Ubusunagami (産土神, lit. "Birth Deity/Divinity/Spirit") in Shinto are tutelary kami of one's birthplace.[1]
Overview
editUbusunagami are a type of a guardian deity connected to the place of one's birth.[2][3] It is believed this kami protects you from before you are born until after you die, and it will continue to do so throughout your life even if you move to another location.[2]
While there are similarities between ubusunagami and ujigami, the relationship between ujigami and their follower (氏子, ujiko) is based on bloodlines, the relationship between an ubusunagami and their follower (産子, ubuko) is based on a faith linked to geographical location.[1] This is why the concept of an ubusunagami is prominent in cities. For example, clan unity in Kyoto weakened in the Middle Ages and a sense of community based on location grew in its place, leading to the development of the concept of ubuko regions based on ubusunagami that featured influential shrines such as Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kamigoryō Shrine, the Kamo Shrines, and Kitano Tenmangū. The term ubusunamōde (産土詣, to visit one's ubusunagami) became widespride along with the practice of visiting an ubusunagami for things such as a child's miyamairi,[1] coming-of-age ceremony, Shichi-Go-San visits, and more. In Edo as well, Ōyamakui-no-kami was regarded the ubusunagami of the Tokugawa clan, and their festivals were particularly grand.
Ubusunagami are distinct from chinjugami because one maintains the link to their ubusunagami throughout their entire life, even if they move to a new location.
Nonetheless ubusunagami, ujigami, and chinjugami are often conflated in the modern day,[4][5][user-generated source][6] and all three are seen as strengthening local identity.[7]
In some locations, the ubusunagami is linked to the ubugami, a tutelary deity of infants and pregnant women; in these cases, it is customary to pay respects immediately following childbirth at a hokora to the deity.[1]
Since the Muromachi period, the belief in the ujigami as a family deity is declining nationwide and is being absorbed by the newly emerged belief in the ubusunagami and chinjugami.[8]
In popular culture
editUbusunagami are prominent in Jujutsu Kaisen.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ a b 日本史用語研究会 (2 February 2009) [2009-2-2]. 必携日本史用語 (四訂版 ed.). 実教出版. ISBN 9784407316599.
- ^ 小項目事典,世界大百科事典内言及, 百科事典マイペディア,旺文社日本史事典 三訂版,精選版 日本国語大辞典,デジタル大辞泉,世界大百科事典 第２版,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典. "産土神とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-02-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "神社とまつりの知識 氏神・産土神・鎮守神". Ōsaki Hachimangū. 2004. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "鎮守神". ピクシブ百科事典 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-02-13.[user-generated source]
- ^ "Jinja to Matsuri no Chishiki". Ujigami, ubusunagami, chinjusha (in Japanese). Hachiman-gū. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ 小項目事典,デジタル大辞泉,世界大百科事典内言及, 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),精選版 日本国語大辞典,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典. "守護神とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-02-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Teeuwen, Mark; Breen, John; Inoue, Nobutaka; Itō, Satoshi (2003). Shinto, a short history. Psychology Press. ISBN 0-415-31179-9.
- ^ Hitchcock; Kubrick; Medium, while his favorite film writer is Roger Ebert Twitter (2023-08-04). "Jujutsu Kaisen: What Are the Ubusunagami & Why Are They Important?". Retrieved 2023-12-07.
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Bibliography
edit- 日本史用語研究会 (2 February 2009) [2009-2-2]. 必携日本史用語 (四訂版 ed.). 実教出版. ISBN 9784407316599.