{"history":[],"article":{"id":"129b8400-1d77-4d35-b136-868ed920436c","title":"Kuraokami","slug":"kuraokami","content":":::summary\n:::\n\n# \n**Okami** (淤加美神, **Okami**-no-kami) in the [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki), or in the [Nihon Shoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/nihon-shoki): Kuraokami (闇龗) or **Okami** (龗), is a legendary [Japanese dragon](https://bliptext.com/articles/japanese-dragon) and [Shinto](https://bliptext.com/articles/shinto) deity of rain and snow.\nIn [Japanese mythology](https://bliptext.com/articles/japanese-mythology), the sibling progenitors [Izanagi](https://bliptext.com/articles/izanagi) and [Izanami](https://bliptext.com/articles/izanami) gave birth to the islands and gods of Japan.\nAfter Izanami died from burns during the childbirth of the fire deity [Kagu-tsuchi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kagu-tsuchi), Izanagi was enraged and killed his son.\nKagutsuchi's blood or body, according to differing versions of the legend, created several other deities, including Kuraokami.\n\n# Name\nThe name Kuraokami combines kura [闇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dark; darkness; closed\" and okami [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dragon tutelary of water\".\nThis uncommon kanji (o)kami or rei [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/), borrowed from the [Chinese character](https://bliptext.com/articles/chinese-character) ling [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain-dragon; mysterious\" (written with the \"rain\" [radical](https://bliptext.com/articles/radical-chinese-character) [雨](https://bliptext.com/articles/), 3 [口](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"mouths\", and a [phonetic](https://bliptext.com/articles/phonetic) of long [龍](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dragon\") is a variant [Chinese character](https://bliptext.com/articles/chinese-character) for Japanese rei < Chinese ling [靈](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain-prayer; supernatural; spiritual\" (with 2 [巫](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"shamans\" instead of a \"dragon\").\nCompare this 33-stroke 龗 logograph with the simpler 24-stroke variant [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) (\"rain\" and \"dragon\" without the \"mouths\"), read either rei < ling [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain prayer; supernatural\" or ryō < long [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"sound of thunder\", when used for ryo < long 隆 [reduplicated](https://bliptext.com/articles/reduplicated) in ryōryō < longlong 隆隆 \"rumble; boom\".\n[Marinus Willem de Visser (1913:136)](https://bliptext.com/articles/) cites the 713 CE [Bungo](https://bliptext.com/articles/bungo-province) [Fudoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/fudoki) 豊後風土記 that okami is written 蛇龍 \"snake dragon\" in a context about legendary [Emperor Keikō](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-keik) seeing an okami dragon in a well, and concludes, \"This and later ideas about Kura-okami show that this divinity is a dragon or snake.\"\n[Grafton Elliot Smith](https://bliptext.com/articles/grafton-elliot-smith) provides a [Trans-cultural diffusionist](https://bliptext.com/articles/trans-cultural-diffusion) perspective.\n\"The snake takes a more obtrusive part in the Japanese than in the Chinese dragon and it frequently manifests itself as a god of the sea. The old Japanese sea-gods were often female water-snakes. The cultural influences which reached Japan from the south by way of Indonesia — many centuries before the coming of Buddhism — naturally emphasized the serpent form of the dragon and its connection with the ocean. (1919:101)\"\n\n# Lineage\nIn the [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki), he is the father of female deity **Hikawa-hime** (日河比売, or **Hikaha-hime**) married Susanoo's grandson, the male deity **Fuwanomojikunusunu** (布波能母遅久奴須奴神, or **Fuhanomojikunusunu**) and from their union gave birth to the male deity **Fukafuchi-no-Mizuyarehana** (深淵之水夜礼花神).\nFukafuchi-no-Mizuyarehana is the great-grandfather of the male deity [Ōkuninushi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kuninushi) (大国主神).\nThen, the great-grandson of Ōkuninushi, **Mikanushi-hiko** (甕主日子神) married **Hinarashi-hime** (比那良志毘売), who is the daughter of Okami, sister of Hikawa-hime.\nFrom the union of Mikanushi-hiko and Hinarashi-hime gave birth to the male deity **Tahirikishimarumi** (多比理岐志麻流美神).\n\n# Kojiki\nThe ca. 680 CE [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki) transcribes Kuraokami Kami with [man'yōgana](https://bliptext.com/articles/man-y-gana) as 闇淤加美 \"dark o-ka-mi god\".\nIn the Kojiki version of this myth, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi with his giant sword, and the blood subsequently created eight [kami](https://bliptext.com/articles/kami) \"gods; spirits\".\nThe final two generated from blood that dripped off the hilt onto Izanagi's fingers were Kuraokami and Kuramitsuha Kami 闇御津羽神 \"dark mi-tsu-ha god\".\n\"Then His Augustness the Male-Who-invites, drawing the ten-grasp sabre that was augustly girded on him, cut off the head of his child the Deity Shining-Elder. Hereupon the names of the Deities that were born from the blood that stuck to the point of the august sword and bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Deity Rock-Splitter, next the Deity Root-Splitter, next the Rock-Possessing-Male-Deity. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that stuck to the upper part of the august sword and again bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Awfully-Swift-Deity, next the Fire-Swift-Deity, next the Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male-Deity, another name for whom is the Brave-Snapping-Deity, and another name is the Luxuriant-Snapping Deity. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that collected on the hilt of the august sword and leaked out between his fingers were: the Deity Kura-okami and next the Deity Kura-mitsuha.\nAll the eight Deities in the above list, from the Deity Rock-Splitter to the Deity Kura-mitsuha, are Deities that were born from the august sword.\n(tr. Chamberlain 1919:36)\" [Basil Hall Chamberlain](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-hall-chamberlain) notes, \"The etymology of both these name is obscure.\nKura, the first element of each compound, signifies 'dark'.\"\nAnother Kojiki section listing ancestors of [Ōkuninushi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kuninushi) 大国主 \"great country master\" says Okami Kami's daughter Hikaha Hime 日河比売 \"sun river princess\" had a daughter Fukabuchi no mizu Yarehana 深淵之水夜礼花 \"deep pool water lost flower\".\n\"The Deity Fuha-no-moji-Ku-nu-su-nu … wedded Princess Hikaha, daughter of the Deity Okami, and begot a child: Water-Spoilt-Blossom-of-Fuka-buchi. This Deity wedded the Deity Ame-no-tsudohe-chi-ne, and begot a child: the Deity Great-Water-Master. This Deity wedded the Deity Grand-Ears daughter of the Deity Funu-dzu-nu, and begot a child: the Deity Heavenly-Brandishing-Prince-Lord. This Deity wedded the Young-Princess-of-the-Small-Country, daughter of the Great-Deity-of-the-Small-Country, and begot a child: the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land. (tr. Chamberlain 1919:78-9)\"\n\n# Nihongi\nThe ca. 720 CE [Nihon Shoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/nihon-shoki) writes Kuraokami with kanji as 闇龗 \"dark rain-dragon\".\nIn the Nihongi version, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi by cutting him into three pieces, each of which became a god: Kuraokami, [Kurayamatsumi](https://bliptext.com/articles/yama-no-kami) (闇山祇) \"dark mountain respect\", and Kuramitsuha 闇罔象 \"dark water-spirit\".\nThis mitsuha 罔象 is a variant of mōryō 魍魎 \"demon; evil spirit\" (written with the \"ghost radical\" 鬼).\nKurayamatsumi is alternately written Takaokami 高靇 \"high rain-dragon\".\nDe Visser (1913:136) says, \"This name is explained by one of the commentators as \"the dragon-god residing on the mountains\", in distinction from Kura-okami, \"the dragon-god of the valleys\". At length he drew the ten-span sword with which he was girt, and cut Kagu-tsuchi into three pieces, each of which became changed into a God. Moreover, the blood which dripped from the edge of the sword became the multitudinous rocks which are in the bed of the Easy-River of Heaven. This God was the father of Futsu-nushi no Kami. Moreover, the blood which dripped from the hilt-ring of the sword spurted out and became deities, whose names were Mika no Haya-hi no Kami and next Hi no Haya-hi no Kami. This Mika no Haya-hi no Kami was the parent of Take-mika-suchi no Kami. Another version is: \"Mika no haya-hi no Mikoto, next Hi no haya-hi no Mikoto, and next Take-mika-tsuchi no Kami.\nMoreover, the blood which dripped from the point of the sword spurted out and became deities, who were called Iha-saku no Kami, after him Ne-saku no Kami, and next Iha-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto.\nThis Iha-saku no Kami was the father of Futsu-nushi no Kami.\" One account says: \"Iha-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto, and next Iha-tsutsu-me no Mikoto.\nMoreover, the blood which dripped from the head of the sword spurted out and became deities, who were called Kura o Kami no Kami, next Kura-yamatsumi no Kami, and next Kura-midzu-ha no Kami.\n(tr. Aston 1896:23)\n[William George Aston](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-george-aston) (1896:24) footnotes translations for these kami names: Kuraokami \"Dark-god\", Kurayamatsumi \"Dark-mountain-body-god\", and Kuramitsuha \"Dark-water-goddess\".\nDe Visser (1913:136–137) says Kuramitsuha could be translated \"Dark-water-snake\", \"Valley-water-snake\", or \"Female-water-snake\".\n\n# Man'yōshū\nThe [Man'yōshū](https://bliptext.com/articles/man-y-sh) poetry collection mentions an Okami 於可美 \"rain dragon\" living on an oka 岡 \"ridge; knoll; hill\".\nLady Fujiwara, a daughter of [Fujiwara no Kamatari](https://bliptext.com/articles/fujiwara-no-kamatari), replies to a poem from her husband [Emperor Tenmu](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-tenmu) ((r.\n672–686 CE – undefined)) about an unseasonable snowstorm.\nIt was by speaking\nTo the dragon of my hill\nI caused this snowfall;\nA few flakes may have scattered.\nNo doubt, out there where you are.\n(2:104, tr. Cranston 1993:490)\nCompare [Edwin Cranston](https://bliptext.com/articles/edwin-cranston)'s translation with that of [Burton Watson](https://bliptext.com/articles/burton-watson) (1986:22), \"I told the water god on my hill to let the snow fall. It scattered, and some must have fallen over your way!\"\n\n# Okami shrines\nThe diverse Japanese kami of water and rainfall, such as [Suijin](https://bliptext.com/articles/suijin) 水神 \"water god\" and Okami, are worshipped at [Shinto shrines](https://bliptext.com/articles/shinto-shrine), especially during times of drought.\nFor instance, Niukawakami Jinja 丹生川上神社 in [Kawakami, Nara](https://bliptext.com/articles/kawakami-nara) is a center of prayers for Kuraokami, Takaokami, and Mizuhanome 罔象女.\nSome other examples of shrines to Okami are:\nIn addition, the water-god Takaokami is worshipped at various shrines named Kibune Jinja (貴船神社), found in places such as [Sakyō-ku, Kyoto](https://bliptext.com/articles/saky-ku-kyoto) and [Manazuru, Kanagawa](https://bliptext.com/articles/manazuru-kanagawa).\n\n# Family tree","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-26T10:48:47.812Z","updated_at":"2025-01-26T10:48:47.812Z","search_vector":"'kuraokami':1","search_content":" \n \n\n# \n**Okami** (淤加美神, **Okami**-no-kami) in the [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki), or in the [Nihon Shoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/nihon-shoki): Kuraokami (闇龗) or **Okami** (龗), is a legendary [Japanese dragon](https://bliptext.com/articles/japanese-dragon) and [Shinto](https://bliptext.com/articles/shinto) deity of rain and snow.\nIn [Japanese mythology](https://bliptext.com/articles/japanese-mythology), the sibling progenitors [Izanagi](https://bliptext.com/articles/izanagi) and [Izanami](https://bliptext.com/articles/izanami) gave birth to the islands and gods of Japan.\nAfter Izanami died from burns during the childbirth of the fire deity [Kagu-tsuchi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kagu-tsuchi), Izanagi was enraged and killed his son.\nKagutsuchi's blood or body, according to differing versions of the legend, created several other deities, including Kuraokami.\n\n# Name\nThe name Kuraokami combines kura [闇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dark; darkness; closed\" and okami [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dragon tutelary of water\".\nThis uncommon kanji (o)kami or rei [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/), borrowed from the [Chinese character](https://bliptext.com/articles/chinese-character) ling [龗](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain-dragon; mysterious\" (written with the \"rain\" [radical](https://bliptext.com/articles/radical-chinese-character) [雨](https://bliptext.com/articles/), 3 [口](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"mouths\", and a [phonetic](https://bliptext.com/articles/phonetic) of long [龍](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"dragon\") is a variant [Chinese character](https://bliptext.com/articles/chinese-character) for Japanese rei < Chinese ling [靈](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain-prayer; supernatural; spiritual\" (with 2 [巫](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"shamans\" instead of a \"dragon\").\nCompare this 33-stroke 龗 logograph with the simpler 24-stroke variant [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) (\"rain\" and \"dragon\" without the \"mouths\"), read either rei < ling [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"rain prayer; supernatural\" or ryō < long [靇](https://bliptext.com/articles/) \"sound of thunder\", when used for ryo < long 隆 [reduplicated](https://bliptext.com/articles/reduplicated) in ryōryō < longlong 隆隆 \"rumble; boom\".\n[Marinus Willem de Visser (1913:136)](https://bliptext.com/articles/) cites the 713 CE [Bungo](https://bliptext.com/articles/bungo-province) [Fudoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/fudoki) 豊後風土記 that okami is written 蛇龍 \"snake dragon\" in a context about legendary [Emperor Keikō](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-keik) seeing an okami dragon in a well, and concludes, \"This and later ideas about Kura-okami show that this divinity is a dragon or snake.\"\n[Grafton Elliot Smith](https://bliptext.com/articles/grafton-elliot-smith) provides a [Trans-cultural diffusionist](https://bliptext.com/articles/trans-cultural-diffusion) perspective.\n\"The snake takes a more obtrusive part in the Japanese than in the Chinese dragon and it frequently manifests itself as a god of the sea. The old Japanese sea-gods were often female water-snakes. The cultural influences which reached Japan from the south by way of Indonesia — many centuries before the coming of Buddhism — naturally emphasized the serpent form of the dragon and its connection with the ocean. (1919:101)\"\n\n# Lineage\nIn the [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki), he is the father of female deity **Hikawa-hime** (日河比売, or **Hikaha-hime**) married Susanoo's grandson, the male deity **Fuwanomojikunusunu** (布波能母遅久奴須奴神, or **Fuhanomojikunusunu**) and from their union gave birth to the male deity **Fukafuchi-no-Mizuyarehana** (深淵之水夜礼花神).\nFukafuchi-no-Mizuyarehana is the great-grandfather of the male deity [Ōkuninushi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kuninushi) (大国主神).\nThen, the great-grandson of Ōkuninushi, **Mikanushi-hiko** (甕主日子神) married **Hinarashi-hime** (比那良志毘売), who is the daughter of Okami, sister of Hikawa-hime.\nFrom the union of Mikanushi-hiko and Hinarashi-hime gave birth to the male deity **Tahirikishimarumi** (多比理岐志麻流美神).\n\n# Kojiki\nThe ca. 680 CE [Kojiki](https://bliptext.com/articles/kojiki) transcribes Kuraokami Kami with [man'yōgana](https://bliptext.com/articles/man-y-gana) as 闇淤加美 \"dark o-ka-mi god\".\nIn the Kojiki version of this myth, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi with his giant sword, and the blood subsequently created eight [kami](https://bliptext.com/articles/kami) \"gods; spirits\".\nThe final two generated from blood that dripped off the hilt onto Izanagi's fingers were Kuraokami and Kuramitsuha Kami 闇御津羽神 \"dark mi-tsu-ha god\".\n\"Then His Augustness the Male-Who-invites, drawing the ten-grasp sabre that was augustly girded on him, cut off the head of his child the Deity Shining-Elder. Hereupon the names of the Deities that were born from the blood that stuck to the point of the august sword and bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Deity Rock-Splitter, next the Deity Root-Splitter, next the Rock-Possessing-Male-Deity. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that stuck to the upper part of the august sword and again bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Awfully-Swift-Deity, next the Fire-Swift-Deity, next the Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male-Deity, another name for whom is the Brave-Snapping-Deity, and another name is the Luxuriant-Snapping Deity. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that collected on the hilt of the august sword and leaked out between his fingers were: the Deity Kura-okami and next the Deity Kura-mitsuha.\nAll the eight Deities in the above list, from the Deity Rock-Splitter to the Deity Kura-mitsuha, are Deities that were born from the august sword.\n(tr. Chamberlain 1919:36)\" [Basil Hall Chamberlain](https://bliptext.com/articles/basil-hall-chamberlain) notes, \"The etymology of both these name is obscure.\nKura, the first element of each compound, signifies 'dark'.\"\nAnother Kojiki section listing ancestors of [Ōkuninushi](https://bliptext.com/articles/kuninushi) 大国主 \"great country master\" says Okami Kami's daughter Hikaha Hime 日河比売 \"sun river princess\" had a daughter Fukabuchi no mizu Yarehana 深淵之水夜礼花 \"deep pool water lost flower\".\n\"The Deity Fuha-no-moji-Ku-nu-su-nu … wedded Princess Hikaha, daughter of the Deity Okami, and begot a child: Water-Spoilt-Blossom-of-Fuka-buchi. This Deity wedded the Deity Ame-no-tsudohe-chi-ne, and begot a child: the Deity Great-Water-Master. This Deity wedded the Deity Grand-Ears daughter of the Deity Funu-dzu-nu, and begot a child: the Deity Heavenly-Brandishing-Prince-Lord. This Deity wedded the Young-Princess-of-the-Small-Country, daughter of the Great-Deity-of-the-Small-Country, and begot a child: the Deity Master-of-the-Great-Land. (tr. Chamberlain 1919:78-9)\"\n\n# Nihongi\nThe ca. 720 CE [Nihon Shoki](https://bliptext.com/articles/nihon-shoki) writes Kuraokami with kanji as 闇龗 \"dark rain-dragon\".\nIn the Nihongi version, Izanagi killed Kagutsuchi by cutting him into three pieces, each of which became a god: Kuraokami, [Kurayamatsumi](https://bliptext.com/articles/yama-no-kami) (闇山祇) \"dark mountain respect\", and Kuramitsuha 闇罔象 \"dark water-spirit\".\nThis mitsuha 罔象 is a variant of mōryō 魍魎 \"demon; evil spirit\" (written with the \"ghost radical\" 鬼).\nKurayamatsumi is alternately written Takaokami 高靇 \"high rain-dragon\".\nDe Visser (1913:136) says, \"This name is explained by one of the commentators as \"the dragon-god residing on the mountains\", in distinction from Kura-okami, \"the dragon-god of the valleys\". At length he drew the ten-span sword with which he was girt, and cut Kagu-tsuchi into three pieces, each of which became changed into a God. Moreover, the blood which dripped from the edge of the sword became the multitudinous rocks which are in the bed of the Easy-River of Heaven. This God was the father of Futsu-nushi no Kami. Moreover, the blood which dripped from the hilt-ring of the sword spurted out and became deities, whose names were Mika no Haya-hi no Kami and next Hi no Haya-hi no Kami. This Mika no Haya-hi no Kami was the parent of Take-mika-suchi no Kami. Another version is: \"Mika no haya-hi no Mikoto, next Hi no haya-hi no Mikoto, and next Take-mika-tsuchi no Kami.\nMoreover, the blood which dripped from the point of the sword spurted out and became deities, who were called Iha-saku no Kami, after him Ne-saku no Kami, and next Iha-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto.\nThis Iha-saku no Kami was the father of Futsu-nushi no Kami.\" One account says: \"Iha-tsutsu-wo no Mikoto, and next Iha-tsutsu-me no Mikoto.\nMoreover, the blood which dripped from the head of the sword spurted out and became deities, who were called Kura o Kami no Kami, next Kura-yamatsumi no Kami, and next Kura-midzu-ha no Kami.\n(tr. Aston 1896:23)\n[William George Aston](https://bliptext.com/articles/william-george-aston) (1896:24) footnotes translations for these kami names: Kuraokami \"Dark-god\", Kurayamatsumi \"Dark-mountain-body-god\", and Kuramitsuha \"Dark-water-goddess\".\nDe Visser (1913:136–137) says Kuramitsuha could be translated \"Dark-water-snake\", \"Valley-water-snake\", or \"Female-water-snake\".\n\n# Man'yōshū\nThe [Man'yōshū](https://bliptext.com/articles/man-y-sh) poetry collection mentions an Okami 於可美 \"rain dragon\" living on an oka 岡 \"ridge; knoll; hill\".\nLady Fujiwara, a daughter of [Fujiwara no Kamatari](https://bliptext.com/articles/fujiwara-no-kamatari), replies to a poem from her husband [Emperor Tenmu](https://bliptext.com/articles/emperor-tenmu) ((r.\n672–686 CE – undefined)) about an unseasonable snowstorm.\nIt was by speaking\nTo the dragon of my hill\nI caused this snowfall;\nA few flakes may have scattered.\nNo doubt, out there where you are.\n(2:104, tr. Cranston 1993:490)\nCompare [Edwin Cranston](https://bliptext.com/articles/edwin-cranston)'s translation with that of [Burton Watson](https://bliptext.com/articles/burton-watson) (1986:22), \"I told the water god on my hill to let the snow fall. It scattered, and some must have fallen over your way!\"\n\n# Okami shrines\nThe diverse Japanese kami of water and rainfall, such as [Suijin](https://bliptext.com/articles/suijin) 水神 \"water god\" and Okami, are worshipped at [Shinto shrines](https://bliptext.com/articles/shinto-shrine), especially during times of drought.\nFor instance, Niukawakami Jinja 丹生川上神社 in [Kawakami, Nara](https://bliptext.com/articles/kawakami-nara) is a center of prayers for Kuraokami, Takaokami, and Mizuhanome 罔象女.\nSome other examples of shrines to Okami are:\nIn addition, the water-god Takaokami is worshipped at various shrines named Kibune Jinja (貴船神社), found in places such as [Sakyō-ku, Kyoto](https://bliptext.com/articles/saky-ku-kyoto) and [Manazuru, Kanagawa](https://bliptext.com/articles/manazuru-kanagawa).\n\n# Family tree","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

History