Kamadogami - Kamadogami

Japanese: 竈神 - かまどがみ

A god of the hearth, or a god worshipped in the hearth. Throughout human history, fire has had religious significance and has been considered sacred in the myths, rituals, and ideas of many ethnic groups. In Japan, the hearth is also considered sacred as a place where fire is handled, and worship of the hearth god has been practiced throughout the country. The name and worship method vary by region, but generally, in eastern Japan, it is called Okamasama, and in western Japan, Koujin-sama, and the god's talismans, offerings, and small altars are enshrined near the hearth. Other well-known names include Kamaotoko and Hiotoko in the Tohoku region, Dokujin and Rokusan in the Chugoku region, but the name Rokudai for hearths in the Kyoto area is thought to have been given because it means the place where the Earth God resides. There are many customs surrounding the hearth god throughout the country, such as replacing the sacred object or ashes when a new wife is replaced or when a death occurs, worshiping the god when a family member leaves or at a wedding, sharing fire to purify the family at childbirth, and sharing fire when a branch family branches out.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

かまどの神，またはかまどに祀られる神。人類の歴史のうえで，火は宗教的な意味をもち，多くの民族の神話，儀礼あるいは観念のなかで，聖なるものとされてきた。日本でも，かまどは火を扱うところとして神聖視され，竈神を祀ることは全国的に行われてきた。その名称，祀り方は地方によって異なるが，一般に東日本ではオカマサマ，西日本ではコウジン (荒神) サマと呼ばれ，その神符，幣帛，小さな神棚などを，かまどの近くに祀っている。東北地方のカマオトコ，ヒオトコ，中国地方のドクジン (土公神) ，ロクサンなども広く知られるが，京都周辺でかまどのことをロクダイというのも，土公神のましますところという意味からつけられた名称と考えられる。主婦交代や死者の出たときは神体や灰を入替えたり，家族員の旅立ちや婚礼に際して礼拝したり，出産のとき火を分けて穢れをはらい，分家に際しては火を分け与えてやるなど，竈神をめぐる習俗は全国的に数多い。

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