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Kitchen Deities
Last Update = Feb. 2, 2006

This page is dedicated to Koujin, the syncretic Shinto-Buddhist deity of the kitchen and the cooking stove (kamado). Before starting, please note there are other deities in Japan associated with the hearth.

• Daikokuten (Skt. Mahakala). The god of wealth, farmers, the kitchen, and provider of food. Daikokuten's three-faced version shares some of the same attributes as Sanbou Koujin (below)
   
• Idaten (Skt. Skanda). Kitchen deity, especially at Zen monasteries. Idaten is also known as the protector of monks and monasteries. 
   
• Monju Bosatsu (Skt. Manjushri). Deity of wisdom and intelligence, whose effigy was placed in residential kitchens during the Heian era to symbolize the wisdom and discipline needed to maintain the home.
   
• Suijin. Japanese Water Kami. Shinto goddess who protects not only fishermen, but serves as the patron saint of fertility, motherhood, and easy childbirth. She is the patron deity of the famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, where she is enshrined, and is also reportedly enshrined in many domestic kitchens as an essential household god.

KOUJIN
God of the Hearth & Kitchen Fire
and Protector of Land, Cattle and Horses
Sanbou Koujin (Sanbo, Sanpo, Sambo, Sampo)
Koujinsama, Koujinsan, Kojin, Kojinsama, Kojinsan, Koojin
Nyorai Koujin, Kojima Koujin, Kamado-no-Kami, Kama-no-Kami

Sanbou Koujin Modern Reproduction Photo www.butuzou.co.jp Called Sanpou Koujin because he protects the Three Jewels (Sanpou 三宝), which are the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddhist law), and the Sangha (community of Buddhist believers). Another Japanese deity of the kitchen, Sanmen Daikokuten, shares similar iconography. WAN Seed Syllable for Sanbou Koujin Mantra (Japanese) おん けんばやけんばや そわか Seed & Mantra courtesy this site

KOUJIN-SAMA
荒神, 荒神様, 荒神さん
The syncretic god of the hearth, the kitchen fire, and the protector of land, cattle and horses. His name includes the Shinto term for "kami," although his iconography suggests a Buddhist origin, for his wrathful appearance is typical of the Myou-ou. Nevertheless, his devotees are found in both Shinto and Buddhist camps. Images of this deity do not appear widely until the Muromachi Era (15th century).

Below Text Courtesy of JAANUS
Text edited slightly by Schumacher.
Koujin is a god who protects against disaster and brings good fortune. He is the deity of the hearth fire, a land god, and a protector of cattle and horses. He appears both in painting and sculpture in three forms:

1. Sanbou Koujin 三宝荒神, the most common form of Koujin, an angry figure that typically has eight heads and six or eight arms, but this can vary. The term Sanbou 三宝 refers to the Three Jewels (or Three Treasures) of Buddhism. See sidebar at right for details.

2. Nyorai Koujin 如来荒神 who resembles Kongousatta 金剛薩た (Skt: Vajrasatta, the deity of purification). In this version, his hands are in the Six-Element mudra that is associated with Dainichi Nyorai;

3. Kojima Koujin 子島荒神 who appears with four arms, dressed in Japanese court costume (sokutai 束帯), wears a court hat (kanmuri 冠), and holds a jewel and a cakra. The cakra (rinpou 輪宝) is an ancient Indian wheel-symbol of royalty. Kojima Koujin appeared in a dream of the 11-century priest Shinkou 真興, the founder of Kojimadera Temple 子島寺 in Nara.

Koujin's origin may predate the introduction of Buddhism to Japan because he appears in one apocryphal sutra but not in any genuine Buddhist texts. Koujin is a very important divinity workshipped by the Shugendou 修験道 order, a syncretic mountain religion combining Shinto and Buddhism (Shinbutsu Shuugou 神仏習合). In Japan, Koujin is widely revered as one of the deities of the cooking range (kama-no-kami 釜の神, lit. "God of the Cooking Range"). The term kamado 竃 (also written 竈) refers to a type of cooking stove, and can be abbreviated as "kama." The terms kamadogami 竃神 and kamaotoko 釜男 were prevalent in the Touhoku region, but Koujin was revered more widely in other areas. In some districts, such as Shizuoka Prefecture, the post nearest to the cooking range in a vernacular residence (minka 民家), was believed to embody the deity and was accordingly known as the Koujin Post (koujinbashira 荒神柱). On the last day of each month, a vase containing a pine-branch decoration (koujinmatsu 荒神松) was placed on a shelf (koujindana 荒神棚), erected on a pillar near the stove. In some districts, such as Saga Prefecture, a large cooking range mainly used for special occasions was called Kojin's Cooking Range (Koujinsan-no-Kamado 荒神さんの竃 or Koujinsan Hettsui 荒神さん竃). <end JAANUS quote> 

Sanbou Koujin Modern Reproduction Photo kyokanze.ocnk.net

SANBOU KOUJIN 三宝荒神
Text Courtesy Butuzou.co.jp
Abridged translation by Schumacher
Sanbou Koujin appears as a wrathful deity. He commands 98,000 demon attendants and subjugates the wicked. He is called Sanpou Koujin because he protects the Three Treasures (Sanpou 三宝, literally Three Jewels) which are the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha), and the Sangha (the community of Buddhist believers). Sanpou Koujin hates uncleanness and is worshipped in kitchens as the deity of fire. He has various forms, including three faces and six arms, or one face and four arms, or eight faces and eight arms. Became popular in the last half of the Heian era among mountain ascetics. <end quote>

Editor's Note. The same source says that certain other effigies of Sanbou Koujin embody the spirit of En no Gyoja, one of the most celebrated sages and legendary mountain ascetics of the late 7th century. En no Gyoja is considered the father of Shugendo, a major syncretic movement dedicated to achieving mystic powers by combining pre-Buddhist mountain worship and ascetic practices with esoteric Buddhist teachings.

Japanese Kamado 竈
Click below link to learn much more about the Kamado.
 Photo by Kyuu Hondake (Nagasaki); courtesy JAANUS

Scroll. No date or source given.
Photo courtesy this Japanese site.
(L) Gozu Tennou  (M) Kasuga Daimyoujin (R)  Sanbou Koujin
(L) 牛頭天王 (M) 春日大明神 (R) 三宝荒神




Small Shrine Dedicated to Sanbou Koujin (Ibara, Japan)
Photo courtesy this Japanese site

Koyasu Koujin-sama
Wood, 1543 AD
Koyasu means "Child Giving"
Treasure of Sonbouji Temple 三宝寺, Murayama, Nagano
Designated an Important Cultural Asset

Photo courtesy www.sanbouji.com
Sanboui Temle is a Jodo-sect temple

There are many Koyasu forms in Japan, but Koujin-sama
is rarely shown in this fashion or with this iconography.
Nevertheless, the connection of Koujin with the kitchen and home
is perhaps the main reason for this particular Koujin manifestion.




Kagura Mask of Koujin
Photo courtesy this Japanese site.
http://www.komisen.net/Ogari32ban.html
高千穂写真ギャラリー「高千穂の夜神楽」（尾狩神楽）

Kagura Dances and Performances 神楽
Below text by Gabi Greve
http://darumasan.blogspot.com/2006/01/kagura-dance.html
Kagura dance and music are part of Shinto rituals for the gods. Kagura performances even today are related to ancient legends, and performed by priests and shrine maidens. Now, in some rural areas, it is considered a form of local art (minzoku geinoo) and preformed by the villagers themselves during the annual shrine festival. Some Kagura are more like festive folk-drama. The area of Chichibu is especially known for its local Kagura. Some performances last more than one day. Even children perform in local Kagura performances (kodomo kagura 子供神楽). Masks are mostly made from Japanese paper (washi) and many old costumes are treasures of the communities. There are various Kagura types throughout Japan. See Gabi Greve's Kagura page for many more details.  

Kagura Scene at the Miya Festival
Photos courtesy of this Japanese site.
Above site says these are Koujin performers,
but I am sceptical. The red-faced mask looks more like
 the Shishi Lion or the Tengu.

SIDE NOTES
Food Offerings to the Gods
The practice of scattering rice, sake, or money as offerings to the local deity or household deity is called Sanku. At the offering site, these are typically scattered around the four corners and into the center. Shinsen refers to food offerings. It includes Shinto staples like rice, rice cakes, sake, salt, and water. Just about anything will do, including fish, fowl, meat, seaweed, vegetables, fruits, or sweets. Some shrines still prepare the food in a consecrated kitchen building called the Shinsenden. Cooked food is referred to as Jukusen, raw food as Seisen, and vegetarian food as Sosen. See Shinto Concepts for a few more details. 

SIDE NOTES
Rice and Mice by Gabi Greve. When farmers throw a handful of the first rice harvest of the year to the gods, the grains of rice stick to the nooks and crannies of wooden Buddhist statues in the vicinity. In winter, the mice come to pick out the grains, thus damaging the wooden statues. (Told by a priest in Northern Japan, where some statues of Enku where severely damaged by mice). Click here for full story.

SIDE NOTES
Sake Brewing at Shrines and Temples by John Gauntner.
Sake brewing in Japan was done mainly in shrines and temples in the middle ages. Interestingly, this was a period of huge strides in brewing methods and brewing technology. Click here for full story.

LEARN MORE:
This page is dedicated to Koujin, the syncretic Japanese deity of the hearth. Please visit the links given in above text & photo captions. There are other deities in Japan associated with the kitchen. Click any deity in below list to jump to that page.

• Daikokuten (Skt. Mahakala). The god of wealth, farmers, the kitchen, and provider of food. Daikokuten's three-faced version shares some of the same attributes as Sanbou Koujin (below)
   
• Idaten (Skt. Skanda). Kitchen deity, especially at Zen monasteries. Idaten is also known as the protector of monks and monasteries. 
   
• Monju Bosatsu (Skt. Manjushri). Deity of wisdom and intelligence, whose effigy was placed in residential kitchens during the Heian era to symbolize the wisdom and discipline needed to maintain the home.
   
• Suijin. Japanese Water Kami. Shinto goddess who protects not only fishermen, but serves as the patron saint of fertility, motherhood, and easy childbirth. She is the patron deity of the famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, where she is enshrined, and is also reportedly enshrined in many domestic kitchens as an essential household god.
   
• MODERN CUISINE
  Breakaway Japanese Kitchen, by Eric Gower
  Recipes by Eric Gower. www.ericskitchen.com/
  Says Eric-san: "My Japanese-related dishes are the result of a passion for good home-cooked food and experimentation that went on for about 15 years while I lived in Japan." 

Copyright Mark Schumacher. Email Mark.
All stories and photos, unless specified otherwise, by Mark
www.onmarkproductions.com