Shomen Kongo

Shomen Kongo is a wrathful deity venerated in Japanese folk Buddhism, closely tied to Koshin, a syncretic belief system rooted in Taoist and Buddhist traditions and observed on designated Koshin nights in the traditional calendar. Often depicted with multiple arms, a fierce expression, and sometimes accompanied by the Three Monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil), Shomen Kongo is regarded as a guardian figure who wards off illness, misfortune, and malevolent spirits. Stone monuments dedicated to this deity, known as Koshin-to, are commonly found throughout Japan, particularly at crossroads and village boundaries, reflecting a longstanding folk association with protection and warding practices.