Ichijô Kaneyoshi, also Kanera 一条兼良

(1402-81). Courtier-scholar of the mid-Muramachi era. Used the pen name Tôsai among others . Representative of the intellectuals of his day, he was versed in the religious traditions of Shintô, Confucianism, and Buddhism, as well as classical literature. Noted for his studies of the Nihon shoki.

Links

• Ichijô Kanera / Magatsubi no Kami and Motoori Norinaga's Theology (by UEDA Kenji)

imi 忌

taboo, interdiction.

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Imi.

Links

• imi / Festival and Sacred Transgression (by SONODA Minoru)

inadama 稲霊

rice-soul /rice-spirit.

The spiritual force dwelling in rice which governs its growth and the quality of harvest. A kind of grain spirit. Folk beliefs included the notion that the rice-spirit could be ingested by greeting the kami of the rice fields at time of harvest, and sharing with it a communion meal of first fruits.

Links

• inadama / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)

inari 稲荷

A kami of grain. The Inari cult is especially related to activities of production, including foodstuffs, agriculture, fisheries, and commerce, and is sometimes found as the object of worship directed to yashikigami. The cult is closely related to activities of rice production, the traditional concept of a "grain spirit," and to veneration of foxes. Over 20,000 Inari shrines exist nationwide.

Links

• Inari / Basic Terms of Shinto: Inari
• Fushimi Inari Taisha / Festival and Sacred Transgression (by SONODA Minoru)
• Inari / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)
• Inari / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)
• Inari / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)
• Fushimi Inari Daimyôjin / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)
• Inari / The Life of a Shamaness: Scenes from the Shamanism of Northeastern Japan (by KAWAMURA Kunimitsu)
• Inari / The Changing Face of Japanese Folk Beliefs (by Norman Havens)
• Inari / Perspectives toward Understanding the Concept of Kami (by INOUE Nobutaka)

inbe 忌部

an ancient Shintô priestly family.

One of the hereditary clans of ritualists responsible for carrying out ceremonies of the Imperial Court. The Inbe prepared the implements used in ceremonies and were involved in the rituals associated with shrine construction. Their influence was diminished by their rivals, the Nakatomi clan.

Links

• Inbe / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)

Ise no Jingû 伊勢の神宮

Ise Shrine also the Grand Shrine of Ise.

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Ise no Jingû.

Links

• Ise Jingû / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)
• Ise no Daijingû / Religious Space in the Village As Seen through Festival and Legend (by MOGI Sakae)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Emperor and World Renewal in the New Religions: The Case of Shinsei Ryûjinkai (by TSUSHIMA Michihito)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Perspectives toward Understanding the Concept of Kami (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)
• the Grand Shrine of Ise / Sano Tsunehiko and "Divine Principle (Shinri)" (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• Ise Shrine / Some reflections on the Symposium (SONODA Minoru)

itako イタコ

shamaness, female spiritual medium.

Blind mediums found throughout northern Japan (Aomori Prefecture). Known for their ability to be possessed by and intercede with spirits of the dead.

Links

• itako / Local Newspaper Coverage of Folk Shamans in Aomori Prefecture (by IKEGAMI Yoshimasa)
• itako / The Life of a Shamaness: Scenes from the Shamanism of Northeastern Japan (by KAWAMURA Kunimitsu)

iwasaka 磐境

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Iwasaka.

Links

• iwasaka / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)

Izanagi イザナギ (記: 伊邪那岐命 (神)、紀: 伊奘諾尊 (神))

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Izanagi no mikoto and Izanami no mikoto.

Links

• Izanagi / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)
• Izanagi / "Alone among Women": A Comparative Mythic Analysis of the Development of Amaterasu Theology (by MATSUMURA Kazuo)
• Izanagi / Magatsubi no Kami and Motoori Norinaga's Theology (by UEDA Kenji)
• Izanagi / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)
• Izanagi no kami / Sano Tsunehiko and "Divine Principle (Shinri)" (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• Izanagi / Immanent Legitimation: Reflections on the "Kami Concept" (by Norman Havens)
• izanagi-no-mikoto / Traditional cultures and modernization: Several problems in the case of Japan (HIRAI Naofusa)

Izanami イザナミ (記: 伊邪那美命 (神)、紀: 伊奘冉尊)

See Basic Terms of Shinto: Izanagi no mikoto and Izanami no mikoto.

Links

• Izanami / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)
• Izanami / Evolution of the Concept of Kami (by ITÔ Mikiharu)
• Izanami / "Alone among Women": A Comparative Mythic Analysis of the Development of Amaterasu Theology (by MATSUMURA Kazuo)
• Izanami no ôkami / Magatsubi no Kami and Motoori Norinaga's Theology (by UEDA Kenji)
• Izanami / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)
• Izanami no kami / Sano Tsunehiko and "Divine Principle (Shinri)" (by INOUE Nobutaka)
• Izanami / Immanent Legitimation: Reflections on the "Kami Concept" (by Norman Havens)

Izumo Ôyashiro-kyô 出雲大社教

A sect of Kyôha Shintô. One of the pre-war "Thirteen Sects of Shinto" (Shintô Jûsampa), the sect's beliefs focus on the Izumo Taisha, as reorganized in accordance with Meiji-era Religious Policy by Senge Takatomi (1845-1918); the group was recognized as an independent sect by the government in 1882. Headquartered in Hikawa County, Shimane Prefecture; reported membership is approximately 1,190,000.

Links

• Kyôha Shintô / Basic Terms of Shinto: Kyôha Shintô
• Izumo Ôyashirokyô / Healing in the New Religions: Charisma and `Holy Water' (by WATANABE Masako and IGETA Midori)

Izumo Shrine 出雲大社

A shikinaisha shrine located in Hikawa County, Shimane Prefecture. Dedicated to the major kami Ôkuninushi, the shrine is widely popular as a god of marriage and matchmaking.

Links

• Kuni no miyatsuko / Basic Terms of Shinto: Kuni no miyatsuko
• Ôkuninushi no kami / Basic Terms of Shinto: Ôkuninushi no kami
• Shagô / Basic Terms of Shinto: Shagô
• Taisha-zukuri / Basic Terms of Shinto: Taisha-zukuri
• Izumo Taisha / The Origin of Rites of Worship Within The Local Community (by HARADA Toshiaki)
• the Great Shrine of Izumo / Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period Kokugaku (by SASAKI Kiyoshi)