The are snake
deities
A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
in Japanese folklore appearing in the ''
Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki''.
Properties of the gods
They lived in
Namegata
is a city in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 32,144 in 11,412 households and a population density of 144.5 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 35.9%. The city's total area is .
...
county, in fields near the government office. As a snake, it was an which are fierce
kami
are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forc ...
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. 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
(died 10 March 531) was the 26th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 継体天皇 (26)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.
No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conve ...
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.
References
External links
Evolution of the Concept of KamiAraburu kami 荒ぶる神 Kokugakuin University
Japanese legendary creatures
Mythological and legendary Japanese snakes
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