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生き神 (いきがみ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
living god
Refers to a person who is revered or treated as if they were a deity while still alive. Often used for exceptionally charismatic or saintly figures, or in religious contexts where a person is believed to be a divine incarnation.
Similar words 神かみ 神 is a general term for a god or deity, while 生き神 specifically emphasizes that the person is alive and treated as divine.
現人神あらひとがみ 現人神 is a more formal or archaic term for a god who appears in human form, often used in historical or Shinto contexts. 生き神 is more colloquial and can be used metaphorically.
Etymology Compound of 生き (iki, 'living') + 神 (kami, 'god'), with rendaku voicing of 神 to がみ. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the concept of living deified humans appears in various religious and folk traditions.
The saint was regarded as a living god, and many followers visited.