Watatsumi Sanjin

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Watatsumi (綿津見 or 海神) are gods of the sea that appear in Japanese mythology.

Wata is an obselete word for sea. Tsu means of, and mi means divine spirit. So Watatsumi means divine spirit of the sea. Watatsumi is also used as a pseudonym of sea.

In Japanese mythology, the first Watatsumi god to appear was Oowatatsumi (literally, Great Watatsumi, 大綿津見神), born in the time of Izanagi and Izanami. From his name it would appear that he was a god that presided over the sea. However, other than his birth, further details are relatively unknown. Watatsumi Sanjin (the three gods of Watatsumi) refers to the gods Sokotsuwatatsumi (底津綿津見神), Nakatsuwatatsumi (中津綿津見神), and Uwatsuutatsumi (上津綿津見神), who were born when Izanagi performed a purification ceremony after returning from Yomi, the underworld.

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