Raijin is a god of lightning, thunder, and storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto and buddhism religion. He is typically depicted with fierce and aggressive facial expressions, standing atop a cloud, beating on den-den daiko drums with tomoe symbols drawn on them. Iconography of Raijin are often found in Japanese temples and shrines. He is usually depicted alongside Fūjin, the god of wind. The name “Raijin” is derived from the Japanese words kaminari (雷, meaning “thunder”; on-reading rai) and kami (神, meaning “god”; on-reading shin or jin). 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 Sanjusangendo temple and the Taiyuin Rinnoji temple.
Appearance List Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters, 古事記, 711–712) by Ō no Yasumaro (compiler, from oral tradition by Hieda no Are) — Japan’s earliest extant chronicle describes the thunder deity Takemikazuchi / Raijin lineage as part of creation and divine conflicts; Kamo (Kamo, 加茂, 14th–15th c.) — Noh play, anonymous (Kanze school); Narukami (The Thunder God, 鳴神, 1684) by Ichikawa Danjūrō I (attrib.; part of Kabuki Jūhachiban repertory) — Raijin is personified as the imprisoned thunder god Narukami; Konjaku Hyakki Shūi (Supplement to “Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons”, 今昔百鬼拾遺, 1781) by Toriyama Sekien. Screens and Ukiyo-e: Fūjin Raijin-zu byōbu (Wind God and Thunder God Screens, 風神雷神図屏風, early 17th c.) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu; Fūjin Raijin-zu byōbu (Wind God and Thunder God Screens, 風神雷神図屏風, c.1710–1716) by Ogata Kōrin; Fūjin Raijin-zu byōbu (Wind God and Thunder God Screens, 風神雷神図屏風, early 19th c.) by Sakai Hōitsu; Raijin and Fūjin (雷神・風神, ca. 1847–1850s) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi — ukiyo-e triptych showing the thunder god hurling drums paired with Fūjin scattering winds; Raijin (雷神, ca. 1830s) by Katsushika Hokusai — color woodblock print of the thunder god wielding drums. TV: Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh (Matchless Raijin-Oh, 絶対無敵ライジンオー, 1991–1992) — TV anime mecha series invoking Raijin by name as guardian robot.
Description Raijin is a god of lightning, thunder, and storms in Japanese mythology and the Shinto and buddhism religion. He is typically depicted with fierce and aggressive facial expressions, standing atop a cloud, beating on den-den daiko drums with tomoe symbols drawn on them. Iconography of Raijin are often found in Japanese temples and shrines. He is usually depicted alongside Fūjin, the god of wind. The name “Raijin” is derived from the Japanese words kaminari (雷, meaning “thunder”; on-reading rai) and kami (神, meaning “god”; on-reading shin or jin). 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 Sanjusangendo temple and the Taiyuin Rinnoji temple.
