Atago Gongen

Atago Gongen (愛宕権現) is a Japanese kami believed to be the local avatar (Gongen) of Buddhist bodhisattva Jizō. He is mounted on a white horse and carries a ringed staff and desire-cancelling jewel.[1] The cult originated in Shugendō practices on Mount Atago in Kyoto, and Atago Gongen is worshiped as a protector against fire.[2] There are some nine hundred Atago Shrines around Japan.[3]

Image of Atago Gongen; Musée Guimet

Mount Atago was said to be infested by tengu during the reign of Emperor Monmu.[1] One of the tengu was a particularly powerful one named Tarōbō. The sages En no Gyōja and Taichō were charged with clearing the mountain. When Tarōbō surrendered to them, he became protector of the mountain. He is often seen as the guardian or an avatar of Jizō as a result.[1]

See also

References
  1. Ashkenazi, Michael (2008). Handbook of Japanese mythology. Handbooks of world mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-0-19-533262-9.
  2. "Encyclopedia of Shinto - Atago Shinkō". Kokugakuin. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  3. "Atago Jinja - about". Atago Jinja. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.


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