Raijin is one of the most importantgods in Japanese mythology and a scary guy. Together with his brother Fujin (the god of wind), Raijin is responsible for all the bad weather that hits Japan, and as a series of islands, Japan gets a lot of bad weather.
You’ll find terrifying statues of Raijin all over Japan, and no matter where you go, you’ll have to walk under his intense gaze. The popularity and widespread representation of this god of thunder is a sure sign of the respect these islanders have for stormy weather.
Who is Raijin?
Raijin is one of the oldest gods among all Shinto gods. Shintoism is the most dominant religion in Japan today, followed by Buddhism, with many gods representing the different forces of nature and existence. Raijin is the direct descendant of Izanagi and Izanami, the two gods who descended from heaven to create the islands of Japan.
Origin
The island nation of Japan has had more than its fair share of typhoons and severe storms to solidly cement a deep respect for bad weather in the minds of the Japanese people. The Shinto religion is heavily based on the idea that everything we see in nature has a spirit or kami. There are many kami in Japanese mythology, but it is understandable that the awe-inspiring natural forces of storms would lead the Japanese to believe that there is an important kami behind them.
As with most kami, what we know about Raijin comes mainly from an ancient Japanese text known as the Kojiki. The existence of thunder gods in various belief systems is very common, especially among islanders, and you will find a long list of them in different cultures.
Raijin is an important part of Japanese life and culture, as the people of Japan continue to live with the reality of storms, as they always have. He is both feared and admired by the Japanese. He may be a mischievous god, but he is also an essential part of nature.
Mothers warn their children to cover their belly buttons during storms or Raijin will steal them and eat their bellies. When the Mongols under Kublai Khan attempted to invade Japan in 1274 and 1281, they were repelled by typhoons on both occasions. The Mongols never attempted to invade Japan again.
These seemingly miraculous storms that arrived at just the right moment have been attributed to Raijin, who is said to have acted to protect Japan. After all, Japan was created by his mother and father, and the islands themselves are Kami and therefore his brothers and sisters. The people of Japan are also the creations of his father. Raijin and Fujin are also protectors of temples and other sacred places, which is why their statues are often placed at the gates of these buildings.
Appearance
All Japanese people know what Raijin is supposed to look like, as there are statues and paintings of him all over Japan. He is usually depicted as a large, muscular figure (although sculptors like to give him a belly) with a terrifying face. Sometimes he has horns, while other times he simply has wild hair that defies gravity.
Many images show him with three fingers on each hand. The three fingers represent the past, present, and future, respectively. He is sometimes shown with red skin, but this varies. However he is shown, there is no doubt about his demonic appearance. Of course, he resembles his brother Fujin, but it is easy to tell them apart, as Fujin always carries a wind bag with him.
Raijin wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of a heavy metal album, so it’s fitting that we often see him depicted holding hammers and surrounded by drums. After all, he has to make thunder somehow. In some parts of Japan, he is known as Raiden and is shown simply as a man dressed in a robe and straw hat.
Raijin’s Family
This thunderous god is the son of Izanami and Izanagi, the two main gods of Shintoism. He has countless brothers and sisters, as all the Kami of Japan are descended in one way or another from Izanami and Izanagi. However, his rivalry with his brother Fujin in their struggle for dominance of the sky is legendary.
History
This god of thunder shares a history closely linked to that of his parents, Izanagi and Izanami. Raijin is one of the many gods born of these two deities after they created Japan. He was born after the death of his mother Izanami, caused by the birth of the god of fire. After she went to the underworld, her husband Izanagi went after her.
After a misunderstanding between the two, Izanagi fled, and Raijin was one of the spirits Izanami sent to pursue him and bring him back. He is one of the kami who also represents one of the islands of Japan and is believed to reside there in the mountains. He and his brother Fujin constantly battle to determine who is the true ruler of the heavens.
Although he is widely respected, feared, and seen as an Oni, or demon, the Japanese view Raijin as a good spirit. Based on the old belief that lightning fertilizes crops, this god of thunder is also a god of agriculture whom farmers pray to.
Modern Influence
Raijin appears in many Japanese video games and cartoons. His cultural influence has also had a notable effect in the West, with video games, movies, and other media featuring characters clearly inspired by Raijin. He remains highly relevant to modern Japanese culture, and of course, people spare him a thought whenever a new storm passes through Japan.
