結びの神
Japanese
Kanji in this term | |
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結 | 神 |
むす Grade: 4 |
かみ Grade: 3 |
kun’yomi |
Alternative spelling |
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結びの神 (kyūjitai) |
Etymology
Originally 産霊 (musuhi, “motive force, life force”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 神 (kami, “god, spirit”). The musuhi portion is itself a compound of 産す (musu, “to happen, to develop, to grow”) + 霊 (hi, “mystical power”).[1][2]
Musuhi no Kami is one of the kami of creation, responsible for producing heaven and earth and all things. The musuhi (“mystic power of growth”) eventually changed into musubi (“tying together”). The 結び spelling for this portion is an example of ateji.[1] In popular culture, this kami is now responsible for romantic matchmaking.[1][2]
Pronunciation
Proper noun
結びの神 • (Musubi no Kami)
Usage notes
Although Musubi no Kami and Musuhi no Kami are essentially regarded as typographical differences in the context of Shinto, the Musubi name appears to be generally reserved for the pop-culture romantic matchmaking senses, while the Musuhi name is generally used to indicate the kami responsible for producing all of existence.
References
- Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN