Here you’ll find 8 Japanese gods that start with D, organized from “Daigensui Myōō” to “Dōsojin”. They range from Buddhist protective deities to regional Shinto guardians often honored at shrines and roadside markers.

Japanese gods that start with D are deities or protective spirits whose names begin with the letter D. For example, Dōsojin often protects travelers and local borders.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Romanization, Domain, Symbols, Region/Shrine and Notes.

Name: Gives the deity’s common name, so you can quickly identify which god appears in texts or on shrine plaques.

Romanization: Shows Hepburn romanization, helping you search records or maps and match Japanese spellings to English keyboards.

Domain: Summarizes the deity’s main sphere, letting you understand their role in myths, rituals, or daily life.

Symbols: Lists one to three common icons associated with the god, so you can recognize them in art.

Region/Shrine: Notes a primary shrine or area where the deity is worshipped, useful when planning visits or local research.

Notes: Provides concise context, variant names, and cultural notes that help you interpret references and festival roles.

Japanese gods that start with D

NameReading (Hepburn)Japanese (kanji/kana)Domain & Symbols
Daigensui MyōōDaigensui Myōō大元帥明王 (だいげんすいみょうおう)State protection & military victory; Symbols: wrathful form, military armor
Daiitoku MyōōDaiitoku Myōō大威徳明王 (だいいとくみょうおう)Conquest of evil & passion; Symbols: six faces/legs/arms, water buffalo
DaijizaitenDaijizaiten大自在天 (だいじざいてん)Creation & destruction; Symbols: third eye, trident
DaikokutenDaikokuten大黒天 (だいこくてん)Wealth & agriculture; Symbols: magic mallet, sack of treasure, rice bales
Dainichi NyoraiDainichi Nyorai大日如来 (だいにちにょらい)Cosmic truth & enlightenment; Symbols: sun disc, wisdom mudra
Danzan MyōjinDanzan Myōjin談山明神 (だんざんみょうじん)State protection & politics; Symbols: courtier’s cap, sickle
Datsue-baDatsue-ba奪衣婆 (だつえば)Underworld judgment; Symbols: sinner’s clothes, riverside tree
DōsojinDōsojin道祖神 (どうそじん)Travel, borders & fertility; Symbols: stone markers, phallic stones, paired figures

Descriptions

Daigensui Myōō
A Wisdom King (Myōō) in Esoteric Buddhism, venerated as a powerful protector of the nation, especially against foreign invasion and calamities. His rituals were historically performed by the imperial court for state security. (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism)
Daiitoku Myōō
One of the Five Wisdom Kings of Esoteric Buddhism. Known as the “Great Awe-Inspiring Power,” he is a wrathful deity who conquers evil and worldly passions and is considered the fierce manifestation of Amitābha Buddha. (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism)
Daijizaiten
The Japanese Buddhist equivalent of the Hindu deity Shiva (Maheśvara). Incorporated into the Buddhist pantheon as a powerful deva and protector of the faith, he is considered the lord of the highest heaven in the realm of form. (Japanese Buddhist pantheon)
Daikokuten
One of the Seven Lucky Gods, Daikokuten is a popular god of wealth, commerce, and the household. He is often syncretized with the Shinto kami Ōkuninushi and is typically depicted as a cheerful man standing on rice bales. (Shichifukujin lore)
Dainichi Nyorai
The central Buddha in Esoteric (Mikkyō) Buddhism in Japan, representing the ultimate, all-encompassing reality. In Ryōbu Shintō, he was syncretically identified with the sun goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami. (Shingon & Tendai Buddhism)
Danzan Myōjin
The deified spirit of Fujiwara no Kamatari (614–669), a powerful court minister who founded the influential Fujiwara clan. He is the primary deity enshrined at Danzan Shrine in Nara Prefecture. (Danzan Jinja records)
Datsue-ba
An old hag from Buddhist folklore who sits at the Sanzu River, the Japanese Styx. She strips the clothes from the souls of the dead, which are then weighed by her male counterpart, Keneō, to determine their accumulated sins. (Japanese Buddhist folklore)
Dōsojin
A group of folk deities who protect travelers, villages, and borders from evil spirits. Often represented by simple stone carvings along roadsides, they are also associated with fertility and happy marriages. (Encyclopedia of Shinto)
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