Shin Megami Tensei V daily demon vol. 148 – Zaou-Gongen

For the latest Shin Megami Tensei V demon trailer, Atlus is showing off Zaou-Gongen. It’s one of the series’ fairly newer creatures having appeared in the likes of Devil Survivor and Persona.

Here’s some background information on Barong, courtesy of the Megami Tensei Wiki:

Zaou-Gongen, also known as Vajragarbha, is one of the most important mountain deities of Japan’s syncretic Shugendou sects founded by En no Ozuno. They are a diverse tradition of mountain ascetic practices associated with Shinto beliefs, Taoism, magic, supernatural powers and Esoteric (Tantric) Buddhism. After the arrival of Buddhism to Japan in the mid-6th century, the native Shinto Kami were soon considered manifestations of the imported Buddhist divinities. Zaou serves as the protector deity of sacred Mt. Kimpusen Japan’s Nara prefecture and is considered the local Japanese Shinto manifestation of three Buddhist divinities: the Historical Buddha, Kannon Bodhisattva and Miroku Buddha, who serve respectively as the Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future. This makes Zaou perhaps the most powerful local divinity of religious mountain worship in Japan.

Zaou is widely venerated in the entire mountain range stretching from Yoshino to Kumano (the cradle of Shugendou practice), but also venerated at numerous remote mountain shrines and temples throughout the country. Despite Zaou’s Tantric appearance, the deity is generally thought to be of Japanese origin. Zaou’s cult spread throughout Japan from the 11th century onward.

Zaou-Gongen appears in some cultural content of Japan, mostly classical, such as Kuze Noh, where the gods protect Emperor Temmu, 40th Emperor of Japan, against enemy soldiers pursuing him.

Take a look at today’s Shin Megami Tensei V trailer showing off Zaou-Gongen below.

Shin Megami Tensei V will be out for Switch on November 12. Check out our previous coverage including all demon trailers thus far here.