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氏神 (うじがみ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
tutelary deity ; guardian god ; local Shinto deity
Shinto
In Shinto, the protective deity of a specific clan, family, or local area. Often enshrined in a local shrine and worshipped as the community's guardian.
この
地ち
域いき
の
氏うじ
神がみ
は
、
古ふる
く
から
村むら
を
守まも
っ
て
き
た
と
伝つた
え
られ
て
いる
。
It is said that the guardian deity of this area has protected the village since ancient times.
Kanji 氏 family name, surname, clan Similar words 鎮ちん 守じゅ 鎮守 also refers to a local guardian deity, but often emphasizes the deity's role in protecting a specific place or temple, while 氏神 is more strongly tied to a clan or community lineage.
守しゅ 護ご 神しん 守護神 is a broader term for any guardian deity or spirit, not limited to Shinto or local communities; 氏神 is specifically a Shinto clan or local tutelary deity.
Etymology Compound of 氏 (uji, 'clan, lineage') and 神 (kami, 'god, deity'). The term originates from ancient Japanese clan-based society, where each clan had its own protective deity.
