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{{short description|Shinto god of wisdom and intelligence}}
{{refimprove|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Shinto
| name = Omoikane
| god_of = God of Wisdom and Intelligence
| parents = [[Takamimusubi]]
| image = File:Omoikane drawn by William Aston.jpg
| siblings = [[Futodama]], [[Takuhadachiji-hime]]
}}

'''Omoikane''' (思兼 or 思金) is a [[Shinto]] [[Kami]] of wisdom and intelligence. His name means "having the wisdom and thoughtfulness of many people".<ref>{{cite book |last1=川口 |first1=謙二 |title=日本の神様読み解き事典 |date=2012 |publisher=柏書房}}</ref> A heavenly deity who is called upon to "ponder" and give good counsel in the deliberations of the heavenly deities. In the myth where [[Amaterasu]] hid in a cave, he was entrusted with the task of finding a way to get her out.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Omoikane • A History of Japan - 日本歴史|url=https://historyofjapan.co.uk/wiki/omoikane/|access-date=2020-10-11|website=A History of Japan - 日本歴史|language=en-GB}}</ref> Carpenters pray to him during the construction of pillars in a building. Usually, Japanese people pray to Omoikane for success in school and exams.

He is known by other names as ''Tokoyo-no-Omoikane'' (常世思金神) in the ''[[Kojiki]]'' (古事記); ''Omoikane'' (思兼神) in the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'' (日本書紀); ''Omokane'' (思金神, 思兼神), ''Tokoyo-no-Omoikane'' (常世思金神), ''Yagokoro-omoikane'' (八意思兼神, 八意思金神) in the ''[[Kujiki]]'' (旧事紀 or ''Sendai Kuji Hongi'' 先代旧事本紀), or ''Achihiko'' (阿智彦). 

He is the son of creator deity [[Takamimusubi]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home : Kami in Classic Texts : Omoikane|url=http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=125|access-date=2020-12-11|website=eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp}}</ref> (高御産巣日神) and the older brother of ''Takuhatachiji-hime'' (栲幡千千姫命, or commonly named in the ''[[Kojiki]]'': 万幡豊秋津師比売命 ''Yorozuhatatoyo'akitsushi-hime''), who is married to the deity ''[[Ame-no-oshihomimi|Ame-no-Oshihomimi]]'' (天忍穂耳命). In the [[Kojiki]] [[Tenson kōrin]] myth, Omoikane is one of the ''kami'' who descends to earth.

However, in the ''[[Kujiki]]'' (旧事紀 or ''Sendai Kyuji Hongi'' 先代旧事本紀). Omoikane descends to [[Shinano Province]] (信濃国 ''Shinano-no-kuni'', a former province that is now [[Nagano Prefecture]]) to become the ancestor of ''Shina-no-achihouri'' (信之阿智祝) and as in [[Chichibu Province]] (知々夫国, ''Chichibu no kuni''), a former province in [[Saitama Prefecture]]. He then becomes the father of both deities, ''Ame-no-Uwaharu'' (天表春命) and ''Ame-no-Shitaharu'' (天下春命), also through this lineage becomes the patriarchal ancestor of the children of ''[[Ame-no-Koyane|Ama-no-Koyane]]'' (天児屋命, 天児屋根命).

==Shrines== 
*Achi shrine, Kurashiki, Okayama prefecture
*Chichibu shrine, Chichibu, Saitama prefecture
*Shizu shrine, Naka, Ibaraki prefecture

==See also==
* [[Amaterasu]]
* [[Benzaiten]]
* [[Kuebiko]]
* [[Tenjin (kami)|Tenjin]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=125 Omoikane], Encyclopedia of Shinto
*[https://historyofjapan.co.uk/wiki/omoikane/ Omoikane] - History of Japan Database

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[[Category:Japanese gods]]
[[Category:Wisdom gods]]
[[Category:Shinto kami]]
[[Category:Amatsukami]]