Is the God of the Toilet Really Beautiful? A Deep Dive into Japanese Folk Beliefs Where Cleaning Changes Your Fate!
“You’ll be a beauty,” Grandma’s Lesson
“In the toilet, there lives a truly beautiful Goddess. If you keep it clean every day, you’ll become a beauty like the Goddess.”
Many of you may immediately recognize this phrase. It comes from the lyrics of Kana Uemura’s national hit song, “Toilet no Kamisama” (God of the Toilet).
The reason our grandparents and parents constantly told us to “keep the toilet clean” when we were children is connected to a profound Japanese belief that goes beyond simple hygiene.
That is the tradition of the Kawaya-gami (Toilet Deity).
The True Identity of the God of the Toilet: A “Beautiful Goddess”?
Why does the most impure place house the most sacred “God,” and why is this deity considered “beautiful”?
In fact, the folklore surrounding the Kawaya-gami varies by region. The deity is sometimes enshrined as a male god, a goddess, or even a god with a disability (such as being blind or having no hands).
However, the image of a “beautiful Goddess” is widely popular for two main reasons.
1. Connection to the Gods of Safe Childbirth and Child-Rearing
In ancient Japanese belief, the toilet (kawaya) was recognized as the “boundary between this world and the next” or a “place where life is reborn.”
- If a pregnant woman cleans the toilet, she will give birth to a child with a beautiful appearance.
- If the toilet is dirty, a child with pockmarks or a disability may be born.
As these traditions indicate, the Kawaya-gami was closely tied to childbirth and the health of children.
It’s thought that the image of a pure and beautiful Goddess was assigned to symbolize the “maternal power” that brings forth life.
In Shinto, the Water Goddess, Mizuhanome-no-kami, and the Earth Goddess, Haniyamahime-no-kami, are often identified as the Kawaya-gami, and both are female deities.
2. Ususama Myō-ō (Vajra Ususama) in Buddhism
Additionally, in Buddhist temples, Ususama Myō-ō, a god of flame, is enshrined.
This Myō-ō is believed to have the power to burn away all impurity and defilement, thus restoring the toilet to a pure place.
3 Reasons Why Modern People Should Clean Their Toilets
Whether you believe in the existence of the “God” is up to you. However, the tradition of the “God of the Toilet” contains wonderful lessons that are relevant even today.
Let’s look at the “blessings” you can receive by cleaning your toilet, from a modern perspective.
1. Improves Your Luck (Financial and Health)
The benefits like “keeping the toilet clean makes you save money” or “improves your eyesight” are famous, but they aren’t just superstition.
- A clean space prevents the proliferation of germs. ⇒ Health Luck Up!
- The act of “taking the initiative to clean a dirty place” is a form of spiritual discipline. By doing good deeds where no one can see, your personal character is refined. This ultimately leads to success in work and relationships, which in turn brings financial luck.
2. Cleaning is an “Investment in Your Future Self”
The story that a pregnant woman who cleans the toilet will give birth to a “beautiful child” can also be interpreted as: the maternal instinct to endure the difficult posture and smell while cleaning has a positive effect on the child.
Isn’t this the message that the act of “devoting your heart to others” will surely return to you, your family, and your future self (i.e., your child) in a positive way?
3. Enhances Focus and Promotes Mental Detox
The toilet is the only place in the house where you can be completely alone.
The time spent quietly scrubbing the toilet bowl has the same effect as meditation, allowing you to clear your mind. By concentrating on cleaning, the clutter and stress in your mind are organized, leading to a “mental detox.”
Conclusion: The Ultimate “Beauty” Resides in Your Heart
The tradition of the “God of the Toilet” is the crystallization of Japan’s culture of gratitude and purification, conveying that “a person who treats dirty places with care will surely be rewarded.”
Becoming a beauty, giving birth to a beautiful child. The greatest “blessing” might not be just external beauty, but the pure heart you cultivate through the act of cleaning the toilet.
So, won’t you start polishing your toilet today, with gratitude to the “God”?
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