Translation guide
A guardian deity is a protective god or spirit in Japanese culture, often associated with specific places, people, or Buddhist temples. The most common terms are 守護神 (shugoshin) for a general guardian deity and 氏神 (ujigami) for a local Shinto tutelary deity.
A divine being that protects a person, place, or group.
The most direct and common term for a guardian deity in both religious and metaphorical contexts (e.g., a sports team's guardian deity).
この寺の守護神は不動明王です。
The guardian deity of this temple is Fudō Myōō.
彼はチームの守護神と呼ばれている。
He is called the guardian deity of the team.
A slightly more colloquial term for a protective deity or spirit, often used for personal guardians.
この村には古くから守り神がいる。
This village has had a guardian deity since ancient times.
A deity that protects a specific area, especially a Shinto shrine's surrounding land. Often used in historical or shrine contexts.
鎮守神を祀る神社が各地にある。
There are shrines enshrining tutelary deities in various places.
A Shinto deity that protects a specific community, clan, or region, often enshrined in a local shrine.
The traditional Shinto guardian deity of a clan or local community. Every Japanese neighborhood typically has an 氏神 enshrined in the local shrine.
初詣には氏神様にお参りします。
For New Year's, we visit our local tutelary deity.
この地域の氏神は八幡様です。
The tutelary deity of this area is Hachiman-sama.
The deity of one's birthplace, a type of guardian deity from birth. More specific than 氏神, emphasizing the land where one was born.
Short for 鎮守神, often used in shrine names or historical contexts to refer to the local protective deity.
A deity in Buddhism that protects the temple, the dharma, or practitioners.
A Buddhist guardian deity that protects the teachings of Buddhism. Often depicted as fierce figures.
金剛力士は護法神の一種です。
Kongōrikishi are a type of dharma-protecting deity.
A category of Buddhist guardian deities (devas) that includes figures like the Four Heavenly Kings.
四天王は天部に属する守護神です。
The Four Heavenly Kings are guardian deities belonging to the Tenbu.
A spirit or minor deity that personally protects an individual, sometimes akin to a guardian angel.
A guardian spirit, often of a deceased ancestor or a spiritual entity that protects a person. Common in spiritual contexts.
彼女は守護霊に守られていると信じている。
She believes she is protected by a guardian spirit.
A spirit that follows and protects a person from behind; often used in occult or spiritualist contexts.
背後霊が見えるという人もいる。
Some people claim they can see guardian spirits behind others.
守護神 is a broad term for any guardian deity, including Buddhist protectors and metaphorical uses. 氏神 specifically refers to the Shinto tutelary deity of a local community or clan. When talking about your neighborhood shrine's deity, use 氏神.
私の氏神は近所の神社に祀られています。
My local tutelary deity is enshrined at the neighborhood shrine.
The English concept of a 'guardian angel' does not have a direct equivalent in Japanese religious tradition. 守護霊 is the closest, but it is more of a spirit than an angel. 守護天使 (しゅごてんし) exists as a loan translation but is rarely used outside Christian contexts.
産土神は一生の守り神とされる。
The ubusunagami is considered a lifelong guardian deity.
The grove of the tutelary deity is a sacred place.