神無月(かんなづき)

かんなづき
noun
October (traditional Japanese calendar name)
formaltime-generalreligion
1. October (traditional Japanese calendar name)
The traditional Japanese name for the tenth month of the year. Literally 'the month without gods,' based on the belief that all the gods leave their local shrines to gather at Izumo Grand Shrine.
神無月(かんなづき)は秋(あき)の深(ふか)まる季節(きせつ)だ。
Kannadzuki is the season when autumn deepens.
神無月(かんなづき)には神様(かみさま)が出雲(いずも)に集(あつ)まるという。
It is said that in October, the gods gather at Izumo.
手紙(てがみ)の時候(じこう)の挨拶(あいさつ)に「神無月(かんなづき)の候(こう)」と書(か)いた。
I wrote 'in this season of Kannadzuki' as a seasonal greeting in the letter.

One of the most culturally rich traditional month names. The name reflects the ancient belief that all eight million gods (八百万(やおよろず)の神(かみ)) leave their local shrines and travel to 出雲大社(いずもたいしゃ) (Izumo Grand Shrine) for an annual gathering.

Cultural note

In 出雲(いずも) (present-day Shimane Prefecture), October is instead called 神在月(かみありづき) (the month with gods), since that is where all the gods assemble. This contrast is widely known in Japanese culture.

Etymology

神(かみ) (gods) + 無(な) (without) + 月(づき) (month). Some scholars argue な is actually an old possessive particle (like の), making the original meaning "month of the gods" rather than "month without gods."

Traditional month names (SURROUNDING MONTHS)

  • 長月(ながつき): September
  • 神無月(かんなづき): October
  • 霜月(しもつき): November

Related words

Related Words

Related: 神在月(かみありづき) (October in Izumo)
Related: 出雲大社(いずもたいしゃ) (Izumo Grand Shrine)
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Added 2026.3.29 20:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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