. She is in charge of water, words (i.e. knowledge), eloquence, and music and art. The cult of Benzaiten entered Japan in the 6th to 8th centuries from China. This goddess is mentioned in the Golden Light Sutra, thanks to which she became the patroness of state power, and in the Lotus Sutra - as one of the strongholds of Buddhism. The Benzaiten is often depicted with the "Biwa", a traditional Japanese lute, indicating her patronage of music and singing. In addition, among the Japanese, she is not only the mistress of the waters, but also the mistress of dragons and snakes, so she is depicted with dragons. According to one legend, she herself was the daughter of the dragon king Munetsuchi.
As one of the seven gods of fortune, Benzaiten can bring good luck in financial matters, as well as success in love, as she is also considered the goddess of love feelings. Sailors, poets, artists, musicians and other creative people make tattoos with the image of the goddess - the first hope for her help during storms, the others - in the hope of supporting their talent.

Daikoku - god of wealth

Daikoku is the god of wealth, the patron of agriculture, providing a rich harvest. The prototype of this good-natured deity was the terrible demonic form of the Hindu god Shiva, called Mahakala (Great Black). Once in Japan through Chinese Buddhism, this guardian god was completely transformed. As attributes Daikoku has a magic hammer, a bag of rice and a rat (a symbol of wealth).

Uchide nokozuchi - magic hammer

Magic hammer tattoo - uchide nokozuchi

Daikoku Attribute - uchide nokozuchi- a magic hammer that grants wishes, often found in irezumi as a separate element.
It is difficult to say why this item began to symbolize good luck and prosperity. In some Japanese fairy tales, the good hero takes it away from the demon. Perhaps the original hammer was the weapon of the guardian god, with which he struck the demons. Perhaps, with a similar wooden mallet, which was struck on the gong or the wall of the temple, the priests tried to attract the attention of the deities. Or maybe it's just a rethought coinage for making money. Whatever the explanation for the origin of the hammer, Daikoku is believed to forge happiness with it for his followers.

Bishamon. God is a warrior.

Bishamon (or Tamonten) is the god of wealth and prosperity, as well as a deity - a protector from enemies. He especially patronizes warriors, guards, doctors and lawyers. This god is depicted as a warrior in ancient Chinese armor, which speaks of his Chinese origin. However, the prototype of the warrior god was the Hindu god Vaishravana.

Jurojin - god of longevity

Jurojin is the god of longevity, the prototype of which was a hermit monk who managed to find the elixir of immortality. He is depicted as an old man with a staff - shaku, a scroll of wisdom and a crane - another symbol of longevity. Other symbols of this deity are the deer and the tortoise.

Fukurokuju

Fukurokuju is another deity of longevity, but also a deity of wise deeds. It can be easily recognized by its very elongated head. It comes from Chinese mythology, where he was the ruler of the southern Pole Star.

Goddess of Mercy Kannon

Kannon - bosatsu (or Kanzeon) - the goddess of mercy. Its prototype was the bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara (“Attention to the sounds of the world”), who embodied in India the infinite compassion of all the buddhas, who took an oath to save sentient beings and got the opportunity to manifest in “33 guises”. He was transformed in China into the beautiful goddess of mercy Kuan Yin or Kuan Yin (whose name translates as "she who hears prayers"), who under the name of the goddess Kannon became a popular deity in Japan. Often depicted with many hands, as she is able to save many living beings.

Jibo Kannon

Jibo Kannon. In Japan, there are many deities who are credited with protecting children from illness and misfortune. Some of them come from Hinduism and are included in the Buddhist pantheon of deities, others have origins from the Japanese religion of Shinto. Due to the fusion of two religions - Buddhism and Shinto, the same deity can have different names. For example, the Shinto goddess Koyasu-sama, who patronizes pregnant women and ensures the healthy growth and development of children, may also be called Koyasu Kannon or Jibo Kannon, uniting with the Buddhist deity into one. The Japanese - Christians see the Virgin Mary in this image. In any case, this tattoo is done as a sign of concern for their children, trying to win the favor of this many-sided deity.

Goddess of Mount Fuji Sengen-sama

Japanese tattoo depicting the goddess Sengen-sama

Sengen-sama. The goddess of Mount Fuji, whose temple stands on the top of the mountain, where her worshipers meet the sunrise. Therefore, this goddess is also called Asama (“dawn of fortune”). The goddess is depicted as a beautiful woman, and she also has the name Konohana-sakuya-hime ("Maiden of flowers blooming on trees") and her symbol is cherry blossoms. The goddess lives in a sparkling cloud above the Fuji crater, and a person with impure thoughts ascending a mountain is thrown down by her servants. According to the myth, Sengen-sama was able to prove her innocence when accused of adultery, so she is a symbol of purity and fidelity to marital duty. It's hard to say if this tattoo depicts this particular goddess, but judging by the silhouette of the mountain behind her, one can assume that it could be her.

Fujin and Radzin

Japanese tattoo depicting the wind god Fujin and the god of thunder Rajin

Fujin and Rajin are the Japanese god of the wind and his friend, the god of thunder. These are the oldest deities of the Shinto religion that existed before the creation of the world. According to myths, Fujin was able to dispel the morning fog that stood between heaven and earth, which allowed the sun's rays to illuminate and warm the earth. Originally, Fujin and Rajin were evil demons who fought against the Buddha, but when they were captured, they repented and were forgiven. Since that time, already as deities, they are the protectors of the Buddha and serve good. These deities are depicted as two terrible demons - Fujin has green or black skin and is shown with a huge bag from which the wind lets out, Rajin has red skin and emits lightning. Fujin and Raijin - gods - demons - are very popular characters in tattoos, but sometimes it is difficult to distinguish them from each other, as they are very similar. However, Fujin is more often depicted with one horn on his forehead, and Raijin with two. Both gods are often shown fighting dragons or heroes.

Nio

Japanese tattoo depicting Nio

Nio (also known as Kongorikisi or Shukongojin) is the collective name of two Buddhist guardian deities, inspired by the Buddhist deities Vajradhara Buddha and Vajrapani Bodhisattva. Statues of these formidable deities are set up at the entrance to the temple, where they are supposed to scare away demons and instill fear in people with impure intentions. One of them holds a sword, the other a club. They are usually depicted as half-naked red-skinned giants with powerful muscles. Tattoos are not often used, but nevertheless, they have a protective function.

Son Goku - Monkey King

Japanese Monkey King Son Goku Tattoo

Son Goku is the king of the monkeys. The prototype of this character of Japanese folklore was the Hindu god Hanuman, the hero of the Indian epic and the incarnation of the god Shiva, who had the appearance of a monkey. In India, he is revered as a mentor in the sciences and a patron of ordinary people - farmers. From India, the cult of the monkey god spread throughout Southeast Asia. In China, he is known as Sun Wukong. For his exploits, the monkey king was awarded deification and became the All-Conquering Buddha. From China, along with Buddhism, the cult of this deity entered Japan. There is a Japanese Buddhist deity Sanno Gongen with the head of a monkey. But Son Goku became a more popular character in Japanese fairy tales and legends - a cheerful, dexterous and brave monkey king, a protector of ordinary people who can both cheer and punish offenders, as well as drive away evil demons. This hero has become a character in popular manga and anime.

Emma Dai-oh Lord of Jigoku

The god Emma, ​​often referred to as Emma Dai-o ("Great King Emma"), is the ruler of the underworld (Jigoku) who judges the dead. In Japanese mythology, he got through China, where he was an adaptation of the Lord of the Dead of Hinduism - the god Yama. Depicted as a ferocious red-skinned bearded giant in ancient clothes. He commands a huge army of demons who guard the underworld and subject sinners condemned by God to terrible torments. Tattoos with the image of this formidable deity can not be found often, more often his power is symbolized by terrifying demons who torture the souls of dead criminals. Occasionally on tattoos you can also see images of Jigoku himself.

Bodhisattva Monju "Beautiful Protector"

Bodhisattva Monju "Beautiful Intercessor" (Skt. Manjushri) is the embodiment of the wisdom of the buddhas - he is the father and mother of all the buddhas of the past, present and future, since they are all born from the womb of Dharma. He is depicted sitting on a lion, since Buddhist preaching is likened to a lion's roar, with a sword of wisdom, with which he cuts off ignorance, and also with a scroll containing Buddhist truths. Monju is the patron saint of scholars, calligraphers, and women.

Hagoromo tennyo

Hagoromo-tennyo or Heavenly Maiden.
In Japan, an ancient legend about the Heavenly Maiden (in Japanese "Tennyo"), which descended to earth from heaven, is popular. Deciding to take a dip, she threw off her feather robe, the hagomoro, which had been stolen and hidden by a fisherman who admired her beauty. Unable to return to heaven without her magical plumage, the goddess remained on earth, married a fisherman and bore him children. However, after learning the truth and returning her clothes, she returned to heaven. The image of this deity may have been influenced by the image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi or the image of the beautiful Celestial Dancers - Apsaras.
In the Yakuza, this tattoo can mean kidnapping criminals, just like a fisherman kidnapped a goddess.