Shinra Myōjin is a Buddhist god associated with the Jimon branch of Tendai, a school of Japanese Buddhism. His name is derived from the name of a historical Korean kingdom, Silla. His origin is a matter of debate among researchers. He might have originated in Korea, China or in the historical Ōmi Province in Japan. Initially he was portrayed as a deity who arrived in Japan from abroad to protect Buddhist monks, though later the view that he was a Japanese deity who ventured to Silla developed due to a shift in the perception of Korea. He was regarded as a symbol of Jimon and its institutions, but also as a protector of sea routes and as a mountain deity. He also developed associations with waka poetry and with pestilence. In art, he is typically depicted as an elderly man dressed in the clothes of a Chinese official. Through history, he developed connections with a number of other figures, including Susanoo, Matarajin and Mañjuśrī. He is chiefly worshiped in Onjō-ji.
A statue of Shinra Myōjin from Onjō-ji.
A depiction of Susanoo-Gozu Tennō by Sadahide. It is possible these two deities came to be associated with each other due to their shared connection with Shinra Myōjin.
Shinra Zenshindō, a shrine dedicated to Shinra Myōjin.
Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, also known as Shinra Saburō due to his connection to the Shinra Myōjin shrine.
Matarajin (摩多羅神) or Madarajin (摩怛哩神) is a Buddhist god chiefly venerated in the Tendai school of Japanese buddhism. While originally regarded as a wrathful deity obstructing rebirth in the pure land, and thus a "god of obstacles", with time he also came to be seen as a protector of adherents of Tendai doctrine, capable of warding of demons, especially tengu, as well as epidemics. He also acquired other roles, including these of a protector of performing arts and of an astral god of destiny. He additionally came to be identified with a large number of other figures, such as Mahakala, Shinra Myōjin and Susanoo, as a result acquiring some of their characteristics. He could be identified as the wrathful aspect of Amida Buddha as well. Multiple traditions regarding his iconography are documented. Initially he was depicted as a multi-armed and multi-headed deity, but with time he came to be portrayed as a smiling old man dressed like a Japanese aristocrat. He could also be symbolically represented by the okina mask.
A depiction of the "ox festival" of Matarajin celebrated in Kōryū-ji in Kyoto.
A statue of Shinra Myōjin from Mii-dera
An okina mask
An Edo period illustration showing the ox festival