Goddess of the sea routes
Ichikishima-hime 市杵島姫命
Also known as: Ichikishima-hime-no-Mikoto, Benzaiten
Element: Water (水)
The myth
Ichikishima-hime is one of the three Munakata goddesses, born when Amaterasu and Susanoo exchanged pledges and Amaterasu broke Susanoo's sword into pieces.
The three sisters guard the sea route between Kyushu and the Asian mainland. Ichikishima-hime came to be identified with Benzaiten, the goddess of music and fortune, and Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima takes its name from her.
What people pray to Ichikishima-hime for
- Wealth and prosperity
- Love and matchmaking
- The arts and performance
Why: Guardian of the sea roads and merged with Benzaiten, she is prayed to for wealth and for skill in music and the arts.
Where to meet Ichikishima-hime
The element shown is the one used by Kamimap's fun guardian-kami quiz, based on traditional five-element associations. It is not a religious teaching.