Ukanomitama

Japanese deity of agriculture From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Quick Facts Other names, Japanese ...
Ukanomitama-no-Kami
Goddess of food and agriculture
Heian period statue of Ukanomitama at Ozu Shrine in Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture
Other namesUkanomitama-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 centerFushimi Inari Taisha, Kasama Inari Shrine, Yūtoku Inari Shrine and others
TextsKojiki, Nihon Shoki and others
Genealogy
ParentsSusanoo-no-Mikoto and Kamuōichihime (Kojiki)
Izanagi and Izanami (Nihon Shoki)
SiblingsŌtoshi (Kojiki)
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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

Ōyamatsumi[6][7][8] Susanoo[9][10][11]:277
Kamuo Ichihime[7][8][12][13]
Konohanachiru-hime[14][11]:277Ashinazuchi[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]:278Fuha-no-Mojikunusunu [ja][11]:278
Fukabuchi-no-Mizuyarehana [ja][11]:278Ame-no-Tsudoechine [ja][11]:278Funozuno [ja][11]:278
Sashikuni Okami [ja][11]:278Omizunu[11]:278Futemimi [ja][11]:278
Sashikuni Wakahime [ja][11]:278Ame-no-Fuyukinu[23][24][11]:278Takamimusubi[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 JapanŌ 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.

References

Bibliography

See also

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