all the gods and goddesses; myriad deities
Shinto term referring to the countless kami of the Japanese pantheon. Often used in contexts like 八百万の神々 (yaoyorozu no kamigami) to emphasize the multitude.
See also: 八百万 (やおよろず)
In Japan, the myriad gods are worshipped.
Offer prayers to all the gods and goddesses.
Means 'myriad' or 'countless' and is the base of the expression; 八百万の神 specifically refers to the Shinto deities.
Standard spelling with the possessive particle の.
Irregular okurigana usage; omits the の but read the same way. Less common.
From 八百万 (yaoyorozu, 'myriad, countless') + の (possessive particle) + 神 (kami, 'god'). The number 八百万 (literally 'eight million') is used idiomatically to mean an indefinitely large number, reflecting the Shinto belief in countless kami.