kunitsukami

In Shintō, kunitsukami refers to earthly deities, a category that was historically considered less noble than the heavenly amatsukami. However, this distinction is no longer significant in modern Shintō. The term kami itself is broadly translated as "god" or "deity" but encompasses a wider range of revered entities, including natural forces, ancestors, and even inanimate objects like rocks and plants.1

The core of Shintō beliefs centers on the mysterious creative and harmonizing power (musubi) of kami and their truthful will (makoto). Kami are understood to possess divine personalities and respond to sincere prayers, guiding followers to live in accordance with makoto. This adherence to a kami's will is believed to generate a mystical power that garners the protection and approval of all kami. Kami can be manifested in or reside within symbolic objects called shintai, such as mirrors, which are often housed in Shintō shrines. The vast number of kami is often expressed as "800 myriads," signifying their infinite potential.213