Ukanomitama

Ukanomitama (宇迦之御魂神 – Mighty Soul of Sustenance^[1] - Kojiki) (倉稲魂命 - Nihongi) is a kami in classical Japanese mythology, associated with food and agriculture, often identified with Inari, the deity of rice.

Ukanomitama-no-Kami
Goddess of food and agriculture
Heian period statue of Ukanomitama at Ozu Shrine in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture
Other names	Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto (倉稲魂命) Mikura-no-Kami (御倉神) Miketsukami (御食津神, 三狐神)
Japanese	宇迦之御魂神
Major cult center	Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kasama Inari Shrine, Yūtoku Inari Shrine and others
Texts	Kojiki, Nihon Shoki and others
Genealogy
Parents	Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Kamuōichihime (Kojiki) Izanagi and Izanami (Nihon Shoki)
Siblings	Ōtoshi (Kojiki)

Name and mythology

The Kojiki identifies Ukanomitama (宇迦之御魂神 Ukanomitama-no-Kami) as the child of Susanoo by his second wife Kamu-Ōichihime (神大市比売), who was a daughter of Ōyamatsumi (大山津見神), the god of mountains. This text portrays Ukanomitama as the younger sibling of the harvest deity Ōtoshi-no-Kami.^[2][3]

A variant account recorded in the Nihon Shoki meanwhile portrays Ukanomitama (here referred to as 倉稲魂命 Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto) as an offspring of Izanagi and Izanami who was born when the two became hungry.^[4]

The deity's name is understood as being derived from uka no mitama, "august spirit (mitama) of food (uka)".^[2][5] While the above texts are silent regarding the deity's gender, Ukanomitama has long been interpreted to be female, perhaps due to association with other agricultural deities such as Toyouke or Ukemochi.

Family tree

• v
• t
• e

Ōyamatsumi[6][7][8]

Susanoo[9][10][11]: 277

Kamuo Ichihime[7][8][12][13]

Konohanachiru-hime[14][11]: 277

Ashinazuchi[15][16]

Tenazuchi[16]

Toshigami[13][12]

Ukanomitama[7][8] (Inari)[17]

Oyamakui[18]

Kushinadahime[16][19][11]: 277

Yashimajinumi[14][11]: 277

Kagutsuchi[20]

Kuraokami[21]

Hikawahime [ja][22][11]: 278

Fuha-no-Mojikunusunu [ja][11]: 278

Fukabuchi-no-Mizuyarehana [ja][11]: 278

Ame-no-Tsudoechine [ja][11]: 278

Funozuno [ja][11]: 278

Sashikuni Okami [ja][11]: 278

Omizunu[11]: 278

Futemimi [ja][11]: 278

Sashikuni Wakahime [ja][11]: 278

Ame-no-Fuyukinu[23][24][11]: 278

Takamimusubi[25][26]

Futodama[25][26]

Nunakawahime[27]

Ōkuninushi[28][11]: 278  (Ōnamuchi)[29]

Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto[30]

Kotoshironushi[31][32]

Tamakushi-hime[30]

Takeminakata[33][34]

Susa Clan[35]

JAPANESE EMPERORS

711–585 BC Jimmu[36] 660–585 BC(1)

Himetataraisuzu-hime[36]

Kamo no Okimi[31][37]

Mirahime [ja]

632–549 BC Suizei[38][39][40] 581–549 BC(2)

Isuzuyori-hime[37][41]

Hikoyai[38][39][40]

Kamuyaimimi[38][39][40] d.577 BC

Miwa clan and Kamo clan

Nunasokonakatsu-hime[42][31]

Imperial House of Japan

Ō clan[43][44] and Aso clan[45]

• Pink is female.
• Blue is male.
• Grey means other or unknown.
• Clans, families, people groups are in green.