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{{Short description|Japanese god of lightning}}
{{Redirect|Narukami|other uses}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Raijin in Sanjūsangen-dō. Mid-13th century.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of Raijin from [[Sanjūsangen-dō]] temple in [[Kyoto]].<br>[[Kamakura period]], 13th century]]

{{Nihongo|'''Raijin'''|[[wiktionary:雷神|雷神]]||{{small|lit.}} "Thunder God"}}, also known as {{nihongo|'''Kaminari-sama'''|雷様}}, {{nihongo|'''Raiden-sama'''|雷電様}}, {{nihongo|'''Narukami'''|鳴る神}}, {{nihongo|'''Raikō'''|雷公}}, and  '''Kamowakeikazuchi-no-kami''' is a [[god]] of [[lightning]], [[thunder]], and [[Storm|storms]] in [[Japanese mythology]] and the [[Shinto]] and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] religion.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Picken|first=Stuart D. B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlG3F6gSm9UC&dq=Raijin+dictionary&pg=PA239|title=Historical Dictionary of Shinto|date=2010-12-28|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7372-8|pages=239|language=en}}</ref> He is typically depicted with fierce and aggressive facial expressions, standing atop a [[cloud]], beating on [[Den-den daiko|den-den daiko drums]] with ''[[tomoe]]'' symbols drawn on them. Iconography of Raijin are often found in Japanese [[Temple|temples]] and [[Shrine|shrines]]. He is usually depicted alongside his twin-brother, [[Fūjin]], the god of wind, or with his son, [[Raitarō]], a fellow thunder god like himself, or with his animal companion, a [[Raijū]].  Another fellow Shinto god (Kami) of storms is their brother, [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto]].  

== Etymology ==
The name "Raijin" is derived from the Japanese words {{nihongo||雷|kaminari|meaning "thunder"; [[On'yomi|on-reading]] ''rai''}} and {{nihongo||神|[[kami]]|meaning "god"; on-reading ''shin'' or ''jin''}}.

== Description ==
[[File:Hokusai (1834–49) God of Thunder.jpg|thumb|''Raijin'' by [[Katsushika Hokusai]]<br>Hanging scroll painting, 1834–1849]]

Raijin is often depicted with a fierce, frightening face and a muscular figure with gravity-defying hair. He is surrounded by [[Taiko]] drums that he plays to create the sound of thunder. Raijin holds large hammers in his hands that he uses to play the drums. In some cases, Raijin is portrayed with three fingers which are said to represent the past, present and future. Two of the most notable sculptures of Raijin are located in the [[Sanjūsangen-dō|Sanjusangendo]] temple and the [[Taiyuin Rinnoji temple]].  

Raijin and [[Fūjin|Fujin]] reside side by side in the [[Kaminarimon]] gate that guards the entrance to the Sanjusangendo temple. These sculptures are made of [[wood]] with [[lacquer]], [[gold leaf]] and [[paint]] along with crystal, inlaid eyes. The Raijin and Fujin sculptures in Sanjusangendo are considered national treasures.    

In the Taiyuin Rinnoji temple, Raijin and Fujin are located in the [[Niten-mon]] gate. They are made of wood with paint and are seen with their token talismans, Raijin's drums and Fujin's wind bag.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3wBDAAAAIAAJ&q=Niten+gate+raijin&pg=PA301|title=Temple Treasures of Japan|last=Pier|first=Garrett Chatfield|date=1914|publisher=F.F. Sherman|language=en}}</ref>   

Raijin is also often seen in the company of his brother, Fujin, and his son, [[Raitaro]].<ref name="Joly" /> He is often seen fighting with Fujin, mending his drums, or causing mischief. He is also shown in the company of [[Raijū|Raiju]], a thunder-beast or thunder demon which also acts as his totem animal and usually a dog or wolf.

==Mythology==
=== Birth ===
In the myths recorded in the Kojiki, after [[Izanami]] died from the wounds inflicted on her by the birthing of Hinokagutsutchi, her husband [[Izanagi]] followed her down into [[Yomi]] no Kuni, the land of darkness. When he asked her to come with him, Izanami responded that she cannot leave, because she had already eaten from the food there. As Izanagi followed her all the way to Yomi, to try to fulfill his wish that she go with him, Izanami returned to her palace to negotiate with the residing kami. Izanami was gone for several hours, which made Izanagi worried for her. Thus, after making fire on the tip of his comb, he entered the palace.  

There, Izanagi found Izanami's corpse. On her body maggots gathered, and on her head arose {{nihongo|Great Raijin|大雷神}}, on her chest {{nihongo|Fire Raijin|火雷神}}, in her stomach {{nihongo|Black Raijin|黒雷神}}, on her vagina {{nihongo|Blossoming Raijin|咲雷神}}, in her left hand {{nihongo|Young Raijin|若雷神}}, in her right hand {{nihongo|Soil Raijin|土雷神}}, on her left leg {{nihongo|Roaring Raijin|鳴雷神}} and on her right leg {{nihongo|Bending Raijin|伏雷神}}; collectively called {{nihongo|Ho-no-Ikadzuchi-no-Kami|火雷大神}}.

Upon seeing Izanami's twisted body, Izanagi fled from Yomi, shaken and in terror. In shame of allowing him to see her unsightly form, Izanami sent Raijin and several female demons to chase after Izanagi, after he fled the image of her rotting form, to bring him back to Yomi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kojiki.htm|title=THE KOJ-IKI|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref>

=== Capture of Raijin ===
Another story describes Raijin as a mischief-maker, causing the destruction leading the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] to order Sugaru (the God Catcher) to imprison Raijin and deliver him to the in order to stop a storm. Sugaru first petitioned Raijin in the name of the emperor to give himself over willingly and cease the storm, to which Raijin laughs at Sugaru. Sugaru then prays to [[Guanyin|Kannon]], Kannon ordered Raijin to let Sugaru, then she later delivered Raijin to him. Sugaru then tied him up in a sack and took him to the Emperor. Under the control of Sugaru and the emperor, Raijin was forced to stop his destruction and bring only rain and bounty to Japan.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Joly" />

=== Defending Japan ===
In one legend, Raijin is shown to defend Japan against the invading [[Mongols]]. In this legend, the Mongols are driven off by a vicious storm in which Raijin is in the clouds throwing lightning and arrows at the invaders.<ref name="Joly">{{Cite book|last=Joly|first=Henri L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSxPAAAAYAAJ&q=raijin+and+fujin+fight&pg=PR7|title=Legend in Japanese Art: A Description of Historical Episodes, Legendary Characters, Folk-lore, Myths, Religious Symbolism, Illustrated in the Arts of Old Japan|date=1908|publisher=John Lane|language=en}}</ref>

== Genealogy ==
[[File:Raijin-ogata-emuseum.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Detail of Raijin from ''[[Wind God and Thunder God (Kōrin)|Wind God and Thunder God]]'', a [[folding screen]] by [[Ogata Kōrin]].<br>[[Edo period]], circa 1700. Based on an original by [[Tawaraya Sōtatsu]].]]

Raijin has many siblings, most notably, [[Fūjin|Fujin]] (the god of wind), [[Kagu-tsuchi|Kagutsuchi]] (the god of fire), [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto|Susanoo]] (the god of the sea and storms), [[Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto|Tsukuyomi]] (god of the moon), and [[Amaterasu]] (the goddess of the sun). Raijin also has a son named [[Raitaro]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://mythopedia.com/japanese-mythology/gods/raijin/|title = Raijin}}</ref>

{{Further|Family Tree of Japanese deities}}
{{chart top}}
{{Tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{Tree chart| | | |A1|~|y|~| A2 | |
|A1=[[Izanagi]]|A2=[[Izanami]]}}
{{Tree chart| | | |!| | | |!| | | |!| | 
}}

{{Tree chart| | | |!| |B1| | |,|^|.|
B1=[[Kagu-tsuchi|Kagutsuchi]]}}

{{Tree chart| |,|-|+|-|-|-|.| |C1|C2| 
|C1='''Raijin'''
|C2=[[Fūjin|Fujin]]}}

{{Tree chart|D1|D2|D3| |!| | | | | | 
|D1=[[Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto|Tsukuyomi]]
|D2=[[Amaterasu]]
|D3=[[Susanoo-no-Mikoto|Susanoo]]}}

{{Tree chart| | | | | | | | | |E1| | 
|E1=[[Raitaro]]}}

{{Tree chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

== Modern role ==
Some Japanese parents tell their children to hide their [[Navel|belly buttons]] during [[thunderstorm]]s so that Raijin does not take them away and eat them.  

Raijin also appears in the [[kabuki]] play [[Narukami (play)|''Narukami'']], in which he is imprisoned under a pool of water, thus causing a [[drought]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kabukiweb.net/theatres/kabukiza/performance/may_4.html|title=May at the Kabukiza Theatre{{!}}Theatres|website=KABUKI WEB|access-date=2019-04-07}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="250" heights="200">
Tawaraya Sōtatsu - God of Thunder (Raijin) - 2004.86 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif|Folding screen depicting Raijin alone, by [[Tawaraya Sōtatsu]] (1570–1640).
Wind God and Thunder God Screens by Tawaraya Sotatsu hi-res.png|Folding screen depicting Raijin (left) and [[Fūjin]] (right), by Tawaraya Sōtatsu.
Raijin netsuke - Masatsugu Kaigyokusai.jpg|[[Netsuke]] depicting Raijin, by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813–1892)
Raiden and Son, okimono by Kogetsu, Japan, 1868-1912 AD, boxwood - Spurlock Museum, UIUC - DSC06037.jpg|[[Okimono]] depicting Raijin and son. [[Meiji period]], 1868–1912.
Khalili Collection Japanese Meiji Art S052 CROP.jpg|Raijin with drums on an earthenware vase. Meiji period, 19th century.
Japanese Fireman's Coat And Raijin Design, 19th century (Back).jpg|Japanese fireman's coat depicting Raijin on the back. 19th century.
Masaharu - Kashira with Raijin, God of Thunder - Walters 511019 - Top.jpg|Sword pommel depicting Raijin. [[Edo period]], 1800–1500. 
Raijin, the God of Thunder, frightens the Russians out of Tokuriji (near Nanshan) LCCN2009630471.jpg|''Raijin frightens the Russians out of Tokuriji'', during the [[Battle of Nanshan]]. Propagandistic print by [[Kobayashi Kiyochika]], 1904.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Dian Mu]] (Chinese), goddess of lightning
* [[Izanagi]] (Japanese), one of the divine pair of creation deities
* [[Izanami]] (Japanese), one of the divine pair of creation deities
* [[Kintarō]]
* [[Lei Gong]] (Chinese), god of thunder
* [[Mitsubishi J2M Raiden]]—WW2 interceptor named for Raiden
* [[Parjanya]] (Hindu), god of rain, thunder and lightning
* [[Sanjūsangen-dō]] (Japanese temple)
* [[Tachibana Dōsetsu]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
* ''[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/90981/rec/1 Netsuke: Masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art]'', an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains many representations of Raijin

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[[Category:Japanese gods]]
[[Category:Shinto kami]]
[[Category:Thunder gods]]