also: じんし
noun
messenger of a god; divine messenger
Refers to a being sent by a deity, often an animal like a fox or crow in Shinto contexts. Synonymous with 神の使い (かみのつかい).
See also: 神の使い
神社では、狐が神使とされている。
At Shinto shrines, foxes are considered divine messengers.
その伝説では、白い鹿が神使として現れた。
In that legend, a white deer appeared as a messenger of the god.
Synonymous; 神の使い is a more descriptive phrase meaning 'god's messenger', while 神使 is a compact Sino-Japanese compound.
Compound of 神 (しん, 'god') and 使 (し, 'messenger'). The reading じんし is a less common variant.