Lux Ferre

Zen protector of monasteries and Buddhist Law, and protector of seafarers. Tradition has it that he was one of the sons of Asoka, an Indian emperor of the Mauryan dynasty who was

A form of witchcraft in which a nobleman, warrior, or priest puts a spell on a fox or snake in order to obtain power over his victim. Also, a spell used by

The Chushingura (Treasury of Loyal Retainers) tells the tale of the forty-seven retainers of the lord of Akπ who were loyal beyond death. In the early eighteenth century, the young and inexperienced

“Guard-general princess” is the Japanese Cinderella, and a paragon of the virtue of filial devotion. Born, according to the story, on the eighteenth day of the eighth month of the eighteenth year

The Ainu god of the house. He resides in the northeast corner of the house, where the household treasures—swords, robes, lacquered boxes, and tubs of Japanese manufacture—are stored. Together with Kamui Fuchi,

God of crossroads, highways, and footpaths, represented by a phallus. Chimata–no-kami is the child of Izanagi-no-mikoto, born of the trousers (hence, presumably,his phallic identity) Izanagi threw down when he started his purification

One of the Shichi Fukujin (seven gods of good fortune), Bishamon-ten is depicted as an armoured warrior in the Chinese style, carrying a Chinese halberd. In his other hand he carries a

One of the Buddha’s first disciples (rakan) who fell from grace and is usually not allowed into the hallowed company. Some say he came from a long line of physicians. He was

The god of poverty. Bimbogami’s attentions will lead to poverty and misery, and people in some locations in Japan will carry out personal rituals to avert the god’s gaze. His attendant is