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God

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

Gods (, kami) otherwise known as deities are preternatural or supernatural beings belonging to various religions and folklore. In Japan's native religion Shinto, there are many deities compared to many other religions around the world. Unlike most religions, in Shinto, gods can be both good and evil and have a wide range of personality and ideals. Shrines are also build for the deity as a place to occupy in order to interact with humans and other creatures.

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 resembles beautiful nature and a dark Yaksha which is similar to a ghost that infest dangerous wildernesses and consume unwary preys.

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

Dragon

Main article: Dragon

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

Yaoyorozu no Kami

Main article: Yaoyorozu no Kami

Yaoyorozu no Kami (八百万の神, Eight Million Gods) are gods belonging to the Shinto religion.

Kahaku

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

Yatagarasu

Main article: Yatagarasu

Yatagarasu (八咫烏, yatagarasu) is a divine three-legged crow.

Gods in Touhou

The majority of gods in the Touhou Project are primarily based around the Shinto religion. However, it is confirmed that Bishamonten, a god from Buddhism, exists as well. Possibly other gods from other religions do too, and a reference to Jesus Christ was also made in Ten Desires by Seiga Kaku to Youmu Konpaku, although he was derogatarily referred to as an "pagan prophet" meaning "country dweller". Becuase Shinto is the primary base, it can be assumed that monotheistic religions and their single deity are not viewed as an unique existance as it can be shown that the primary gods of Shinto are dominate in the outside world.

The Shinto Gods in Touhou

Shinto Gods in the Touhou Project are "born" from faith and derive their power from it. Note that "born" can refer to ascension to godhood, as well, such as the case of Mizue no Uranoshimako, who was a human that became a god even after his death, through faith. As they are born from human belief, they do share some similarities to youkai, and sometimes have been referred as youkai.[1] However, the two are significantly different, and for the most part can be considered two different "species"[2]. Unlike gods, youkai were generally born from fear. Thus unlike youkai, gods do not do things such as attack 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. 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. However, there are some gods with a body, which allows them to act independently without being called upon, such as Kanako and Suwako (and likely Hina Kagiyama, Minoriko Aki, and Shizuha Aki). These gods may still split their spirit and be called upon as well.

The Shinto gods are well-acknowledged by denizons of Gensokyo and denizons of the Lunar Capital (of whom some 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.

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]

The Buddhist Gods in Touhou

There is curently little known about any particular differences or caveats between the Buddhism gods in Touhou and Buddhism 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. Citation for a time when a god has been referred to as a youkai needed.
  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." and 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.