国津神 · くにつかみ · kami_concepts

kunitsukami

Earthly kami in Shinto belief.

Definition

'Kunitsukami' denotes the class of gods that rule over the earthly realm, associated with the land, nature, and human beings. These kami ensure the balance of life on Earth, participating significantly in agriculture and local communities. Worship of kunitsukami reflects the reverence for the living environment and the ancestors who inhabit it, contrasting with tenjin, the heavenly kami. Rituals to the kunitsukami often emphasize fertility, health, and prosperity.

Etymology

'Kuni' means country or land, while 'tsukami' refers to deity, thus collectively identifying a spirit of the land.