Kami facts for kids

Amaterasu, one of the most important kami in the Shinto faith

Kami (神) is a Japanese word for the spirits that are worshipped in the Shinto religion. Not all of Kami are gods of the personified type. Instead, they have to do with phenomena and events like the growth of trees, or rain, or wind, or other aspects of Nature; it is believed that these kami live in those natural things.

It is usually said that there are "yaoyorozu-no-kami" (八百万の神, eight-million Kami). In Japanese the number "eight-million" is normally used to mean infinity.

Though the word kami can be translated multiple ways into English, no English word expresses its full meaning.

Some important kami

• Amaterasu, the sun goddess
• Inari, god of foxes
• Kotoamatsukami, the primary kami trinity
• Izanagi, the first man
• Izanami, the first woman
• Shinigami, kami of death
• Ryūjin, god of the sea
• Susanoo, god of storms
• Sarutahiko, kami of earth

Related pages

• Shinto
• Shinto shrine
• Inugami

Japanese Mythology & Folklore

Mythic Texts and Folktales: Kojiki | Nihon Shoki | Otogizōshi | Yotsuya Kaidan Urashima Tarō | Kintarō | Momotarō | Tamamo-no-Mae Divinities: Izanami | Izanagi | Amaterasu Susanoo | Ama-no-Uzume | Inari List of divinities | Kami | Seven Lucky Gods Legendary Creatures: Oni | Kappa | Tengu | Tanuki | Fox | Yōkai | Dragon Mythical and Sacred Places: Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji | Izumo | Ryūgū-jō | Takamagahara | Yomi

Images for kids

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  Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. This shrine is believed to be where the kami dwell, and hosts many ceremonies and festivals.

See also

In Spanish: Kami para niños