Name
- Ōyamatsumi no Kami (大山津見神)
Identity
Ōyamatsumi no Kami is a major kami of mountains and of what can be described as “massive nature”: mountain ranges, forests, slopes, springs, and all the elements that form the backbone of the landscape. His name combines yama (mountain) with a term often understood as “master” or “guardian,” expressing the idea of a tutelary deity who presides over the mountains. He is therefore a powerful protector of mountainous areas and, by extension, of forests and the natural resources they provide.
Mythological role
Ōyamatsumi embodies the stable power of the mountains: forces that protect and sustain life (wood, water, soil), but that can also become dangerous if neglected (steep slopes, storms, landslides). In Shintō thought, mountains are places of divine presence, and Ōyamatsumi represents that protective and watchful presence itself.
In genealogical traditions of myth, he is also connected to deities associated with natural cycles such as rain, rivers, and the seasons, reinforcing his role as a foundational “support” of the living world.
Famous myth
Rather than being defined by a single dramatic episode or battle, Ōyamatsumi appears in myth as an ancestral and pivotal figure of nature. His importance lies in his status: he personifies the mountain as a primordial force, and through family and symbolic connections, he plays an indirect role in many narratives where land, nature, and territorial deities structure the world.
Worship
Ōyamatsumi is worshiped at shrines connected to mountains, forests, and communities living in close contact with rugged terrain. Typical prayers focus on:
safety in the mountains (hiking, forestry work, mountain roads);
protection against natural disasters;
the proper management of natural resources (water, wood, land);
the prosperity of rural regions and mountain-related professions.
His cult is especially strong in regions where a major shrine is dedicated to him, and he may be invoked as the guardian of a specific mountainous territory.
Symbolism
Ōyamatsumi symbolizes the mountain as a pillar: stability, endurance, and protection, but also respect for nature. He represents the proper relationship with mountainous landscapes— benefiting from their gifts (water, forests, resources) while acknowledging their power. In simple terms, he is the kami most naturally associated with sacred mountains, living forests, and the protection of paths and communities rooted in these environments.