Kunitsukami
Kunitsukami (国つ神,  国津神) are the kami of the land and live in tsuchi. 

They were contrasted from the Amatsukami, although modern Shinto no longer makes the distinction between Amatsukami and Kunitsukami. According to Yijiang Zhong the distinction was made by the writers of the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki to formulate a political discourse.   

Kunitsukami were often presented as tutelary deities. They were also associated with geographical areas along with their inhabitants. Non-royal families also viewed them as their ancestors. They also were considered personifications of the land.  

According to Ernest Mason Satow and , kunitsukami might have been deified chiefs who migrated to Japan.

The  , Ōkuninushi, and Sukunahikona used in Japanese colonial shrines. . They are all Kunitsukami or earthly kami representing the land.

 proposed a system justifying Japanese Imperialism where Japanese people in the colonies were seen as Amatsukami and natives were seen as Kunitsukami, however he was later censored as his position was considered too supportive of the rights of colonized peoples.

Mythology 

Many myths in the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki are about the conflict between the Kunitsukami and the Amatsukami.

List of kunitsukami 

 Okuninushi

Ōyamatsumi
Sarutahiko

 Sovereign God
 Ōkuninushi
 Ōkuninushi no Gokojin
 Ajisukitakahikone, Shimo-shitsu-biki, Kotoshironushi, Takeminakata, Kizumata god, and Tora-kami god
 The gods who are the spouses of the lord of the great nation
 Suseri Vipassana, Yagami Vipassana, Numagawa Vipassana, Dokiri Vipassana, Kamiya Taten Vipassana, Tottorijin
 Others
 Ōyamatsumi, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Kushinadahime, Sukunabikona, Ōmononushi, Kuebiko, Taka Kagyu,  Watatsumi, Ōyamatsumi, Ukanomitama, Toshigami, Konohanasakuya-hime, Tamayori-hime, Toyotama-hime, , , Moreya, Isetsuhiko, ,

See also 

 Heavenly and Earthly crimes
 Aesir and Vanir
 Houtu
 Landlord deity
 Tudigong / Ujigami
 City God

References 

Shinto kami
Types of deities
Kunitsukami
History of Shinto