| Aizen
|
God of passion |
| Amaterasu-Omikami
|
Sun goddess, chief
deity of Shinto mythological. First born of the gods who created Japan.
Ancestor of the Imperial house, her great-great-grandson Jimmu was
the first emperor. Sometimes represented by a simple round mirror
(one of the three Imperial artifacts). |
|
Amida |
Buddha of light,
ruler of the western paradise. |
| Bato
|
Horse headed figure
of Kannon. |
| Benten
|
Female god of love
and good luck, favoured by prostitutes. |
| Binzuru
|
One of the 16th
disciples of Buddha, healer of sickness. |
| Bishamon
|
God of wealth and
good luck. One of the 4 kings of heaven, collectively know as Shitenno.
|
| Bodhisattwa
|
An enlightened aid
to Buddha who has not yet entered Nirvana. |
| Buddha
(Butsu) |
The 'enlightened
one'. The title of Shakyamuni, founder of Buddhism. |
| Daikoku
|
God of rice growing
and wealth. |
|
Dewa |
The two guardians
of temple entrances. |
| Ebisu
|
God of good fortune,
patron of workers and fishermen. |
| Emma-O
|
Ruler of the underworld. |
| Fudo
|
God of light. |
| Fukurokuju
|
God of wisdom and
good fortune. |
| Gakko-bosatsu
|
Moon goddess. |
| Hachiman
|
Clan god of the
Minamoto. (Emperor Ojin (201-312), deified) Main shrine at Tsurugaoka
in Kamakura. |
| Hotei
|
Another God of good
fortune. |
| Inari
|
Rice god of Shinto
myth. Often depicted as a fox. |
| Izanagi
& Izanami |
The divine couple
who created Japan. |
| Jizo
|
God of travellers
(evident on country roads), pregnant women & children. |
|
Jurojin |
Also a God of good
fortune. |
| Kannon
(Kannow) |
Bodhisttva (female
representation) of compassion, often depicted with 11 heads. |
| Kappa
|
Water spirits. |
| Kompira
|
Mountain god, honoured
by seamen & travellers. |
| Koshin
|
Monkey god. |
| Ninigi-no-mikoto
|
Grandson of Amaterasu,
founder of the Empire. |
| Nio
|
Kings of heaven.
Guardians, Indra & Brahma. |
| Oni
|
Demons of the underworld. |
|
Rakan |
Disciples of Buddha. |
| Sengen
|
Goddess of Mt Fuji. |
| Shiki
|
Demon of black
magic. |
| Shoden
|
God of wisdom. |
| Susanoo
|
God of the sea,
storm & the moon. |
| Taishakuten
|
Guardian at temple
entrance. |
| Tenjin
|
God of learning
(Sugawara Michizane, deified). |
| Ujigami
|
Clan gods. |
| Yakushi-nyorai
|
Buddha of healing,
ruler of the 'Eastern Paradise'. |
