Shinto Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...

, - are ''

Kami are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...

'' or supernatural warrior-guardian figures, ''Kami'' that guard over shrine gates are considered to be ''Kado-Mori-no-Kami'' or ''Kadomori-no-Kami'', the gods who watch over the gates. They're often depicted as holding bows and

arrow An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...

s although some versions have them holding

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

s or

spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...

s, or wearing three silver rings. It appears on glass-like materials. The name was originally applied to the bodyguards of the Emperor of Japan. Statues of ''Zuijin'' are now often placed flanking ''shrine'' gates, similar to the ''

Niō are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajrap ...

'' and '' Gozu and Mezu''. The ''Zuijin'' are also associated with ''Dosojin'', protector of crossroads and other boundary areas. '' Zuijin '' can also be described as guardians, helpers, or protectors of people from

epidemic An epidemic (from Ancient Greek, Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of patients among a given population within an area in a short period of time. Epidemics ...

and evil spirits Similar to a

guardian angel A guardian angel is a type of angel that is assigned to protect and guide a particular person, group or nation. Belief in tutelary beings can be traced throughout all antiquity. The idea of angels that guard over people played a major role in A ...

, zuijin follow,guide and protect persons them or defend groups or nations from evil.

History

Zuijin (also called as zuishin) was a government official in Konoefu (近衛府, the Headquarters of the Inner Palace Guards) during and after the Heian period; zuijin followed nobles to guard them when they went out.

Yadaijin

Yadaijin (矢大臣), sometimes called Udajin, is one of the two deity statues in Zuijin (Imperial guards during the Heian period) costumes that are placed at the both sides of Zuijin-mon gate, holding bows and arrows on the observer's left. Kadomori, a guardian deity at the shrine gate. He Is usually dressed in Kettekino-ho (open sleeve seams outer robe), putting on Kenei no kanmuri (headdress) with Oikake (accessories for the headdress), wearing a sword, holding bows and arrows. He is called Yadaijin (Minister with arrows) after his arrows, and Zuijin-mon gate is sometimes called Yadaijin-mon gate. However, he is not a Daijin (minister) but a Zuijin (attendant) called Kadono-osa (public officer). Also, he is referred as Amanoiwatowake no Kami (one of the deities from Japanese mythology). Or it is said that the image of Yadaijin comes from Amenooshihi no Mikoto and Amatsukume no Mikoto in the lead, removing Amenoiwahagi (big rocks), holding Kabutsuchi-no-tachi (the ancient sword), 天波十弓 (bows), and 天真児矢 (arrows) at the time of Tensonkorin (the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess).

Sadajin

On the right of the observer is Sadajin (左大臣), the elder left hand man. His attire is similar to Yadajin’s, with the same Kenei no kanmuri (headdress), Oikake (accessories for the headdress), and weapons, including a large bow and arrows. The main difference between the two guardian deity statues is that Sadajin’s mouth is open, while Yadajin’s is closed. This is meant to symbolize the first breath in and the first breath out, a concept borrowed from Budhhist traditions. Hall, C. (2018, June 10). Japanese gate typology (22). The Carpentry Way. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://thecarpentryway.blog/2013/01/japanese-gate-typology-22/

Weapons and Equipment

Zuijin usually have arrows with bows or wearing swords. But later they are some versions have them holding spears. Theoritaclly they could use any type of weapon but those three (sword, arrows and bow) were their basic weapons. They usually wear very long kimonos.

References

{{reflist Shinto kami Japanese mythology

History

Yadaijin

Sadajin

Weapons and Equipment

See also

References