Kami

Kami (神; Japanese for god or deity) are the supernatural beings that are worshiped in the religion of Shintō. In Shintō, kami are not separate from nature, but are of nature, possessing positive and negative, and good and evil characteristics. According to Miroku, Buddha and the gods reside in heaven.

Characteristics

Kami can come in a variety of forms, ranging from human to monstrous. For instance, Suijin was rather human in her appearance (albeit with pointed ears), Sarugami the monkey god looked similar to the monkey yōkai who served him, and the Sea God has the form of a giant turtle. While their appearance, powers and abilities vary greatly depending on the type of deity, Kami all apparently derive their power from kamuitama.

Unlike the Yokai, the deities are truly immortal so they cannot be destroyed, except by powerful weapons or at the hands of another god, likewise these, like the yokai, are capable of mating with humans and have semi-divine offspring

Known Kami

• Datara †
• Fox Deity
• God of Habaki
• Kannon
• Mitsurugi †
• Sarugami
• Sea God
• Suijin
• Sugagaki †
• Homura †
• Mayonaka/Mahiruma †
• Spirit of the Tree of Ages
• Spirit of Mount Azusa
• Amatsumikaboshi

Trivia

• Though the word kami is translated multiple ways into English, no one English word expresses its full meaning. The ambiguity of the meaning of kami is necessary, as it conveys the ambiguous nature of kami themselves.
• According to folklore, great or sensational leaders like the Emperor could be or became kami. Many kami are considered the ancient ancestors of entire clans (some ancestors became kami upon their death if they were able to embody the values and virtues of kami in life).
• Several yōkai have either claimed to be gods, or were mistaken for gods due to their extraordinary supernatural abilities. For example:
  • The snake demon Daija impersonated a water god.
  • Inuyasha was once mistaken for a dog god.
  • The moth yōkai Menōmaru had become a new Hyōga as a moth god.
  • The Shitōshin also referred to themselves as gods.
• Kami can produce demigods (半神), a hybrid between human and god.
  • The only known instance was Datara's daughter, who later reincarnated as Janis. This was until the introduction of Goro, Mayonaka/Mahiruma's son.
• At Datara's shrine, it has the artifacts called, the "Key of the Gods" that can find Mitsurugi and Sugagaki at Mitsurugi Tower and Sugagaki Waterfall to open the door at Datara's room, according to Monk Sen.
• According to Kirinmaru's daughter Rion, in ancient times, Amatsumikaboshi, the god of stars, gifted two swords: Zanseiken and Bakuseiken.
• As the true Grim Comet crash into the Earth of the modern era where it will hit on Japan of the Reiwa era, all of the inhabitants of the world will be demon fodder, and the human race will become extinct according to Kirinmaru, which he can prevent from happening. As defeating the Grim Comet will prove that he's the strongest. Demons will tremble in fear of him, and the humans will worship him as a god.

See also

Species Yōkai Badger yōkai  •  Bakeitachi  •  Bat yōkai  •  Bear yōkai  •  Bird yōkai (Demon birds)  •  Boar yōkai  •  Bull yōkai  •  Horse yōkai  •  Kappa  •  Kawauso  •  Lizard yōkai  •  Monkey yōkai  •  Oni  •  Oyster yōkai  •  Qilin yōkai  •  Rat yōkai (Fire-rat)  •  Root yōkai  •  Shinidamachū  •  Tree yōkai  •  Turtle yōkai (Meiōjū) Canines Dog yōkai  •  Kitsune  •  Tanuki  •  Wild dog yōkai  •  Wolf yōkai Felines Cat yōkai  •  Bakeneko  •  Nekomata  •  Leopard cat yōkai  •  Tiger yōkai  •  Wildcat yōkai Insects Flea yōkai  •  Mantis yōkai  •  Moth yōkai (Yōkai moth)  •  Ōmukade  •  Parasite  •  Saimyōshō  •  Spider yōkai (Kumogashira)  •  Steel wasps Other Human  •  Hanyō  •  Ghost  •  Specter  •  Dragon  •  Kami  •  Demigod  •  Shikigami  •  Kugutsu

External links

• Deity on Wikipedia