Ujigami

What the household shrine represented to the family, the Shinto parish-temple represented to the community; and the deity there worshipped as tutelar god was called Ujigami, the god of the Uji, which term originally signified the patriarchal family or gens, as well as the family name.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

The Ujigami was the giver of all good things, -- the special helper and guardian of the people.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

We find, as might be expected, that the temples now called Ujigami -- which is to say, Shinto parish-temples in general -- are always dedicated to a particular class of divinities, and never dedicated to certain other gods.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

In his opinion the Ujigami were the deified ancestors of certain noble families of early times; and their temples continued to be in the patronage of those families.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

(Ujigami), and finally all the myriads of the deities of Shinto.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

Ujigami, as well as to the tombs of the family ancestors; and on returning to one's native place after prolonged [86] absence, the first visit is to the god ....

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

School-life does not separate the Ujiko from the Ujigami (unless the family should permanently leave the district); the visits to the temple are still continued as a duty.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

The following extract from Hirata will be found of interest, -- not only as showing the supposed relation of the individual to the Ujigami, but also as suggesting how the act of abandoning one's birthplace was formerly judged by common opinion: --

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

As a baby he or she is taken to the Ujigami -- (at the expiration of thirty-one days after birth if a boy, or thirty-three days after birth if a girl) -- and placed under the protection of the god, in whose supposed presence the little one's name is recorded.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877

When the land had been portioned out among the various clans, each of which had its own ancestor cult, all the people of the district belonging to any particular clan would eventually adopt the religion of the clan ancestor; and thus arose the thousand cults of the Ujigami.

Japan: an Attempt at Interpretation Lafcadio Hearn 1877