Shikigami
/ˌʃiːkiˈɡɑːmi/noun
In Japanese folklore, a spirit or kami summoned and controlled by an onmyōji, a practitioner of traditional Japanese occult arts.
Did you know?Shikigami were associated with onmyōdō, a courtly system combining calendrical astrology, divination, Taoist-influenced rites, and protective magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Middle Chinese
式神
“The written components later read in Japanese as shiki and kami; 式 relates to a prescribed form or ritual, while 神 means deity or spirit.”
8th Century
Old Japanese
kami
“A deity, spirit, or sacred presence; the word appears in early Japanese texts such as the Kojiki and Man'yōshū.”
8th–9th Century
Sino-Japanese
shiki
“A ritual form, rule, ceremony, or prescribed method, from Chinese 式.”
Heian Period
Japanese
shikigami / shikijin
“A ritual or summoned spirit associated with onmyōdō practitioners and esoteric protective practices.”
20th Century
Japanese
shikigami
“A supernatural familiar or servant in folklore, literature, and popular occult-themed fiction.”
Modern English
English
shikigami
“A Japanese folklore term for a magically summoned spirit or familiar.”