Green Grimoire Entry 8: Fujin-Japanese Kami of the Wind

Fujin- Kami of the Wind

Continuing with the Air Elemental related assignments, I have been tasked to discuss a being associated with the Air Element.  So, I line with all things Japanese, (which is my greatest cultural love affair 🙂 ), I wanted talk about Fujin, the Japanese Kami of the Wind.

Throughout Japanese history, the island nation has endured its share of storms, making  the deities of rain and wind very important aspects of the culture (Spacey, 2014). The Japanese indigenous religion, Shinto, personifies aspects of the natural world (kami) and reveres them in a way that is god-like and animistic. In their lore, the Japanese creator goddess, Izanami had two children, Fujin, the Kami of the Wind, and Rajin, the Kami of Storms (Fujin, 2016). Fujin, (depicted here to the left) is considered a demon in Shinto, bringing destruction to villages, in his sacks of wind on his back (2016). It is important to note that the line between good and evil is a blurry one in Japanese culture, with no clear distinction among many of the Kami (Spacey, 2014). Things in the west typically considered “evil” can be attributed to an “unruly” god, and not necessarily an evil one (2014).

Because of the interrelationship between wind and rain, Fujin is often depicted with Raijin, with many temples across Japan enshrining them.  They have been credited with saving Japan from numerous invasions (including a mongol invasion in the thirteenth century) and the origin of the word “Kamikaze” (2014).

I love Japanese lore and their systems of magick.  It is on top of places I want to visit, and know I can add a visit to a Fujin shrine to the list. Their reverence for the natural world should be an inspiration to all green wizards and witches.

 

Works Cited

“Fujin.” Wikipedia. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C5%ABjin&gt;. 11 May 2016. Web. 27 Jul. 2016.

Spacey, John. “Raijin And Fujin: Fearsome Japanese Gods of Nature.” Japan Talk. <http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/raijin-and-fujin&gt;. 16 May 2014. Web. 29 Jul. 2016.