The worship of Yamanokami has been formed and handed down by people living mainly in mountains such as those engaged in hunting, swidden agriculture, charcoal burners, woodcutters, sawyers, kijishi (wood master) (wood vessel production) and miners having their unique faith and religious behaviors according to their occupations.
山の神信仰は、古くより、狩猟や焼畑耕作、炭焼、杣（木材の伐採）や木挽（製材）、木地師（木器製作）、鉱山関係者など、おもに山で暮らす人々によって、それぞれの生業に応じた独特の信仰や宗教的な行為が形成され伝承されてきた。