also: いしん
adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
as a god; in a divine manner
Archaic adverbial or adjectival phrase used in classical Japanese, especially in Shinto contexts, to describe actions or states that are god-like or in accordance with divine will.
古事記には「惟神の道」という表現が見られる。
In the Kojiki, the expression 'the way of the gods' can be found.
adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
as in the age of the gods; in the ancient divine way
Refers to doing something in the manner of the mythical age of the gods; a highly literary and archaic concept tied to Shinto worldview.
Poems recalling the ancient age of the gods remain in the Man'yōshū.
Alternate archaic kanji spelling, also read かんながら.
An alternative reading of the same concept; 惟神 (かんながら) is a contraction often used in fixed classical phrases.
Derived from 神 (kami, 'god') + ながら (while, as), meaning 'as a god' or 'in the manner of the gods'. The kanji 惟神 and 随神 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) used in classical texts. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is deeply rooted in Shinto terminology.