Chinjugami

is a ''kami'' that is worshipped in order to gain its protections for a specific building or region. In modern times, it is often conflated with ''ujigami'' and ''ubusunagami''. A shrine enshrining a ''chinjugami'' is called a ''chinjusha''.

''Chinjugami'' differ from ''ujigami'' in that the latter is tied to bloodines, while the former is to buildings and regions. Anyone living on the land worships them regardless of blood ties.

Overview

''Chinjugami'' are said to have their origin in the Sangharama of China. Protective ''kami'' began to be worshipped in Japanese Buddhist temples as well as Buddhism spread throughout Japan and ''shinbutsu-shūgō'' progressed. Later, such protective ''kami'' became worshipped in not only temples but other buildings as well and even set regions.

Modern belief often views ''chinjugami'' are , but ''chinjugami'' were originally ''kami'' new to that region who were worshiped so that they would oppose former occupant that was the ''jinushi-no-kami'' in order to make them complacent. In short, when people built manmade structures on a land, they would bring in and worship a more powerful ''kami'' than the local ''jinushi-no-kami'' so that no misfortune befell the people or buildings there. It was expected that the ''jinushi-no-kami'' would be subjugated by the ''chinjugami'' and come to serve it, supporting and protecting its activities, though there have been cases in which a ''jinushi-no-kami'' resisted and cursed the region.

However, as time passed, this original meaning of the ''chinjugami'' was forgotten and they became conflated with ''jinushi-no-kami''. These ''chinjugami'' have come to be enshrined in temples, mansions, manors, and castles, and eventually even small settlements.

It is believed ''chinjugami'' worship began in small settlements where there was conflict between the people and the local ''gōzoku'' nobles. The ''chinjugami'' were enshrined in the settlement and meant to oppose the clan ''ujigami'' worshipped by the nobles.

''Chinju'' shrines

Shrines erected as adjuncts to Buddhist temples are called . The opposite, a temple within a shrine, is called a . In addition, when it is a Buddhist temple functioning as the guardian of an establishment, it was called a , , or .

Gallery

File:Asashiro-jinja.jpg, The ''chinju-ji'' and Inari shrine of Enrū-ji Temple (dedicated to Inari Ōkami)
File:七宝瀧寺鎮守堂 泉佐野市 2013.11.23 - panoramio.jpg, Chintaku Reifu-jin and Kōjin shrine（Shippōryū-ji Temple）
File:観心寺にて 鎮守堂(訶梨帝母天堂) 2013.3.15 - panoramio.jpg, Kishimojin Hall (at Kanshin-ji）
File:Chinjusha at Mandara-ji.jpg, ''Chinju-dō'', ''Butsu-dō'', and ''Homa-dō'' of Mandara-ji Temple
File:Makisan Chofukuji Sanno Gongen Hall.jpg, Sannō Gongen Hall (Chōhuku-ji Temple)

See also

* Chinju no Mori
* ''Chinjusha''
* Festival ( Shōka (music)) – The jinchu-gami appears as the village deity at the center of the village festival.
*
* Jinushigami
* List of Japanese deities
* Setsumatsusha
* Ubusunagami
* Ujigami

References

Tutelary deities
Japanese folk religion
Shinto shrines
Japanese gods
Shinto
Shinto kami
Shinto terminology

Regional deities
{{Shinto shrine