Chickens at Ise Grand Shrine. Parishioners believe they are messengers of Amaterasu.[1][2][3][4]

Shinshi (Japanese: 神使)[5] or "divine messengers" are animals in Japanese mythology that are believed to be associated with a kami, a divine being. These animals are also known as kami no tsukai or tsukawashime. In ancient texts such as Kojiki and Nihongi, there are tales of special animals that acted on behalf of the kami to transmit the divine will or to bear oracles.[5]

Over time animals were connected to certain shrines. It became a custom to take care of these animals when they were found within the area of the shrine. Normally, each kami had only one animal familiar, but sometimes, there were some exceptions where a kami had more than one. Even some of the "Seven Lucky Gods" like Daikokuten (a mouse) and Benzaiten (a snake) had animal familiars.[5]

Later the kami's animal familiar became a common symbol of the kami itself. For example, the foxes at Inari shrines was worshipped as a manifestation of Inari Ōkami. These creatures were thought to be extraordinary spiritual beings, and this perception, combined with their relationship with the specific kami, likely gave rise to this phenomenon.[5]

It probably originated in shamanic practices, where animals aided shamans in traveling to the spirit world. Different deities have different associated animals, such as foxes for Inari Okami and deer with Kasuga.[1]

Many tribal communities viewed their shaman's familiar as an ancestor, and this may have influenced the connection between animals and spirits in Shinto.[1] For example the Kamo clan believed that Yatagarasu was their ancestor Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto.[1][6]

At Ise Jingu, roosters roam around and are believed to be the assistants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu. They wake her up every morning, according to folklore. Some experts believe that the rooster may be the bird depicted on the torii, a gate that marks the entrance to a shrine.[1] They are believed to call up the dawn with their sounds.[4]

Inari Okami's fox messengers are considered to be her,[7] although both Shinto and Buddhist priests discourage it.[8] Rice food sake and other offerings are given to them for her[9]

History

In a book called Fusō Sakki, which was written in the middle of the Heian period in Japan, it is mentioned that a person who killed a white fox (known as shiratoume) near the Ise Shrine was exiled to that area. This suggests that there was a belief in spiritual foxes in ancient Japan.[10]

The "Chujin Harai-kun," a book written in the 12th century, states that the kami's messenger is second only to the eight great kami and is subordinate to the 100,000 kami. Moreover, "Kitakami Yuki-fu," an essay written in the early 19th century, explains that a ritual called hanasui-iwai is held every year on January 15th. During this ritual, every new household is given a Shinshi.[11]

Due to Shinbutsu shugo some buddhist deities have Shinshi such as Marici whose messenger is the boar.[12]

In the modern day they are considered a notable concept for environmentalism.[13]

Examples

Animal Kami
Cow Tenjin
Fox Inari Ōkami[5][14][15]
Pigeon Hachiman
Sea Snake Izumo-taisha[16]
Chicken Amaterasu[1][2][3][4]
Deer Kasuga-taisha[1][17]
Boar Marici[12]
Wolf Mitsumine Shrine[18]
Monkey Hie Shrine,[18] Juzenji[19][20]: 198 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 D., John (2011-07-28). "Power animals". Green Shinto. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. 1 2 "Ise Shrine (Ise Jingu) - Ise, Japan". 2013-02-15. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  3. 1 2 Olderr, Steven (2017-02-10). Symbolism: A Comprehensive Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-9067-7.
  4. 1 2 3 Goto, Seiko; Naka, Takahiro (2015-10-16). Japanese Gardens: Symbolism and Design. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-41164-2.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Shinshi". Digital Museum.
  6. ↑ Hardacre, Helen (2017). Shinto: A History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-062171-1.
  7. ↑ “‘My Own Inari’: Personalization of the Deity in Inari Worship.” Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 23, no. 1/2 (1996): 102.
  8. ↑ Smyers, Karen Ann. The Fox and the Jewel: Shared and Private Meanings in Contemporary Japanese Inari Worship. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999. 8
  9. ↑ Hearn, Lafcadio. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: First Series. p. 154.
  10. ↑ 関裕二 『寺社が語る秦氏の正体』 祥伝社新書 2018年 ISBN 978-4-396-11553-1 p.38.
  11. ↑ 第２版, 精選版 日本国語大辞典,デジタル大辞泉,世界大百科事典. "神使とは". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. 1 2 Dougill, John (2017-10-10). Zen Gardens and Temples of Kyoto: A Guide to Kyoto's Most Important Sites. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-1958-1.
  13. ↑ Mihic, Tamaki (2020), "Sustainable Japan", Re-imagining Japan after Fukushima, ANU Press, pp. 35–50, ISBN 978-1-76046-353-3, JSTOR j.ctv103xdt4.7, retrieved 2023-10-18
  14. ↑ Illes, Judika (2010-04-15). The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A–Z for the Entire Magical World. HarperCollins UK. ISBN 978-0-00-737203-4.
  15. ↑ Weinstock, Jeffrey Andrew (2016-04-01). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-04425-3.
  16. ↑ D, John (2011-11-09). "Izumo's welcome party (Kamiari sai)". Green Shinto. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  17. ↑ Birmingham Museum of Art (2010). Birmingham Museum of Art : guide to the collection. [Birmingham, Ala]: Birmingham Museum of Art. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-904832-77-5.
  18. 1 2 Ono, Sokyo; Woodard, William P. (2011-09-13). Shinto the Kami Way. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0083-1.
  19. ↑ "Monkey Deities in Japanese Shinto Lore and Buddhist Art". www.onmarkproductions.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  20. ↑ "Rage and Ravage: Gods of Medieval Japan, Volume 3". UH Press. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
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