god of the land; tutelary deity of a country
Archaic Shinto term for a deity that governs or protects a specific territory or nation. Rare in modern usage outside historical or mythological contexts.
In the Kojiki, the god of the land appears as a guardian deity of the country.
Compound of 国 (kuni, 'country') + 魂 (tama, 'spirit') + 神 (kami, 'god'), with rendaku voicing. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term reflects ancient Shinto beliefs in territorial deities.