In the middle ages, worship of Benzaiten syncretized with the Shinto and indigenous Japanese water god Ichikishimahime no Mikoto (or the Munataka Sanjojin (three goddess enshrined at Munakata-jinja Shrine) and Ugajin (unknown descent.
中世以降、弁才天信仰は神道と日本土着の水神である市杵島姫命（もしくは宗像三女神）や宇賀神（出自不明。