Kami are powerful spirits worshipped in the Shinto religion. They are considered to be elemental beings who embody the forces of nature. They are manifestations of musubi, an interconnecting energy that binds the universe together, and are considered exemplary of what humanity should strive towards. The Kami’s earliest roles were as earth spirits, assisting the early hunter-gatherer groups in their daily lives.
Kamimusubi was one of the first Kami to emerge at the beginning of the time. She had no progenitor, and embodied the celestial plane. She was known as the great parent, an All-mother to the rest of the Kami. She resided over a celestial realm, which had no form, and floated in the ether like oil on water. One of her prodigy was Izanami, who would go onto create the physical world.
Izanami travelled to Earth with her brother Izanagi. Together, they created the islands of Japan using a divine spear, and went on to sire the rest of the Kami. Sadly, she died while giving birth to her last son, and passed to the underworld. Thus she became known as the Kami of creation and death.
Amaterasu was the first daughter created by Izanagi. After failing to save his sister from the underworld, Amaterasu was born from the tears of his left eye. She was a solar goddess, and painted the landscape of Japan with the glow of her aura, endowing it with light, colour and shade. In one Japanese myths, the land went dark for an age, when Amaterasu hid away in a cave.
It was Ama-No-Uzume who helped bring an end to this darkness. To coax Amaterasu out of the cave, she tore off her clothes in front of the other kami and began to dance. They laughed at her entertainment, capturing the attention of Amaterasu. The sun Kami peered out to see what all the fuss was about, and saw her glorious reflection in a mirror which Uzume had placed on a tree. She came out from her hiding spot, returning light to the world.
Toyotama-Hime was a sea kami. She took human form to marry the fisherman Hoori. Toyotama-Hime fell pregnant with their child, and she asked Hoori not to watch on her while she gave birth to their child. Sadly, Hoori was overcome with curiosity, and spied on her in secret. He was amazed to see her true form as a water dragon, and in shame, she abandoned her husband and child.
Konohanasakuya-Hime is the Kami of tree blossoms, embodying the delicate earth life. Although associated with fragility, she also resided over the volcanoes of Japan, reflectinga more violent side to her nature. Shrines have been built on Mount Fuji for Konohanasakuya-Hime, to prevent it from erupting, but shrines to her have been repeatedly destroyed by volcanic eruptions.
Yuki-Onna is the Kami of blizzards, known as 'snow girl'. She appears on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long black hair, and piercing eyes. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints, and can transform into mist or snow if threatened. Yuki-Onna's icy breath can be used to freeze unsuspecting victims, and occasionally she takes on the form of a succubus, preying on weak-willed men for their life-force.
Hashinau-uk Kamuy is the spirit of the hunt. She protects hunters and guides them to game. She is depicted as a woman with long hair, wielding a bow and arrow, and is often seen carrying a child on her back. She is accompanied by a small bird, which shows hunters the way to game. Hunters worshipped her to assure a successful hunt, and fishermen to ensure a full catch.
Japanese culture eventually moved away from the hunter gather society, to a more farming based community. During this transition, the Kami's roles shifted to more sustaining duties, such as the growth of crops, the summoning of rain, the fertilisation of the soil, etc.
Uke Mochi was a Kami of plenty, who protected her followers food stores. She was renowned for hosting lavish feasts for other Kami. Once she was visited by Tsukuyomi, the moon spirit. She prepared him a feast by facing spitting out a fish, regurgitating wild game, and coughing up bowls full of rice. Tsukuyomi was so disgusted by her manner of serving that he killed her. Her dead body was used to create millet, rice, and beans, which formed the staple diet of the Japanese people.
Benten is a Kami of literature, music, wealth, and femininity. She is generally associated with the sea (many of her shrines are located by the coast). She is frequently depicted riding on a sea dragon. According to one legend, she married a sea serpent, thus putting an end to his ravages of the island Enoshima. She is often shown playing the biwa, a kind of lute.
Fii Nu Kang is the Kami of the hearth, both domestic and communal. She is commonly worshiped in the household, where she is called upon to protect the home, and the people who live within it. Fii Nu Kang is treated as a member of the family, and is often called upon to join the family during mealtime, where she is offered food and drink.
Inari Ōkami is the Japanese Kami fertility, who brings prosperity to agriculture, and creativity. She is associated with foxes, rice and sake, and her followers pray to her for prosperity and worldly success. She is usually regarded as female, though at times she is also referred to as an androgynous being, with both male and female characteristics. More than one-third of the Shinto shrines in Japan are dedicated to Inari.
These are just twelve of the most revered female Kami, but the Shinto tradition says that there are eight million, million kami in Japan.
ARTWORK BY Katarina Sokolova Danielle Sylvan Perla Marina Jia Lu
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