Kami

/ˈkɑmi/ noun

Definition

In Shinto religion, spiritual beings or gods that inhabit natural places like mountains, trees, water, and animals.

Etymology

From Japanese 神 (kami), a word that originally meant 'upper' or 'superior' but came to mean divine spirits. The concept is fundamental to Shinto belief and has no exact equivalent in Western religions.

Kelly Says

Kami aren't like gods in Western religions—there are millions of them, they're not all-powerful, and they can be mischievous or grumpy, reflecting nature's actual unpredictability rather than an ordered divine plan.

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