Showing posts with label Shrine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shrine. Show all posts

14 Apr 2020

SHINTO - Toshitokujin New Year Legends

https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/07/toshitokujin-legends.html

Toshitokujin legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Toshitokujin 歳徳神 God of the New Year - Legends
shoogatsu sama 正月様 Shogatsu Sama - Deity of the New Year
Toshigami 年神 / 歳神 Kami of the Year




. Toshitokujin 歳徳神 God of the Year.
- Introduction and Haiku -


. shinnen 新年 the New Year .
The New Year of the Gregorian calendar falls on 1 January.

. The Asian Lunar Calendar and its seasons .
spring begins, February 4, risshun 立春
summer begins, May 6, rikka 立夏
autumn begins, August 8, risshuu 立秋
winter begins, November 7, rittoo 立冬



. kamidana 神棚 household Shinto altar, "shelf for the Gods" .
- A special one is often set up for the New Year celebrations.

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. Sai no Kami 幸神 / 幸の神 / さいの神 / サイノカミ
Deity of Fortune and Good Luck .

toshi no kami 歳の神 Deity of the Year (another name for Sai no Kami).


u no hi, unohi 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit
collecting legends


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Toshigamidana 年神棚 Shelf to venerate the Toshigami
Article by 榎戸貞治郎 Enokido Sadajiro

Also called
Toshitokudana 年徳棚
Ehodana 恵方(えほう)棚

The shelf is set up in the direction (eho) of the Deity of the Year.
If people do not have place for a shelf, they celebrate and make offerings in the 床の間 Tokonoma
or at the normal 神棚 Kamidana of the family.


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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .

3自然を読む民俗:山口県 - 内日 の五年神
Yamaguchi, Utsui - Gonengami

吉村美広 Yoshimura Mihiro



If the villagers forget this ritual of every five years, monkeys comes from the mountains to remind them
at 赤田代 Akatashiro.
氏子が集まって、神事を何年目毎にしようかと相談していたところ、五年神は耳が遠く、「12…5年目毎?」と聞き返してきたので、祟られると恐ろしいので5年目毎にいとなむようになった。
- 五年神神事 下関・秋吉台・宇部エリア = Yama no Kami
5年毎の11月初申の日に行われる山の神の祭りで、神の森は、村落のすぐ裏にあり、神聖不可侵とされています。
トリモチの巨木が御神体で、根元に1個の壷が置かれ、石の蓋がされてます。
全国に伝わる山の神では、オコゼを供える例が多く、これは山の神がことのほかみにくい容ぼうで、世の中に自分よりみにくいものがあるといってよろこぶからといわれていますが、ここはドロバエ(コイ科の淡水魚)で、山の神の供え物としては珍しいといえます。
- reference source : oidemase.or.jp/tourism... -

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....................................................................... Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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choochin no yoo na hi 提灯のような火 a fire like a lantern
Late at night on the last day of the year, behind the sanctuary for Ujigami there was a light coming down and a strange sound was heard.
The elders of the village say this is the time when Toshitokujin comes down for the New Year.

. ujigami 氏神 clan KAMI deities .




....................................................................... Fukui 福井県 .....

Tenjinsama 天神様 Tenjin Sama
The Kami of the Skay, as espressed in 天神地衹 Tenshin Chigi.
During the New Year he comes down from the Sky and becomes 年神 Toshigami.

- quote -
神祇 Jingi, 天神地祇 Tenshin Chigi
An appellation for the objects of worship in Shinto.
An honorific term extolling the sacred authority and sublime virtue of spiritual beings.
- source : kokugakuin -

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kamigami no toshitori 神々のトシトリ New Year for the Gods
Different Kami have different days to start a new year:
お地蔵様 O-Jizo sama on the 23 and 天神様 Tenjin sama on the 25th.
. Aomori 青森県 - Yama no Kami .




....................................................................... Fukushima 福島県 .....
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福島市 Fukushima city 中茂庭 Nakamoniwa

Toshigami sama 年神様
comes down on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. He is venerated at the Shrine Tensho Kodai Jingu 天照皇太神宮 Tenshokodai Jingu.



- reference : Tenshokodai Jingu -




....................................................................... Gunma 群馬県 .....
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邑楽郡 Ora district 大泉町 Oizumi town

Toshigami Sama 年神様
comes on the day 卯の日 U no Hi to supervise taue 田植え the planting of the fields.

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Gunma 館林市 Tatebayashi city 下早川田 Shimo-Sagawada

When planting rice seedlings on u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit, Toshitokugami comes down on 卯の刻 the hour of the rabbit.




....................................................................... Hiroshima 広島県 .....

. Toshitoku san トシトクさん - Tanokami and the wild boar .
He comes on the day of Inoko Wild Boar, therefore people leave the door open and also the kotatsu コタツ heated table for him to come and sit in the home.
The comes to the fields on the 1st day of the second lunar month and leaves for his home on 亥の日 the day of the wild boar in the 10th lunar month.

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三次市 Miyoshi city 三良坂町 Mirasaka town

On the second day of the second lunar month, children get a moxabustion treatment called ヤイト yaito.
On this day Toshitokujin goes back to Takamagahara 高天原 the Fields of Heaven.

. yaitobi やいと日 day for moxabustion treatment .




....................................................................... Kagawa 香川県 .....

Toshigami San 年神さん
In the hamlet of 真鈴 Marin when people wake up on gantan 元旦 the first day of the New Year, they have to open the door of the zashiki 座敷 living room to let Toshigami San inside.

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Kagawa 東かがわ市 Higashi-Kagawa city

Toshigami 年神
okuri shogatsu オクリ正月 is the day to send off the deity on The 15th of January. This day is also called
Jugonichi shogatsu 十五日正月 New Year day of the 15th.
People make offerings to the Toshigami and pray for a good harvest and safety for the family. Then they go to the river with the offerings, light a fire with shimenawa 注連 a ritual rope and eat the offerings.
This is also called dondo トンド (Dondo Yaki)
The smoke of the fire is used by Toshigami to go back to the sky.
. dondon yaki どんどん焼き ritual fire at New Year   .




....................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
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曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami and 山の神 Yama no Kami .




....................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
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足柄上郡 Ashigara-Kami district 山北町 Yamakita town

Toshigami 年神 / 歳神
Toshigami comes every year on the first day of January and leaves on the 14th day.
In other villages he leaves on u no hi ウの日 / 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit.
On this day people make offerings of azuki mochi 小豆餅 rice cakes with auspicious red beans.
On the first day of the New Year people make offerings of zooni 雑煮 to Toshigami and Kuwagami 桑神 the protector deity of mulberries and silk.




....................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami, Yamanokami and Tanokami .




....................................................................... Kyoto 京都府 .....
大年神社 / 王歳神社 / 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja



- There are many shrines with this name in Japan.
The deity Toshigami 年神 / 歳神 is venerated there.
- Wikipedia has a list -

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tanuki 狸 badger
Near the corner on the road to the shrine 大年神社 Otoshi Jinja it often happened that a Tanuki posing as a priest came out and threw sand at the pilgrims.

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Kyoto 三和町 Miwacho Ashibuchi Fukuchiyama

. ushi oni, ushioni, gyuuki 牛鬼 "bull-demon" .
The part North of the Shrine 王歳神社 Otoshi Jinja is called Yuri-ga-hana 百合ヶ花 "lily flowers". This is where the Ushioni lives.
On the mountain side of the river is Yonaki Matsu 夜泣き松 "the pine which cries at night". The Ushioni lives in the cave above it.
Sometimes he comes out behind the pine and plays tricks on the humans.

Near the Shrine is a withered matsu no ki 松の木 pine tree. Toward the end of the Meiji period there was just part of the stem left.
People peel a bit of the bark and make a small fire. Children who see this fire will stop yonaki 夜泣き crying at night.




....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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黒川郡 Kurokawa district 大和町 Taiwa village

In this village 歳の神 Toshi no Kami is called in the local dialect
オドストクズン Odosudokuzun, Odosu toku zun (Otoshi Toku Jin).




....................................................................... Nagano 長野県 .....

According to ancient Asian lore, the new year comes with a new female deity.
She comes on the evening of day 30 of the 12th lunar month. People prepare the special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods for her.
When the year is over they tear it down and burn it, then built a new one.





....................................................................... Niigata 新潟県 .....

正月準備:年神様 Niigata no Toshigami Sama
新潟県史 資料編22 民俗1 大竹信雄 Otake Nobul

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東蒲原郡 Higashi-Kanbara district 阿賀町 Aga town

. chinjugami 鎮守神 tutelary deities .
Toshitokujin comes for the New Year as a tutelary deity.

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Niigata 糸魚川市 Itoigawa city

Toshi no Kami 年の神 comes on the New Year day from the direction of アキ / 亜希 Aki.
All preparations for his coming must be finished by lunchtime.
No more cleaning of the home after lunchtime. If someone uses a broom, Toshitokujin will be swept out.

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Niigata 長岡市 Nagaoka city 福島町 Fukushima town

For the New Year, komedawara 米俵 a bale of rice from last year's harvest is decorated in the living room as a welcome for Toshigami sama 年神様.
In many parts 歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the first u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit.
If this falls on the 12th day of the year, it is a bad omen and might bring a bad harvest.

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Niigata 中魚沼郡 Naka-Uonuma district 津南町 Tsunan town

Shogatsu sama 正月様
comes home from Tenjiku 天竺 India in January. Once he met Daishi Sama 大師様 Kobo Saishi on the way. Daishi Sama nad eaten rice cakes and crumbs, but Shogatsu sama laughed and said, he had gotten quite a lot of food offerings to eat.

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Niigata 佐渡市 Sado city

For the New Year a special toshidana 歳棚 (kamidana) shelf for the New Year is put up for 歳徳神 Toshitokujin.
He comes from the direction of 亜希 Aki town and goes back to this direction.

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Niigata 十日町市 Tokamachi city

正月様 Shogatsu Sama - Deity of the New Year
Toshigamisama 歳神様 comes from the high sky and thus lands on a high tree.

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Niigata 十日町市 Tokamachi city 松之山 Matsunoyama

歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the 30st of December.
A special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods is put up for her.
After the New Year celebration, this shelf is taken down.





....................................................................... Okayama 岡山県 .....
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In the oku no ma 奥の間 living room in the back people prepare a special kamidana 神棚 shelf ror the gods to venerate 年神 Toshigami.
They also venerate other deities there, like the Gods from 出雲大社 Izumo Shrine and 金毘羅 Konpira shrine together with the Ujigami 氏神 clan deities.
In a separate small shelf below this they venerate 金神 Konjin and 庚申 Koshin.
Toshigami is also called ワカドシ Wakadoshi san, "Young Deity" and has only one leg, so they offer only one new zoori 草履 sandal.
If they offer the sandals they were wearing then a horse or cow was lost, they are sure to find the animal.

. Konjin 金神 "God of metals" .

. Kooshin 庚申 Koshin, ka no e saru deity .

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Okayama 美作市 Mimasaka town

Wakatoshi sama 若年様 "Honorable Young Deity"
The nando 納戸 / ナンド closet for storage, is often used for the young couple as a bedroom.
For the New Year, they prepare a special shelf to venerate San no Kami 産の神 the Deity of Birth together with 若年様 the Deity of the New Year.

. san no kami お産の神 deity of birth .




....................................................................... Saitama 埼玉県 .....
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Saitama 北埼玉郡 Kita-Saitama district 騎西町 Kisai town

Toshigami sama 年神様
This Deity comes on the morning of the New Year, so the master of the house has to prepare the decorations and offerings.
The Deity leaves the home on u no hi 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit and the decorations and offerings are taken down.
The food offerings are used to prepare zooni 雑煮 New Year soup.




....................................................................... Shimane 島根県 .....

Toshigami Sama 年神様
This deity brings a special toshidama 年玉 New Year Gift on the last day of the Year.
Once a man, who did not want go get older, hid in the thicket to have a look. Since Toghigami threw the gifts from above, he could not see him.
So he could not help but getting older another year.

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Shimane 八束郡 Yatsuka district 美保町 Miho town

Toshigami 年神
has only one leg. Once he came down in a field of nasu 茄子 eggplants and lost one leg.




....................................................................... Tokushima 徳島県 .....

January 15th is called okuri-shogatsu 送り正月 "seeing off the New Year".
All the decorations made for the New Year are being taken to the local Shinto shrine and burned in a special ritual.
After that special kagamimochi 鏡餅 rice cakes for the New Year are offered, they are fried in this fire, taken home and eaten with the family.

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Tokushima 池田町 Ikeda town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", 歳徳神 Toshitokujin is offered a new light and special food on the shelf.

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Tokushima 美馬郡 Mima district 貞光町 Sadamitsu town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", sometimes called agari shoogatsu 上がり正月 - day to put down the New Year decorations and sending 歳徳神 Toshitokujin home.

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Tokushima 三野町 Mino town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year, sometimes called okuri shoogatsu おくり正月 "sending the New Year off".
The New Year decorations are burned at the local Shinto Shrine or under a bridge.
歳徳神 Toshitokujin is sent off with the smoke of these fires.

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Tokushima 三好郡 Miyoshi district 東祖谷山村 Higashi-Iyayamason village

年神さん,正月神さん okuri shoogatsu オクリ正月
January 15 is 小正月 the small new year, also called okuri shoogatsu オクリ正月.
All the food offerings from the kamidana 年棚 shelf are put into a pot and cooked over a fire.
The Deity uses the smoke of the fire to go back to the sky.




....................................................................... Yamaguchi 山口県 .....
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豊浦郡 Toyoura district 豊浦町 Toyoura town // 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja

. ushi oni, ushioni, gyuuki 牛鬼 "bull-demon" .
In the year 958, the monster Ushioni came from 新羅国 Silla in Korea and lived at the castle of mount 鬼ヶ城山 Onigajo. From there he did a lot harm to the farmers living there.
The daughter of the priest a the shrine 大歳神社 Otoshi Jinja became the concubine of this Ushioni.
On the evening of th 14th day of the 10th lunar month, the priest shot an arrow at the Ushioni and hit his eye. The Demon fled to the mountain and died on its top.
Since then the mountain is called Mount Onigajo.
Flies at the top of the mountain have only one eye.



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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
年神 /
09 正月様 (01)
51 元旦 gantan - collecting in the comments

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- source : pinterest -

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- #toshitokujin #newyear #toshigami #koshogatsu #kamidana #kagamimochi #sainokami -
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25 Feb 2020

SHINTO - Sai no Kami Legends

https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2020/01/sai-no-kami-legends.html

Sai no Kami legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Sai no Kami 幸神 / 幸の神 / さいの神 / サイノカミ
Deity of Fortune and Good Luck


. Sai no Kami 幸の神 God of Good Fortune .
- Introduction -

Also called
Sae no kami 障の神 - 塞の神
A kind of Dosojin, Wayside Deity and also seen as Tanokami.




toshi no kami 歳の神 Deity of the Year (another name for Sai no Kami)
. toshitokujin 歳德神 Deity of the Year - Legends .
Toshigami 年神 / 歳神

Shogatsu Sama 正月様 Deity of the New Year

Sai no kami no kanjin 幸の神の勧進 Praying to the God of Good Fortune
On January 15.
This custom is mostly followed in the Tohoku region.


. umi no sachi 海の幸 yama no sachi 山の幸 .
food from the sea, food from the mountains
Offerings to the Japanese deities always contain at least one plate with food from the sea and one with food from the mountains, one fish and one radish.
- Umisachihiko うみさちひこ【海幸彦】
- Yamasachihiko やまさちひこ【山幸彦】- the younger brother of Umisachihiko

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. 道祖神 Dosojin, the Wayside Deities .
Most of these stone deities are found along the roads of Central Japan, especially Nagano and Yamanashi, but of course also in other parts. They are called by many names, for example:
賽の神 sai no kami, 障の神, 祖神 sae no kami, see no kami せーの神,
sakai no kami 境神> sai no kami; 障神 shooshin; 衢神 kushin, 八衢神 yachimata no kami, 道俣神 chimata no kami;
doorokujin 道六神, / 道碌神 / 道陸神 Doroku-Jin (in connection with the six Jizo statues on the crossroads and the six realms of existence (rokudoo 六道),
岐神 chimatagami, 船戸神 funado no kami; 道の神 michi no kami, ひだる神 hidarugami、アラハバキ神 Arahabakigami and more.
SAI or SAE means keeping out, destructing the way for the evil spirits.
Festivals in their honor are the fire festivities on the old lunar New Year,
Dondoyaki どんど焼、sagichoo 左義長, saitoyaki 賽燈燒, 紫灯、寒灯.




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Sachigami Jinja 幸神神社 / さちかみじんじゃ Sachigami Shrine, Sachikami Shrine
東京都西多摩郡日の出町大久野2129 / Hinode-machi-2129 Oguno, Nishitama-gun, Nishitama District, Tokyo

- - - Deity in residence
猿田彦大神(さるたひこのおおかみ) Sarutahiko no okami

- - - Annual festival
3月26日 March 26

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Sashikami Myoojin 幸神明神 / サシカミミョウジン
Sashikami Myojin, Sainokami Myojin Deity




In Tokyo 東京都
Once the children played with a statue of 明神様 Myojin Sama and let it float in water. An old man of the hamlet took it away from them. Two or three days later, he became very ill.
Maybe this was because he had taken the statue, so he let if float again in water and was soon healed.

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In Fukushima 福島県 塙町 Hanawa city / 山幸神社 Shrine Yamasachi Jinja
福島県東白川郡塙町眞名畑字宮田84

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake .
At the end of the Edo period, there was oosugi 大杉 a huge cedar tree with a hole in its trunk at 山幸神社 the Shrine Yamasachi Jinja.
The deity of the Shrine was 老婆 an old woman. Once she threw the 杉葉 cedar leaves into this cave and a huge Thunderstorm lasted for three days, burning the tree.
In the ashes they found the bones of a hebi 蛇 serpent.

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山幸神社 Yamasachi Jinja
佐賀県唐津市柏崎 Saga prefecture, Karatsu




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Sainokami
Yahatanishi Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka / 福岡県北九州市八幡西区幸神



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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .

....................................................................... Ehime 愛媛県 .....
.......................................................................
伊予郡 Io district 砥部町 Tobe town

. Kaze no Kami 風邪の神 and Sai no Kami .




....................................................................... Fukushima 福島県 .....
檜枝岐村 Hinoemata village

The deity is also called
Sei no Kami せいの神.

Sai no Kami さいの神 / 賽の神 can prevent illness if properly venerated in the village.
It protects the road to the village.
After the first calligraphy of the year the paper must be burned and the ashes of the
Dondoyaki fire for 賽の神 Sai no Kami thrown in the air to improve one's writing.
If this is not done, there will be no improvement.
Eating mochi 餅 rice cakes prepared in the ashes of the Dondoyaki fire will keep the teeth strong and prevent stomach illness.


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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
さいの神 / 幸神

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. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja 神社) - Introduction .

. kami 神 Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .


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- #sainokami #幸神 #sachigami #yamasachi #toshigami -
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22 Feb 2020

HEIAN - Ushiishi bull rock legends

https://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.com/2020/01/ushiishi-gyuseki-bull-rock-legends.html

ushiishi gyuseki bull rock legends

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説 民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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ushiishi 牛石と伝説 Legends about the "bull rock"
ushi-ishi / gyuu-ishi ぎゅういし / gyuuseki


Not to mix with ishi no ushi 石の牛 the stone figures of a bull from Tanjin Sama!



. Tenjin Sama - Sugawara Michizane Legends 天神菅原道真伝説 .


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Ushiishi Kofun 牛石古墳 Ushiishi burial mound


1-4 Momoyamadai, Minami Ward, Sakai, Osaka
西原公園にある古墳 in Nishihara Park

Part of the exposed stone chamber looks like a bull lying down.

- quote -


石室の天井石が露出していて、いかにも牛が寝そべったように見える。この石にまつわる伝説が多々ある。
- reference source : kitamejirou .blog. -

. kofun jidai 古墳時代 burial mound period - 250 to 538 .


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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

......................................................................................... Gifu 岐阜県
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多治見市 Tajimi city

Once upon a time
in the village 小泉村大原 Koizumi Ohara they pulled a bull to the Myojin Shrine, but the bull stopped walking. The bull leader became angry and slashed it, cutting off its head.
The bull turned into stone on the spot and the head rolled over to another place to become a stone too.




......................................................................................... Gunma 群馬県
.......................................................................
利根郡 Tone district

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake .
The governor of the Oku-Joshu region went to a banquet, where he saw a beautiful woman and became her lover.
He never saw the woman during daytime, only at night. When he asked her why, she said she was from a poor farmer family from 庄田 Shoda and if he would marry her, she would serve him during daytime too.
So they wedded and a while later a boy was born.
The woman was a huge serpent from 庄田の沼 the swamp at Shoda. The palanquin she had used to come turned into a rock and was called 牛石 Ushiishi.
Her son had a long face and scales on his body.




......................................................................................... Fukushima 福島県
.......................................................................
飯坂町 Iizaka town

In the temple town of 頭陀寺 Zuda-Ji there is a rock which looks like a sleeping bull.
When they built this temple, they used this bull to transport the lumber, when he got tired and died.




......................................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県
.......................................................................
石巻市 Ishinomaki city

The 鹿島の神 Deity from Kashima came riding on a bull, and this bull turned into stone.

. Kashima Shrine 鹿島神宮 Kashima Jingu .

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Miyagi 名取市 Natori city 高館川上 Takadate Kawakami

At the castle of 大館城 Odate, there was no water supply. They had to use a bull to carry barrels down to the river to get water.
When the castle fell, the bull turned into a rock..

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Miyagi 塩竃市 Shiogama city
shiogama - lit. kettle to make salt

ushiishi, ushi-ishi, ウシイシ gyuseki 牛石 the bull who had become a rock
This huge rock is in the compound of 塩釜神社 Shiogama Jinja.
In the pond East of 塩釜神社 Shiogama Jinja is a huge rock, looking like a bull lying down, with his eyes, nose, horns and ears visible.
On the 6th day of the 7th lunar month, when the well is cleaned, it can be fully seen.
When the deity 塩土翁神 Shiyotsuchi no Oji made salt, the tide brought a huge bull, which turned into this rock.
Shiotsuchi no Oji had originally seven iron kettles, four remain - of two sizes
一口は径四尺 1,2 m diameter
三口は四尺八寸の鉄釜 a bit larger
dedicated to ryuujin 竜神 the Dragon Deity.
The deity 和加佐彦命 Wakasahiko no Mikoto changed into the figure of a young boy with a purple apron and let the bull to the Seaside.
His muchi 鞭 whip was made from fuji 藤 wisteria.


. Legends from Noda Kaido 野田街道 Noda Highway .


- quote -
Shiogama jinja is thought to be one of the oldest shrines in Tohoku, and there are a variety of different rituals carried out throughout the year. Primary among these are the Salt-Making ritual held on 6 July. The ancient salt making ritual is performed at the Okama (or Okamasya) Shrine in Shiogama, the smaller shrine that is subordinate to Shiogama shrine. According to shrine tradition, the Okama shrine is located in a place that used to be a beach called Hodenohama in ancient times, where salt was made for the first time in the nation.
The Okama shrine that deifies Shiotsuchi-no-Oji-kami, who allegedly taught them salt making, as well as Yonkono Kamigama and Ushiishi fujimuchi-sha, both of whom were also related to the process of salt making … is thus probably the oldest location of the Shiogama shrine structures.
- source : heritageofjapan.wordpress.com ... salt roads -

Ushiishi Fujimuchi Sha 牛石藤鞭社 "Shrine of the whip from wisteria"







......................................................................................... Nagano 長野県
.......................................................................
小県郡 Chiisagata district 武石村 Takeshi village

Once upon a very long time
the Deity wanted to clear the land for farming and came riding on a bull. But the animal died and turned into a rock.
It also brings illness.
Once they wanted to remove the rock to make space for a new road, but the following year hyakunichiseki 百日咳 pertussis became rampant and many died.

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Nagano 下条村 Shimojo village

ushigatsume no ushiishi 牛ヶ爪の牛石 Ushiishi with the imprint of the hoof
Once someone told a blind sennin 仙人 hermit, who had lost his way, a wrong way on purpose.
The hermit on his bull lost his way completely and he and the animal died.
The anger toward the man who had shown them the wrong way showed in the stone as the remains of the hoof.
Now people in this area learned the lesson and never deceive people.

. sennin 仙人と伝説 Legends about Immortals .




......................................................................................... Osaka 大阪府
.......................................................................
堺市 Sakai city

ushiishizuka 牛石塚 Ushiishi mound
There is a huge rock that looks like a bull lying down, called Ushiishizuka mound of the rock bull.
It is a sacred place and people do not dare to come near.
Once they wanted to cut the rock, but blood begun to flow into a pond. This pond is called various names:
半分血池、大方血池、大方池、ハブ池.




......................................................................................... Tokyo 東京都
.......................................................................
文京区 Bunkyo ward


. ushiishi, ushi-ishi 牛石 "bull stone" .
. Tenjin Sama - Sugawara Michizane Legends 天神菅原道真伝説 .

When 源実朝 Minamoto no Sanetomo (1192 - 1219) was making war in the Northern Territories, Sugawara Michizane 菅神 Kanjin appeared in his dream, riding a bull:
"Lord Sanetomo has two parts of good fortune. When the war is over, built a small shrine and venerate there."
When Sanetomo woke up, he found a stone with the imprint of a bull's hooves just as he had seen in his dream.
In this year, his son 源頼家 Minamoto no Yoriie (1182 - 1204) was born and in the following year, Sanetomo was able to fight his enemy.
After winning the battle, he had a shrine erected and made an offering of this "Bull Stone".



牛石 (牛天神北野神社)(東京都文京区春日) Ushi Tenjin Kitano Jinja
1 Chome-5-2 Kasuga, Bunkyō ward

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -


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. Kaido highway legends 街道と伝説 - - ABC list .

. animals and their legends 動物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. plants and their legends  植物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. trees and their legends  樹木, 木と伝説 - - ABC list .

. Persons, People, Personen and their legends - - ABC list .

. Legends about Kobo Daishi Kukai - 弘法大師 空海 - 伝説 .

. Japanese legends and tales 伝説 民話 昔話 - Introduction .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -

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- #ishiushi #ushi #bullstone #kofun #ushiishi #bullrock #gyuseki -
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3 Jan 2020

SHINTO - Osugi Shrine Ibaraki

https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/10/osugi-shrine-ibaraki.html

Osugi Shrine Ibaraki

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Oosugi Jinja 大杉神社 Osugi Shrine, Ibaraki



茨城県稲敷市阿波958番地 / Aba (Awa), Inashiki, Ibaraki

- quote
Osugi Shrine, or popularly called あんばさま"Anba-sama," is located in Awa, Inashiki City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
It was a "gosha" shrine in the old shrine rank system and after the World War II it was designated as a "Beppyo Jinjya," meaning that comes under the direct control of "Jinjya Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines)."
This shrine is the head shrine of all Osugi Shrines that are distributed in Kanto and Tohoku Regions.
The name Osugi (meaning a large cedar) comes from the large cedar tree that stands in the precinct and worshipped as the sacred body of the deity.
It is said that the shrine was first founded in 767, and in 1241 the deities of Oonamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto were invited from Imamiya Shrine in Kyoto and enshrined here.
Since the Edo period the shrine, as the deity of smallpox prevention and waterway traffic, has been widely worshipped by the people living in Kanto Region and on the Pacific side of Tohoku Region. It is said that in the early Edo period the monk Tenkai, who served as a consultant to the Shogun and stayed at Fudoin Temple in nearby town of Edosaki, was on board a ship in Tojo-no-ura, prayed to the large cedar tree in this shrine and successfully achieved a miracle of bringing about rainfall.
He designated this shrine as the guard of "Kimon (ominous direction)" for Edo Castle, and took the position of the resident priest of Annonji Temople, which was an attached temple of this shrine. Due to these links, Annonji Temple has been a Chokkentai temple (directly linked temple) of Nikko-zan Rinnoji Temple, where a mausoleum of the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun is located.
- source : nipponkichi - Oosugi-jinjya 


- - - - - Deities in residence - - - - -
Oonamuchi no Mikoto 大己貴命
Sukunahikona no Mikoto 少彦名命



. Jigen Tenkai 慈眼 天海 (1536 – 1643) .


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Fudo-In 不動院 Temple hall for Fudo Myo-O


source : inashiki.com/jb/hudouin...


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shuin 朱印 stamp



omamori お守り amulets



- - - - - HP of the Shrine
- source : oosugi-jinja.or.jp... -

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- quote -
Osugi Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture
is the only shrine in Japan said to help make dreams come true! It's also known for its ability to break off bad luck, so this is the place to go if you are looking to make your dreams a reality.
- source : matcha-jp.com -

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- Reference : 大杉神社
- Reference : Osugi Shrine


. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja 神社) - Introduction .

. kami 神 Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- - - - - There are other shrines with this name in Japan.

. Osugi Jinja and Benten .
千葉県佐倉市臼井, Chiba, Sakura town, Obukai 498-2

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Osugi Daimyojin 大杉大明神
旧摩耶天上寺 / 摩耶の大杉 Maya no Osugi


source : emiya.co.jp/blog...

. 仏母麻耶山忉利天上寺 Maya Toriten Temple, Kobe .


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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .

. sugi no ki 杉の木と伝説 Legends about the cedar tree .



....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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仙台市 Sendai city

nekozuka 猫塚 mound for a cat,hebizuka 蛇塚 mound for a serpent
A Samurai who lived nearby had a cat, which one day bit into the sleeve of his wifeL's kimono and would not let go. So he cut off the head of the cat and it flew up to the ceiling. There he realized that it had bitten into daija 大蛇 a huge serpent, to protect him from harm.
He held a funeral for the cat and had a small Shrine and mound erected at 大杉神社 Osugi Jinja.
The body of the serpent, which he had cut into three parts, was buried in another mound, to the North of the cat mound.

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake legends .


Shorin Jinja and the Nekozuka mound 少林神社の猫塚

8, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai, Miyagi
猫塚古墳 Nekozuka Kofun
七郷堀の南,現在の若林区文化センターやウルスラ学院のあたりいったいには,【国分小泉屋敷】とよばれる伊達家の大きな別荘(べっそう)がありました。そのすがたをえがいた絵図面が宮城県図書館に残されています。
伊達家の別荘を描いたこの絵図面の一部に猫塚古墳がえがかれているのです。
絵図には【大杉大明神】Osugi Daimyojin として,大きな杉の木のある小山と神社がえがかれています。今は,古墳のおもかげを残していない,猫塚も江戸時代には古墳の形をとどめていたようです。
絵図がえがかれたのは,文政9年(1826)。江戸時代の後半です。
- reference source : sendai-c.ed.jp/~nansho... -


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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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- #osugi #osugijinja #osugishrine -
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31 Dec 2019

SHRINES - Toshitokujin legends New Year

https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/07/toshitokujin-legends.html

Toshitokujin legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Toshitokujin 歳徳神 God of the New Year - Legends



. Toshitokujin 歳徳神 God of the Year.
- Introduction and Haiku -


. shinnen 新年 the New Year .
The New Year of the Gregorian calendar falls on 1 January.

. The Asian Lunar Calendar and its seasons .
spring begins, February 4, risshun 立春
summer begins, May 6, rikka 立夏
autumn begins, August 8, risshuu 立秋
winter begins, November 7, rittoo 立冬



. kamidana 神棚 household Shinto altar, "shelf for the Gods" .
- A special one is often set up for the New Year celebrations.


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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .


....................................................................... Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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choochin no yoo na hi 提灯のような火 a fire like a lantern
Late at night on the last day of the year, behind the sanctuary for Ujigami there was a light coming down and a strange sound was heard.
The elders of the village say this is the time when Toshitokujin comes down for the New Year.

. ujigami 氏神 clan KAMI deities .




....................................................................... Gunma 群馬県 .....
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館林市 Tatebayashi city 下早川田 Shimo-Sagawada

When planting rice seedlings on u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit, Toshitokugami comes down on 卯の刻 the hour of the rabbit.




....................................................................... Hiroshima 広島県 .....

. Toshitoku san トシトクさん - Tanokami and the wild boar .
He comes on the day of Inoko Wild Boar, therefore people leave the door open and also the kotatsu コタツ heated table for him to come and sit in the home.
The comes to the fields on the 1st day of the second lunar month and leaves for his home on 亥の日 the day of the wild boar in the 10th lunar month.

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三次市 Miyoshi city 三良坂町 Mirasaka town

On the second day of the second lunar month, children get a moxabustion treatment called ヤイト yaito.
On this day Toshitokujin goes back to Takamagahara 高天原 the Fields of Heaven.

. yaitobi やいと日 day for moxabustion .




....................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
足柄上郡 Ashigara-Kami district 山北町 Yamakita town

Toshigami 年神 / 歳神
Toshigami comes every year on the first day of January and leaves on the 14th day.
In other villages he leaves on u no hi ウの日 / 卯の日 the first day of the rabbit.
On this day people make offerings of azuki mochi 小豆餅 rice cakes with auspicious red beans.




....................................................................... Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami, Yamanokami and Tanokami .





....................................................................... Nagano 長野県 .....
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According to ancient Asian lore, the new year comes with a new female deity.
She comes on the evening of day 30 of the 12th lunar month. People prepare the special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods for her.
When the year is over they tear it down and burn it, then built a new one.




....................................................................... Niigata 新潟県 .....
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東蒲原郡 Higashi-Kanbara district 阿賀町 Aga town

. chinjugami 鎮守神 tutelary deities .
Toshitokujin comes for the New Year as a tutelary deity.

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Niigata 糸魚川市 Itoigawa city

Toshi no Kami 年の神 comes on the New Year day from the direction of アキ / 亜希 Aki.
All preparations for his coming must be finished by lunchtime.
No more cleaning of the home after lunchtime. If someone uses a broom, Toshitokujin will be swept out.

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Niigata 長岡市 Nagaoka city 福島町 Fukushima town

For the New Year, komedawara 米俵 a bale of rice from last year's harvest is decorated in the living room as a welcome for Toshigami sama 年神様.
In many parts 歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the first u no hi 卯の日 the day of the rabbit.
If this falls on the 12th day of the year, it is a bad omen and might bring a bad harvest.

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Niigata 佐渡市 Sado city

For the New Year a special toshidana 歳棚 (kamidana) shelf for the New Year is put up for 歳徳神 Toshitokujin.
He comes from the direction of 亜希 Aki town and goes back to this direction.

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Niigata 十日町市 Tokamachi city 松之山 Matsunoyama

歳徳神 Toshitokujin comes on the 30st of December.
A special kamidana 神棚 Shelf of the Gods is put up for her.
After the New Year celebration, this shelf is taken down.



....................................................................... Tokushima 徳島県 .....

January 15th is called okuri-shogatsu 送り正月 "seeing off the New Year".
All the decorations made for the New Year are being taken to the local Shinto shrine and burned in a special ritual.
After that special kagamimochi 鏡餅 rice cakes for the New Year are offered, they are fried in this fire, taken home and eaten with the family.

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Tokushima 池田町 Ikeda town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", 歳徳神 Toshitokujin is offered a new light and special food on the shelf.

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Tokushima 美馬郡 Mima district 貞光町 Sadamitsu town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year", sometimes called agari shoogatsu 上がり正月 - day to put down the New Year decorations and sending 歳徳神 Toshitokujin home.

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Tokushima 三野町 Mino town

January 15 is the koshoogatsu 小正月 "small New Year, sometimes called okuri shoogatsu おくり正月 "sending the New Year off".
The New Year decorations are burned at the local Shinto Shrine or under a bridge.
歳徳神 Toshitokujin is sent off with the smoke of these fires.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
26 年神 toshigami (02)

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- #toshitokujin #newyear #toshigami #koshogatsu #kamidana #kagamimochi -
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24 Dec 2019

SHRINES - hi no kami fire legends

https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/07/hi-no-kami-fire-legends.html

hi no kami fire legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Hi no Kami, Hinokami 火の神 Deity of Fire - Legends
Kajin 火神


. Kagutsuchi カグツチ / 軻遇突智 Kagu-tsuchi - "incarnation of fire"
Homusubi no Mikoto 火産霊命 / Hinokagatsuchi 火之迦具土 .

He is the main deity in residence at the many
Atago Jinja 愛宕神社 Atago shrines of Japan .


source : rekihaku-bo/historystation / イザナギとイザナミの国造り


. hibuse 火防と伝説 / 火伏せ Legends about fire prevention .

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Ubugami toshite no hi no kami 産神としての火の神 The Kami of Birth as the Kami of Fire
Essay by 最上孝敬 Mogami Kokei

When giving birth even in hot Summer the fire of the hearth must be kept.
If there are flames of fire, no bad influence will come to the home.
So in Summer the fire is kept burning for seven days.

. Ubugami 産神 "deity of birth" .
産土神 Ubusunagami, Ubushina no Kami, Ubu no Kami (うぶすながみ、うぶしなのかみ、うぶのかみ)

. sanbi 産火 / 産忌 - shinibi 死火 / 死忌 fire taboos for birth and death .

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. Aragamisama, Koojinsama, Koojin sama 荒神様 Aragami .
Kamagami, Kamajin 釜神 The Hearth Deity - Fire in the Kitchen
Kamado no Kami カマドの神 Kami of the hearth, the kitchen stove


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Hi no Kami Inari 火の神稲荷の信仰諸相と形成過程
Essay by 大森恵子 Omori Keiko
稲荷信仰と宗教民俗
- reference source : iwata-shoin.co.jp... -

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Hifuse no tanishi Inari 火防せの田螺稲荷 Hibuse, Tanishi Inari preventing fire
Essay by 長沢利明

. tanishi 田螺 / たにし paddie snails, mud snails .


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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .

Jizo Bosatsu can detect fire at an early stage and help prevent fires with his spiritual power.
. Jizō - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - ABC List .

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....................................................................... Akita 秋田県 .....
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仙北郡 Senboku district

. tanishi 田螺 mud snails .
Mud snails are seen as messengers of Mizunokami. They protect from fire.




....................................................................... Gifu 岐阜県 .....
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揖斐郡 Ibi district

. Inari 稲荷と伝説 Legends about the Fox Deity .
Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
At the temple 洞泉寺 Tosen-Ji the deity 稲荷大明神 Inari Daimyojin is venerated. A white fox living in the area is venerated.
The deity protects from fire, brings a good harvest and harmony in the family and more.




....................................................................... Kyoto 京都府 .....
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Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷

. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢 - racoon dog, badger legends .
After the great fire in 1915, the priest from the Shrine 熊野神社 Kumano Jinja said it was the curse of a Tanuki.
If they would venerate the Tanuki as the 稲荷神 Inari Deity, there would be protection from fire.
So the people venerated it as 八王稲荷大明神 Hachio Inari Daimyojin.
People come here to pray for protection and fire prevention to our day.


The Shrine is located at - Ichinohashi-Miyanouchicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.

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Kyoto 足立区 Adachi ward

Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
In the year 1907, a bunke 分家 branch family separated from the honke 本家 main family. They got 屋敷神稲荷 a Inari Deity to protect them and it became their Yashikigami .
They believe that they did not have any damage from a fire since is the power of this deity.

. yashikigami 屋敷神 "estate deities" .





....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 .....

. Legends about Jizo Bosatsu - 地蔵菩薩 .
When they wanted to built a new road, they had to fill up the well and relocate the statue of 地蔵 Jizo Bosatsu.
Jizo and Mizunokami and Hinokami 火の神 "Deity of Fire" came out every night to meet at the new spot. After some special rituals they stopped to come.
- - - - -
O-Hi Kamisama お火神様
If people burn toogarashi 唐辛子 chili peppers and kaki no tane 柿の種 seeds of persimmons, it well prevent fire.





....................................................................... Nagano 長野県 .....
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飯田市 Ida city / 愛宕町 Atago Town

rooba no tatari 老婆のタタリ curse of the old woman
At 梶谷 Kashitani there is 愛宕様 a Shrine for Atago sama.
Once upon a time, the villagers had driven out an old woman and burned her home.
Fearing her curse, they built a Shrine for Atago sama and have a festival in her honor on the 24th of the first lunar month.




....................................................................... Oita 大分県 .....
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佐伯市 Saiki city

荒神様 Aragami Sama
protects the home from Fire. He looks closely at people coming to the door to see if they are good or bad. If a bad person wants to come in, he drives him away.
If someone tells a lie, Aragami Sama will soon find out.


追わえヘボ(荒神様)




....................................................................... Shiga 滋賀県 .....
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長浜市 Nagahama city // Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷

. Inari 稲荷と伝説 Legends about the Inari Fox Deity .
At the temple 大通寺 Daitsu-Ji the deity お花大明神 O-Hana-Daimyojin is venerated.

When the wood from the 伏見桃山城 Fushimi Momoyama castle was transported here to built the temple, a fox came with it and is now venerated.
O-Hanagitsune お花狐 / お花キツネ O-Hana Kitsune prevents fire and walks around the temple all the time to take care of it.
Every month the Inari koo 稲荷講 special prayer group for Inari make offerings of abura-age 油揚げ fried tofu, something foxes like best.

. abura-age 油揚げと伝説 Legends about fried tofu .




....................................................................... Shizuoka 静岡県 .....
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磐田郡 Iwata district 二俣町 Futamata town // 火防 fire prevention

. Gyoki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 and Tengu 天狗 .
Tengu 先明天狗笠鋒坊権 Ryuho Bo Gongen.




....................................................................... Tochigi 栃木県 .....
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宇都宮市 Utsunomiya city // 火防 fire prevention

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .
At the temple 成高寺 Joko-Ji in Utsunomiya there came shugenja 修験者 a mountain priest (the local Tengu) to the priest 祥貞和尚 Shotei and asked to give him his hand.
"Without my hand I will be in big trouble", the priest refused but the man said he would bring it back. They agreed on this. Since that day his hand did not grow any more.
One month later the mountain priest came back and brought him a dooin 銅印 bronze stamp with the letters for 火防 fire prevention as a thank-you present.




....................................................................... Tokyo 東京都 .....
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練馬区 Nerima ward

Hinokami Inari 火の神稲荷 Inari the Fire Deity
. hikeshi Inari 火消稲荷 Firefighter Inari Fox .
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Tokyo 多摩村 Tama village

In September when the sesame seeds are ready, people make two bundles as offerings for 荒神様 Aragami Sama.
He is the protector from fire. If a child falls into a fire by accidents, it will be able to jump out quickly, like the seed of sesame thrown in fire.




....................................................................... Yamagata 山形県 .....
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鶴岡市 Tsuruoka city

. jookadoo no hi 常火堂の火 sacred fire at the Jokado Hall .
and the blood of Fudo Myo-O 動明王


temple 荒澤寺 Kotaku-Ji.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -
火神 / 火防 - ok
40 火の神 to collect

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. Mizu no Kami, Mizunokami 水の神 Deity of Water - Legends .

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