Chūzuri

Chūzuri [断粮; ちゅうずり], also known as Chūzurigami, is the Kiren god of harvest, herbal medicine, izan brewing, and agriculture. His name literally means 'harvesting of [the] grains'. Often described as being a small, wizened old man with a flowing beard, he is considered one of the Koyūshin [三滾神, Three Gods of Abundance]. Alongside the other gods in this category [Omiinegami and Miashisama], he is worshipped during the Inenari Festival of the harvest every July.
In some legends, Chūzuri is considered the younger brother of Omiinegami, while in others he is said to be her husband. According to the Book of Ōhaki, Chūzuri was the inventor of izan, the rice wine originating from Kanton, and traditional herbal medicine. He is often considered a master of magic and wizardry, but is also closely associated with agriculture and particularly the harvest. Due to Chūzuri's gift of liquor to the people, he is sometimes paired with the goddess of sustenance and food, Anmeshigami. 
Chūzuri is enshrined at Obokami Temple in the city of Onsan, Shinkō Prefecture. The temple typically receives over 1 million visitors a year, with figures reaching their peak around the harvest season. Chūzuri is also enshrined at many other temples across Kanton, sometimes alongside his fellow Koyūshin deities.
In the southern parts of Kanton, Chūzuri is considered a god of healing and was often invoked for protection against blights and diseases, especially contagious ones. The Kantonese scarecrow, known as naribawa, often is fashioned in the likeness of an elderly man; Chūzuri's spirit can be invited to inhabit the object and thus scare away pests and diseases that may affect crops. As a god of agriculture, farmers would pray to him for protection and success, especially around harvest time. Keeping favour with Chūnari, as well as the other Koyūshin, was once considered vital for a farmer's livelihood.
Category:Kiren
Category:Deities