---
title: Kami
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Kami/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-06-03
---
# Kami
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
In the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/) *kami* is an all-embracing term which signifies gods, spirits, deified mortals, ancestors, natural phenomena, and supernatural powers. All of these *kami* can influence people's everyday lives and so they are worshipped, given offerings, solicited for aid and, in some cases, appealed to for their skills in divination. *Kami* are attracted by purity - both physical and spiritual - and repelled by the lack of it, including disharmony. *Kami* are particularly associated with nature and may be present at sites such as mountains, waterfalls, trees, and unusually shaped rocks. For this reason, there are said to be 8 million *kami*, a number referred to as yaoyorozu-no-kamigami*. Many *kami* are known nationally, but a great many more belong only to small rural communities, and each family has its own ancestral *kami*.
The reverence for spirits thought to reside in places of great natural beauty, meteorological phenomena, and certain animals goes back to at least the 1st millennium BCE in [ancient Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ancient_Japan/). Add to these the group of [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) gods, heroes, and family ancestors, as wells as *bodhisattvas* assimilated from [Buddhism](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/), and one has an almost limitless number of *kami*. Common to all *kami* are their four mitama* (spirits or natures) one of which may predominate depending on circumstances: *aramitama* (wild or rough), *nigimitama* (gentle, life-supporting), *kushimatama* (wonderous), and *sakimitama* (nurturing). This division emphasises that *kami* can be capable of both good and bad. Despite their great number, *kami* can be classified into various categories. There are different approaches to categorization, some scholars use the function of the *kami*, others their nature (water, fire, field, etc.). For simplicity, and as those methods mentioned tend to create a lot of overlap, we will here adopt historian M. Ashkenazi's approach.
### Classical Kami
Here the 'classical' *kami* are those which appear in the oldest Shinto texts including the *[Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/)* and *[Nihon Shoki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nihon_Shoki/)*. Here we have the gods, supreme amongst them being [Amaterasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Amaterasu/), the sun goddess. Others include her brother [Susanoo](https://www.worldhistory.org/Susanoo/), the wind and sea [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/), Takamimusubi, Okuninushi, and the creator gods [Izanami and Izanagi](https://www.worldhistory.org/Izanami_and_Izanagi/). The first gods who remained in the heavens are often referred to as *amatsukami* (heavenly *kami*) while those next generation gods who ruled first on earth are called *kunitsukami (earthly *kami*). All of the *kami* occasionally, in times of great crisis, assemble for conference on the dry riverbed of the Heavenly River. Many important rivers, mountains, caves, and rocks have their own *kami* too. In this group are also two *kami* from across the sea: Sukunabikona and Sarutahiko.
### Later Kami
The second group of *kami* is those which were officially recognised after the early texts had already been composed, which is not to say they were not worshipped earlier. Here we have [Hachiman](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hachiman/), the deified Emperor Ojin (r. 270-310 CE) who is a god of [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) and [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/), and the rice and commerce god [Inari](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inari/). The reigning Japanese emperor was also considered a living *kami*. Phenomena such as the sunshine, rain, and wind can be a *kami*, most famously the *kamikaze* or divine wind which blew against the invading [Mongol](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mongol_Empire/) fleet in the 13th century CE. There are also individuals deified after [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) - several other former emperors, the scholar Sugawara Michizane, aka Tenman [Tenjin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tenjin/), and [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tokugawa_Ieyasu/), founder of the Tokugawa shogunal dynasty (1603-1868 CE). Foreign gods were also accepted as *kami*, notable amongst these are the [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) gods [Brahma](https://www.worldhistory.org/Brahma/) and [Indra](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indra/), and the [Buddhist](https://www.worldhistory.org/buddhism/) *bodhisattva* Kannon. Finally, there are the [Seven Lucky Gods](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shichifukujin/) or [Shichifukujin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shichifukujin/) - Benten, Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu, Fukurokuju, Hotei, and Jurojin. They are a mixed group of Chinese, Hindu, Buddhist, and Japanese gods and they are a fine example of how Shinto has welcomed, absorbed, and transformed foreign deities into their huge [pantheon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pantheon/) of *kami*.
[  Seven Lucky Gods Amcaja (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5169/seven-lucky-gods/ "Seven Lucky Gods")### Local Kami
The third group is local *kami*, although several of these are generic types recognised as powerful throughout [Japan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Japan/). There are the dragon *kami* (*[Ryujin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ryujin/)*), the *kami* of crossroads and boundaries (*Dosojin*), *kami* of prominent local natural features, *kami* of villages and individual families. Sometimes animals, especially white ones, are given a *kami*. Local *kami* typically appear in pairs, one male and one female.
### Worshipping Kami
*Kami* are appealed to, nourished, and appeased in order to ensure their influence is, and remains, positive. Offerings of rice wine, food, flowers and prayers can all help achieve this goal. Festivals, rituals, dancing and [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/) do likewise. Shrines from simple affairs to huge sacred complexes are built in their honour. Annually, the image or object (*goshintai)* thought to be the physical manifestation of the *kami* on earth is transported around the local community to purify it and ensure its future well-being. Finally, those *kami* thought to be embodied by a great natural feature, Mt. Fuji being the prime example, are visited by worshippers in an act of pilgrimage.
This content was made possible with generous support from the [Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation](http://www.gbsf.org.uk/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu).
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Ashkenazi, M. *Handbook of Japanese Mythology.* Oxford University Press, 2017.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01F9FV6LC/)
- [Cali, J. *Shinto Shrines.* Latitude 20, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0824837134/)
- [Scott Littleton, C. *Understanding Shinto.* Duncan Baird Publishers, 2002.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1903296757/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **712 CE**: The [Kojiki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kojiki/) is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
- **713 CE**: The Japanese Fudoki are composed and record local [kami](https://www.worldhistory.org/Kami/) and associated legends.
- **720 CE**: The [Nihon Shoki](https://www.worldhistory.org/Nihon_Shoki/) is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
- **c. 759 CE**: The [Manyoshu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Manyoshu/) or 'Collection of 10,000 Leaves' is written, an important [Shinto](https://www.worldhistory.org/Shinto/) source and classic of Japanese poetry.
- **c. 807 CE**: Imibe-no-Hironari writes the Kogoshui, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the [Shinto religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/43/the-shinto-religion/).
- **845 CE - 903 CE**: Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka [Tenjin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tenjin/).
- **947 CE**: The Tenmangu Kitano shrine is founded in honour of Sugawara no Michizane, aka [Tenjin](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tenjin/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2017, April 04). Kami. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Kami." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 04, 2017. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Kami." *World History Encyclopedia*, 04 Apr 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 04 April 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.