Yato-no-kami

The Yato-no-kami (夜刀の神, "gods of the night-sword") are snake deities in Japanese folklore appearing in the Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki.

Properties of the gods

They lived in Namegata county, in fields near the government office. As a snake, it was an araburu-kami (荒ぶる神, "rough, aggressive kami") which are fierce kami who represent the ferocious side of nature, such as raging rivers and fierce storms - as well as natural disasters. While such things do bring suffering to people, a properly enshrined and worshipped Araburu Kami would also protect the people from these calamities. [1] Yato no kami were rumored to bring familial extermination on anyone who saw them.

Legends

It's told that Yato no Kami were killed and enshrined by a man named Yahazu no uji no Matachi during the time when Emperor Keitai was in reign. The Yato no kami vanished later when a man named Mibunomuroji Maro drove them away from disturbing him and his workers who were building a moat there.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Araburu kami 荒ぶる神 Kokugakuin University". d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp.
  2. ^ "Evolution of the Concept of Kami". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp.
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