also: きじん · おにがみ
fierce god; wrathful deity
Refers to a god or spirit of intense, often destructive power, distinct from benevolent kami. Common in mythology and fantasy contexts.
The legend records that a fierce god destroyed the village.
He confronted them with the look of a wrathful deity.
He fought with the ferocity of a raging god.
His swordsmanship was so fearsome that even a wrathful deity would tremble.
鬼神 is a broad term for fierce gods or spirits, whereas 夜叉 specifically names the yaksha class of Buddhist guardian demons.
鬼 is an ogre or demon, a monstrous creature, while 鬼神 is a god-like being with fierce attributes, not merely a demon.
Standard kanji form; the reading きしん is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common than きしん but still encountered.
Rare reading; may appear in older or specialized texts.
Composed of 鬼 (oni, 'demon, fierce spirit') and 神 (kami, 'god, deity'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound naturally conveys a deity of fearsome power.