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氏神 (ujigami) Japanese meaning: tutelary deity | Kotomora
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At New Year's, we go to worship at the local tutelary shrine.
It is said that the guardian deity of this area has protected the village since ancient times.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 氏うじ 神がみ を 祀まつ る to enshrine/worship one's tutelary deity
This village has a small shrine where the tutelary deity is worshipped.
氏うじ 神がみ 様さま にお 参まい りする to visit/pray at the shrine of one's tutelary deity
It's a custom to visit the local tutelary deity's shrine on New Year's Day.
氏うじ 神がみ の 祭まつ り the festival of the tutelary deity
The tutelary deity's festival is held every autumn.
Kanji 氏 family name, surname, clan Related words 鎮守 emphasizes a deity's role in protecting a specific place or shrine, while 氏神 is tied more to a clan or community's lineage.
守護神 is a general term for any guardian deity or spirit, whereas 氏神 specifically refers to a Shinto clan or local tutelary deity.
産土神 originally denoted the deity of one's birthplace, while 氏神 was the clan's guardian deity, though the two are often used interchangeably today.
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.
