myojin

Myōjin, often written as myōjin, is a Japanese term meaning “bright deity” or “divine spirit.” It is used in Shinto to refer to kami (gods or spirits) of high rank and, historically, to certain Buddhist deities worshipped within Shinto practice. The term was common during periods of Shinbutsu-shūgō, the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, to designate powerful deities associated with specific places or shrines. Shrines dedicated to these deities are sometimes called myōjin jinja, meaning “shrines of the bright gods.”

In Shinto usage, myōjin denotes a class of divinities whose identities could vary, reflecting the flexible, locus-based nature of worship in ancient Japan. The association of myōjin with particular sacred sites contributed to the development of shrine networks and localized pilgrimage practices.

Myōjin-zukuri is a term in shrine architecture naming a historic style tied to the myōjin concept. It emerged in the Heian to Kamakura periods and is recognized as one of the early forms of formal Shinto shrine construction, influencing later architectural developments and the layout of main halls and auxiliary structures at several notable shrines.

Outside religious contexts, myōjin is also used as a Japanese surname and as a component in place names. In modern usage, the spelling varies and may be written as Myōjin, Myojin, or Myojin, depending on transliteration.