Oyamakui no Kami
大山咋神
God of mountains, land, and agriculture; guardian deity of Kyoto and Enryaku-ji temple
About
Oyamakui is a mountain deity whose name means 'the great lord who stakes out the mountain.' Briefly mentioned in the Kojiki as a descendant of Okuninushi who dwells on Mount Hie near Lake Biwa, he became enormously influential through the Sanno Shinto tradition that developed around Enryaku-ji, the headquarters of Tendai Buddhism on Mount Hiei.
The Sanno ('Mountain King') faith represents one of the most significant examples of Shinto-Buddhist synthesis in Japanese history. As the protective deity of Mount Hiei, Oyamakui was identified with Buddhist figures and became central to the Tendai school's theological framework. When the capital moved to Kyoto, the Hie shrines overlooking the city from the northeast—the 'demon gate' direction—served as spiritual protectors of the imperial capital.
Hie shrines number over 3,800 nationwide. Oyamakui is also enshrined at Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto, where he is revered as the patron deity of sake brewing, owing to the shrine's proximity to the famous brewing waters of Arashiyama.
Family Relationships
Parents
Animal Messenger
Monkey (猿（さる）)
Monkeys (masaru) are the divine messengers of the Hie/Sanno shrines. The name 'masaru' is a pun meaning 'to surpass' or 'to drive away evil' (ma-saru). Wild monkeys living on Mount Hiei reinforced this association.
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Hie Shrine 日枝神社 | Tokyo | major_branch |
| Hie Shrine (Toyama) 日枝神社 | Toyama | Branch shrine |
| Toyama Prefectural Hidehiko Shrine 富山県社日枝神社 | Toyama | Branch |
| Hiyoshi Taisha 日吉大社 | Shiga | Head shrine (souhonsha) |
| Matsuo Taisha 松尾大社 | Kyoto |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Oyamakui no Kami in Japanese mythology?
Oyamakui no Kami (大山咋神) is God of mountains, land, and agriculture; guardian deity of Kyoto and Enryaku-ji temple. This deity appears in Kojiki and is enshrined at 5 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami?
There are 5 shrines in our database dedicated to Oyamakui no Kami, including Hie Shrine, Hie Shrine (Toyama), Toyama Prefectural Hidehiko Shrine and more.
What myths involve Oyamakui no Kami?
Oyamakui no Kami appears in myths from Kojiki. The deity is known as God of mountains, land, and agriculture; guardian deity of Kyoto and Enryaku-ji temple.