Fujin

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MythologyBefore ChristAncient Japanese mythology, present since the origins of Shinto

Fujin is the god of wind in Japanese Shinto mythology. He is depicted as a demon carrying a large bag containing the winds of the world. Twin of Raijin, the god of thunder, he is one of the oldest deities in the Japanese pantheon.

Key Facts

Fujin (風神) literally means "god of wind" in Japanese
Mentioned in the Kojiki (712 AD), the oldest mythological chronicle of Japan
Depicted carrying a bag of winds that he releases to unleash storms
His statues adorn the gates of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, alongside Raijin
Associated with the kamikaze ("divine wind"), believed to have protected Japan from Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281

Works & Achievements

Kojiki — Account of the Shinto Cosmogony (712)

The first text written in Japanese to codify the founding myths, the Kojiki includes Fujin in the genealogy of the primordial kami, attesting to his role since the creation of the world.

Nihon Shoki — Official Version of the Japanese Myths (720)

A companion to the Kojiki written in Classical Chinese, the Nihon Shoki details the roles of Fujin and Raijin in the cosmic order, serving as a theological reference for centuries.

Fujin-Raijin-zu Screen by Tawaraya Sōtatsu (Early 17th century)

An absolute masterpiece of the Rinpa school, this two-panel screen on a gold background depicts Fujin and Raijin in a style of striking expressiveness; it is today a Japanese National Treasure.

Fujin-Raijin-zu Screen by Ogata Kōrin (1710)

A reinterpretation of Sōtatsu's screen by one of the masters of the Rinpa school, bearing witness to the enduring iconography of Fujin in classical Japanese art.

Statue of Fujin at Sanjūsangen-dō Temple, Kyoto (13th century)

A lacquered wooden sculpture depicting Fujin among the 28 protective deities (Nijūhachi Bushu) surrounding Kannon, a testament to the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism in medieval Japan.

Integration of Fujin into Popular Ukiyo-e Art (18th–19th century)

Hokusai, Hiroshige, and other masters of the woodblock print incorporated Fujin and Raijin into their works, spreading their iconography beyond temples and into popular Japanese culture.

Anecdotes

Fujin and Raijin are said to have been among the first beings to appear when the primordial chaos separated into sky and earth. According to certain Shinto traditions, it was Fujin's breath that helped dispel the mists and clarify the nascent world, allowing sunlight to spread across it.

During the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, violent storms destroyed the enemy fleets. The Japanese attributed these saving winds to Fujin and Raijin, naming the storms 'kamikaze,' literally meaning 'divine wind.' This episode durably strengthened the cult of both deities throughout the country.

Fujin is depicted with greenish or bluish skin, wild spiked hair, and an enormous leopard-skin bag slung over his shoulders. This bag is said to contain all the winds of the world: when he unties it, he unleashes storms; when he closes it again, calm returns to land and sea.

The celebrated painter Tawaraya Sōtatsu created, in the early 17th century, a two-panel folding screen depicting Fujin and Raijin side by side. This work, preserved at Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto, has become one of the iconic images of classical Japanese painting and has inspired countless artists ever since.

In the Buddhist tradition that blended with Shinto in Japan, Fujin was identified with Vāyu, the Hindu god of wind. This fusion illustrates how Japanese beliefs absorbed continental influences while preserving their own distinct identity. Fujin appears among the Nijūhachi Bushu, the 28 protective deities of Japanese Buddhism.

Primary Sources

Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) (712 AD)

In the beginning, when heaven and earth had not yet been separated, the wind deities took part in the ordering of the visible world, blowing across the primordial waters.

Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) (720 AD)

The gods of wind and thunder stand guard over the boundaries between the celestial and earthly realms, and their wrath is made manifest in the storms that sweep across land and sea.

Azuma Kagami (Mirror of the East) (1281 AD)

Warriors reported that the Mongol fleet was scattered by extraordinary winds, and the people gave thanks to the deities Fujin and Raijin for having protected Japan from the invader.

Fujin and Raijin Screen — dedicatory inscription at Kennin-ji Temple (Early 17th century)

These two deities of wind and thunder are painted here to protect this sacred place and remind the faithful of the power of natural forces subject to divine will.

Key Places

Kennin-ji Temple, Kyoto

The oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, it houses the famous folding screen by Sōtatsu depicting Fujin and Raijin, one of the most iconic works of classical Japanese art.

Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingū), Mie Prefecture

The supreme sacred site of Shinto, dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu but encompassing the entire Shinto pantheon including Fujin; its sacred forests swept by the wind evoke the presence of the god.

Tatsuta Shrine (Tatsuta Taisha), Nara

One of the Shinto shrines most directly associated with wind deities, where the veneration of Fujin and the divine winds has been especially vibrant since ancient times.

Hakata Bay, Fukuoka

Site of the two Mongol invasions of 1274 and 1281, where the storms attributed to Fujin and Raijin destroyed the enemy fleets. Underwater excavations have uncovered shipwrecks from these expeditions.

Mount Fuji, Honshū

A sacred symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji is often associated with the wind deities who sweep across its slopes; its perpetually wind-battered summit is regarded as a place of contact between the kami and mortals.