Dōsojin

Dosojin or Dōsoshin (Japanese道 祖 神), in some areas of Japan also Sai -no- kami (賽 の 神) or Sae -no- kami (障 の 神), Dōrokujin (道 陆 神; "Road Country - Kami " ) or Shakujin (石 神; " stone - Kami " ) are collective terms for the deities of roads, streets and borders in the mythology of Japan.

The stone representations of Dosojin are often found at the boundaries of the old village communities, mountain passes, cross-roads and bridges.

Since they are generally considered as fertility or reproductive deities, these stones often have the form of male or female genitalia or show a couple of man and woman.

The original function of Dosojin is suspected is to protect both travelers, ward off misfortune and evil penetration already at the limits of municipalities as well as from the outside. The latter was found next to the corresponding interpretations in the mythological writings of Japanese antiquity that until modern times, protection rites were held in her honor when the visiting foreign ambassador was expected.

Furthermore, they are celebrated in many churches on 14 January with celebrations that involve bonfires in any way, an element in the religious landscape of Japan ( both in Shinto and Japanese Buddhism and Shugendō ) very often a cleansing and revitalizing effect is attributed. These festivals were temporarily forbidden under the Meiji government as superstitious.

In Shinto shrines you meet the Dosojin to relatively rare. This may have to do with the fact that they quite often worship by Buddhist priests or monks is given. Another, this often services mentioned above reason is they are so ubiquitous that they did not require their own shrines.

Among the most prominent Dosojin include

• Chimata -no- kami (岐 の 神), according to the Kojiki the Kami, who was born when Izanagi his pants ( mihakama ) took off in order to wash away the impurities, which he had contracted during his trip to the underworld.
• Sarudahiko or Sarutahiko, the same as Chimata Kami - no-kami in the Nihon Shoki and the Kogoshūi, who was waiting in the Kojiki, however, also at the eight forks in the road of heaven on Ninigi, who had been sent to earth to take possession of Japan.
• Yachi - mata - hiko and Yachi - mata -hime, a sovereign pair from the Engishiki that identifies Motoori Norinaga in his Kojiki - the Chimata with - no-kami.
• Funada -no- kami or Kunado - sae -no- kami ( in the Nihon Shoki ) or Tsukitatsu - Funado -no- kami ( in the Kojiki ), the Kami, the bar was created by Izanagi and with that an alternative version Nihonshoki According to Izanagi his undead sister and wife Izanami the way to the upper world was blocking.
• Jizō, a bodhisattva and protector god of the ( unborn ) children and travelers.