Anansi
The trickster spider god of the Akan people. Anansi is the keeper of all stories and uses wit and cunning to overcome larger, stronger opponents.
Divine domains
Gods of Trickery
6 deities from 6 traditions whose entries in this atlas list trickery among their domains, grouped by tradition.
Akan
Chinese
Sun Wukong
A monkey born from a magical stone who acquired supernatural powers through Taoist cultivation. After wreaking havoc in Heaven, he was imprisoned for 500 years before redeeming himself as the protector of the monk Tang Sanzang on the journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures.
Inca and Andean
Cuniraya Viracocha
The ragged trickster-creator of the Huarochirí stories, who makes terraces and canals with a word, fathers a child on the proud huaca Cavillaca through a fruit, and blesses or curses each animal he meets as he chases her to the sea.
Korean
Seokga
The rival of Mireuk in the Korean shamanic Song of Creation, who wins rule of the world by stealing the flower that blossomed on Mireuk's knee while they slept, bringing about the imperfect present age.
Norse
Loki
A complex figure, blood brother to Odin but frequently causing trouble for the gods. A shape-shifter and trickster who fathers monstrous children including Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel.
Polynesian
Maui
The legendary trickster demigod and culture hero of Polynesian mythology. Maui is credited with fishing up islands, slowing the sun, stealing fire for humanity, and attempting to conquer death itself.
Parallels across traditions
Editorial comparisons recorded on these entries; a shared role does not establish a shared origin.
Loki (Norse) and Sun Wukong (Chinese)
Sun Wukong already lists Loki; both are shape-shifting troublemakers whose mischief repeatedly disrupts the divine order
Compare Loki and Sun WukongLoki (Norse) and Maui (Polynesian)
Maui already lists Loki; both are cunning shape-shifting tricksters who use cleverness rather than strength to achieve their ends
Compare Loki and MauiAnansi (Akan) and Loki (Norse)
Both are trickster figures who use cunning over strength
Compare Anansi and Loki
Quick answers
- Who is the Akan god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Akan deity whose domains include trickery is Anansi.
- Who is the Chinese god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Chinese deity whose domains include trickery is Sun Wukong.
- Who is the Inca and Andean god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Inca and Andean deity whose domains include trickery is Cuniraya Viracocha.
- Who is the Korean god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Korean deity whose domains include trickery is Seokga.
- Who is the Norse god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Norse deity whose domains include trickery is Loki.
- Who is the Polynesian god of trickery?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Polynesian deity whose domains include trickery is Maui.
Related domains
Built from each deity's catalog entry. See every domain side by side on Divine Domains, or browse every cross-pantheon parallel.