Basic Terms of Shinto 神道基本用語集

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Title
Dôsojin,Sai no kami
道祖神,塞神
Text Gods of roads and borders. Called sai no kami or dôrokujin in some areas, stone representations of these deities are often found at village borders, mountain passes, crossroads, and by bridges. As a deity of borders, the dôsojin is believed to protect not only villages from pestilent spirits coming from outside, but also travelers on the road, and others in "transitional" stages. For this reason, the dôsojin is at times also thought of as a god of children or of easy childbirth.