DOSOJIN
Deity of crossroads and of fecundity. Dosπjin is often represented by a wooden or stone phallus, and offerings of wooden phalloi are made at Dosπjin shrines. Dosπjin is often referred to as Sae-no-kami, and it is possible that at some time in the past the functions or nature of these deities might have been different. He is also identified with Chimata-no-kami, born of Izanagi’s trousers.
Sarutahiko, who helped in pacifying the Central Land of the Reed Plains, was deified and worshipped as Dosojin. Dosojin in his character as Sae-no-kami is also seen (as is the scarecrow deity) as the repository of knowledge about the world. These two functions—prosperity and knowledge—were clearly related in Japanese thinking (as elsewhere, for example, in Greek mythology) by the association with crossroads: This is where both goods and articles would be exchanged; and with the phallus representing fecundity. Unsurprisingly, many other deities are associated with this complex as well, for example, Dakiniten, who is seen as a deity of plenty, and also of knowledge, or perhaps better, information.
SEE ALSO:
REFERENCES:
- Czaja, Michael. 1974. Gods of Myth and Stone: Phallicism in Japanese Folk Religion. New York and Tokyo: Weatherhill
SOURCE:
Handbook of Japanese Mythology written by Michael Ashkenazi – Copyright © 2003 by Michael Ashkenazi
