村神様

mura-gami-sama
nounIntermediate village deity
religiouscultural

A local Shinto deity or spirit believed to protect and oversee a village or rural community in Japan

村神様の祭りは毎年夏に開催される

The village deity festival is held every summer

村神様に感謝の祈りを捧げた

I offered a prayer of gratitude to the village deity

💡

The term combines '村' (village) and '神様' (deity), reflecting the animistic traditions of Shinto where natural features and community spaces are believed to have spiritual guardians

Collocations

村神様の祭りvillage deity festival村神様に祈るto pray to the village deity

Related Phrases

鎮守の森phrase
sacred grove
神社phrase
Shinto shrine

💡Pro Tip

Cultural Context

Village deities are often associated with specific natural features like trees, rocks, or water sources in rural Japan

Gold Rule

Respectful Usage

When referring to village deities, use honorific language like '村神様' rather than just '村神'

📖Word Origin

Combination of '村' (mura, village) and '神様' (kami-sama, deity), reflecting Shinto beliefs in local spirits protecting communities

📝Usage Notes

While '鎮守神' (chinju-sama) is a more formal term for village deities, '村神様' is commonly used in everyday speech. The concept is deeply tied to rural Shinto practices.

Word Breakdown

village
root
+
神様
deity
root
和英辞典