In 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.
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Definition
Timeline
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712The Kojiki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
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713The Japanese Fudoki are composed and record local kami and associated legends.
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720The Nihon Shoki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
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c. 759The Manyoshu or 'Collection of 10,000 Leaves' is written, an important Shinto source and classic of Japanese poetry.
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c. 807Imibe-no-Hironari writes the Kogoshui, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
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845 - 903Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
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947The Tenmangu Kitano shrine is founded in honour of Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
