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[[File:SSiBAmaterasu.png|thumb|One of the major [[Yaoyorozu no Kami|gods of Shinto]], Amaterasu Oomikami appears in ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' Chapter 16.]]
[[File:SSiBAmaterasu.png|thumb|One of the major [[Yaoyorozu no Kami|gods of Shinto]], Amaterasu Oomikami appears in ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' Chapter 16.]]
'''God''' is the word that indicates concepts such as spirits, natural forces and superhuman existence. In regards to Japan's native religion [[wikipedia:Shinto|Shinto]], it is often corresponded to the term {{nihongo||神|[[wikipedia:kami|kami]]}}. Although ''kami'' is established to be translated as "god" in certain communities like this wiki, such translation is known to cause misunderstandings - especially to people who are familiar with the idea of [[wikipedia:Monotheism|monotheism]] (e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, etc). [[wikipedia:Shinto|Shinto]] is a [[wikipedia:Polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. This means that there are more than one "god" in Shinto. In fact, it is believed that "anybody", "anything" and even "any-phenomenon" can be gods. Like many polytheistic religions (e.g. ancient Greek and Roman religions), Shinto gods have close relationship between common people in their ordinary life. Usually they have personalities similar to humans: when they are worshiped they will protect people and give them {{nihongo|blessing|ご利益|gorieki}}, but once they get angry they will cause disaster and {{nihongo|curse|[[wikipedia:ja;祟り|祟]]|tatari}} people (the idea of "''Ara'' and ''Nigi''" [{{lang|ja|[[wikipedia:ja:荒魂・和魂|荒・和]]}}]). A {{nihongo|shrine|神社|jinja}} is the place (not necessarily needs to be a building) for gods to occupy in order to interact with humans.<br/>
'''God''' is the word that indicates concepts such as [[spirit]]s, natural forces and superhuman existence. In regards to Japan's native religion [[Shinto]], it is often corresponded to the term {{nihongo||神|[[wikipedia:kami|kami]]}}. Although ''kami'' is established to be translated as "god" in certain communities, such translation is known to cause misunderstandings - especially to people who are familiar with the idea of [[wikipedia:Monotheism|monotheism]] (e.g. [[Christianity]], Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, etc). Shinto is a [[wikipedia:Polytheism|polytheistic]] religion. This means that there are more than one "god" in Shinto. In fact, it is believed that "anybody", "anything" and even "any-phenomenon" can be gods.
Note: Do not capitalize the 'G' in "god" when you're referring to Shinto gods or any other gods from polytheistic religions.
 
Like many polytheistic religions (e.g. ancient Greek and Roman religions), Shinto gods have close relationship between common people in their ordinary life. Usually they have personalities similar to humans: when they are worshiped they will protect people and give them {{nihongo|blessing|ご利益|gorieki}}, but once they get angry they will cause disaster and {{nihongo|curse|[[wikipedia:ja;祟り|祟]]|tatari}} people (the idea of "''Ara'' and ''Nigi''" [{{lang|ja|[[wikipedia:ja:荒魂・和魂|荒・和]]}}]). A {{nihongo|shrine|神社|jinja}} is the place (not necessarily needs to be a building) for gods to occupy in order to interact with humans. Also, it should be noted that the 'G' in "god" should not be capitalize when you're referring to Shinto gods or any other gods from polytheistic religions.


==Types of Gods==
==Types of Gods==
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===Yaoyorozu no Kami===
===Yaoyorozu no Kami===
:''Main article: [[Yaoyorozu no Kami]]''
:''Main article: [[Yaoyorozu no Kami]]''
{{nihongo|'''Yaoyorozu no Kami'''|八百万の神|yaoyorozu no kami|Lit. ''Eight Million Gods''}} is the term in Shinto that is used to refer to gods in general. It also refers to the idea of "believing in Shinto faith".<br/>While conventionally translated as "Eight Million Gods", it uses the older Japanese meaning of {{nihongo|"eight"|八|hachi, ya}} as "myriad"; i.e. the number of gods is actually uncountably large.
{{nihongo|'''Yaoyorozu no Kami'''|八百万の神|yaoyorozu no kami|Lit. ''Eight Million Gods''}} is the term in Shinto that is used to refer to gods in general. It also refers to the idea of "believing in Shinto faith".
 
While conventionally translated as "Eight Million Gods", it uses the older Japanese meaning of {{nihongo|"eight"|八|hachi, ya}} as "myriad"; i.e. the number of gods is actually uncountably large.


===Arahitogami===
===Arahitogami===
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==Gods in Touhou==
==Gods in Touhou==
The majority of gods in the [[Touhou Project]] are drawn from or based on the Shinto religion. However, the Buddhist god [[Bishamonten]] is confirmed to exist, implying that the other gods of his pantheon exist as well. Possibly gods from other religions also exist; [[Seiga Kaku]] has made a dismissive reference to Jesus Christ,<ref>''[[Ten Desires]]'' Youmu route</ref> though his divinity was not confirmed.
The majority of gods in the ''[[Touhou Project]]'' are drawn from or based on the Shinto religion. However, the Buddhist god [[Bishamonten]] is confirmed to exist, implying that the other gods of his pantheon exist as well. Possibly gods from other religions also exist; [[Seiga Kaku]] has made a dismissive reference to Jesus Christ,<ref>''[[Ten Desires]]'' Youmu route</ref> though his divinity was not confirmed.


===The Shinto Gods in Touhou===
===The Shinto Gods in Touhou===

Revision as of 21:41, 9 July 2012

One of the major gods of Shinto, Amaterasu Oomikami appears in Silent Sinner in Blue Chapter 16.

God is the word that indicates concepts such as spirits, natural forces and superhuman existence. In regards to Japan's native religion Shinto, it is often corresponded to the term kami (). Although kami is established to be translated as "god" in certain communities, such translation is known to cause misunderstandings - especially to people who are familiar with the idea of monotheism (e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, etc). Shinto is a polytheistic religion. This means that there are more than one "god" in Shinto. In fact, it is believed that "anybody", "anything" and even "any-phenomenon" can be gods.

Like many polytheistic religions (e.g. ancient Greek and Roman religions), Shinto gods have close relationship between common people in their ordinary life. Usually they have personalities similar to humans: when they are worshiped they will protect people and give them blessing (ご利益 gorieki), but once they get angry they will cause disaster and curse ( tatari) people (the idea of "Ara and Nigi" [荒・和]). A shrine (神社 jinja) is the place (not necessarily needs to be a building) for gods to occupy in order to interact with humans. Also, it should be noted that the 'G' in "god" should not be capitalize when you're referring to Shinto gods or any other gods from polytheistic religions.

Types of Gods

Yaksha

Yaksha (夜叉 yasha) are an ancient group of compassionate spirits that conducted subterranean treasures and are known as protective gods.

There are two types of Yaksha - friendly Yaksha that take the form of beautiful nature spirits, and dark Yaksha similar to ghosts that infest dangerous wildernesses and consume unwary creatures.

In Buddhism, the good Yaksha are loyal assistants of Vaisravana (aka Bishamonten), a god who supports righteousness.

Dragon

Main article: Dragon

Dragons ( ryuu) are reptilian creatures viewed as gods in some cultures, and monsters in others.

Yaoyorozu no Kami

Main article: Yaoyorozu no Kami

Yaoyorozu no Kami (八百万の神 yaoyorozu no kami, Lit. Eight Million Gods) is the term in Shinto that is used to refer to gods in general. It also refers to the idea of "believing in Shinto faith".

While conventionally translated as "Eight Million Gods", it uses the older Japanese meaning of "eight" ( hachi, ya) as "myriad"; i.e. the number of gods is actually uncountably large.

Arahitogami

Main article: Arahitogami

Arahitogami (現人神 arahitogami, "living god") are humans who become gods while still alive, thus being both at once.

Kahaku

Kahaku (河伯 kahaku, "river chief") are river gods from Chinese folklore. They should not be confused with the youkai known as the kappa from Japanese folklore.

Yatagarasu

Main article: Yatagarasu

Yatagarasu (八咫烏 yatagarasu, "eight-span crow") is a divine three-legged crow that serves the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu.

Divine Spirits

Main article: Divine spirit

Divine spirits (神霊 shinrei) are the spirits of humans who ascended to godhood before or after their death.

Gods in Touhou

The majority of gods in the Touhou Project are drawn from or based on the Shinto religion. However, the Buddhist god Bishamonten is confirmed to exist, implying that the other gods of his pantheon exist as well. Possibly gods from other religions also exist; Seiga Kaku has made a dismissive reference to Jesus Christ,[1] though his divinity was not confirmed.

The Shinto Gods in Touhou

Shinto Gods in the Touhou Project are "born" from faith and derive their power from it. Note that being "born" can also refer to ascension to godhood, such as the case of Mizue no Uranoshimako, a human who became a god after his death. As they are born from human belief they share some similarities to youkai, and some youkai have argued that the two are practically the same. However, they have many differences, and for the most part can be considered two different "species".[2] Unlike youkai, gods are not generally born from fear; thus they do not do things like attacking humans by default, but instead seek out faith, typically in the form of worship.

Faith from either humans or youkai is valid, and is described by Kanako in Reimu's Mountain of Faith A ending as a reverence towards existence, a fear of retribution for one's actions, and the will to enrich one's life, spirit, and body, but it doesn't really have to be that serious. Worship and faith can be as simple as just celebrating with your god.[3]

Shinto gods may split their spirits and manifest where ever called on, thus enabling them to be in many places at once to serve their worshippers; this does not diminish the power of the god in any way. Certain individuals, such as Watatsuki no Yorihime and shrine maidens like Reimu Hakurei and Sanae Kochiya can directly call upon the gods to enter their bodies. Most gods interact with the physical world entirely in this manner. Some gods have physical bodies which allow them to act independently without being called upon, such as Kanako and Suwako (and likely Hina Kagiyama, Minoriko Aki, and Shizuha Aki), but this does not prevent them from splitting their spirit or being invoked in the normal ways.

The Shinto gods are well-acknowledged in Gensokyo and by the denizens of the Lunar Capital (some of whom may have actually been the original gods in Shinto Myth, such as Lord Tsukuyomi and his sister). However, in the outside world, faith has instead been placed on various things such as friendship and news.[4] Thus, like youkai, it is difficult for some gods such as Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya to survive in the outside world as their faith dies out. Presumably more well-known Shinto gods such as Amaterasu still have plenty of faith to go around in the outside world, as there is nothing to indicate their existence is under threat any time soon; in particular, the god Ame-no-Torifune even had a space station dedicated to him.

Of note is that loss of faith for a god means a loss of their ability to manifest their power. However, to a god, this is the same as "death"[5] (with the exception of arahitogami, who would revert to being normal humans).

The Buddhist Gods in Touhou

There is curently little known about any particular differences or caveats between the Buddhist gods in Touhou and Buddhist mythology. Bishamonten, being extremely busy, uses Shou Toramaru as an avatar for the temples that Shou works or worked in (Byakuren Hijiri's previous temple and her current Myouren Temple).

Characters under this Bestiary

Touhou Project

Gods not original to Touhou

Seihou Project

See Also

References

  1. Ten Desires Youmu route
  2. Silent Sinner in Blue Chapter 17. "You can't fight gods and youkai the same way."
  3. Mountain of Faith Kanako's profile. "Actually, to play together was what gods wished for." "This was exactly the kind of faith Kanako was wishing for."; Reimu A ending. "There's no difference between faith and the ability to share a nice drink together like this.
  4. Mountain of Faith Reimu B Ending. In the outside world, people's faith in gods was weakened by the appearance of bad cults and religions. However, all gods benefit from all faith in them. Even though faith and entreatment are different things. Humans, in their independence, lost the need for faith. Actually, that's not true. Even now, they have faith deep within their hearts. People believe in the news, brands, companies, and friends. The object of their faith has merely shifted closer. If you're a god who wishes to regain faith from humans... try setting your pride aside and being friendly with them..
  5. Mountain of Faith Sanae Kochiya's profile. "When people lose faith in gods, the gods lose their power. They can't manifest their divine virtues. This is the same as death, for a god.