Oonamuchi Depicted in Possessed Priestess

Oonamuchi, the Lord of the Great Name, is a Japanese healing deity often identified with Ookuninushi, the Great Land Master. In the 13th century, Japanese kami were rarely depicted. Here, Oonamuchi is embodied by a possessed mikko priestess, dressed in white with disheveled hair, performing a sacred dance with a drum. She is accompanied by a young attendant named Kotori, meaning Little Bird, emphasizing the living presence of native gods.