Toshitokujin legends

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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.

.......................................................................

. 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


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




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.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. 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... -

..............................................................................................................................................


.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
.......................................................................

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 -

.......................................................................

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 .....
.......................................................................
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 -

.......................................................................
Fukushima いわき市 Iwaki

Shogatsu Sama 正月様 comes in Spring, according to the lunar calendar on the 15th day of the first lunar month. People make a small fire and on the smoke the Deity rides to heaven. Sometimes they are two, takasago 高砂 an old couple as an auspicious sight.
.......................................................................
Fukushima 須賀川市 Sukagawa city

O-Shogatsu Sama お正月様 is a woman. Since she did not marry, she is happy if young men come to get wakamizu 若水 the first water of the year.

On January 8 people make an offering of azukigayu あずきがゆ rice gruel with small soy beans to see the Deity off. In former times it was the 15th of January, when the offerings contained some white rice gruel. But as the farmers got poor, they could not afford this and used small soy beans.




.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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 .....
.......................................................................
曽於郡 Soo district

. Toshigami and 山の神 Yama no Kami .




.......................................................................　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.
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 -

.......................................................................

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.

.......................................................................
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 .....
.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
南佐久郡 Minami-Saku district 川上村 Kawakami village

. Doosojin 道祖神 Dosojin, Dososhin - the Wayside Gods .
The Dosojin are venerated in December as お正月様 the Deities of the New Year.



.......................................................................　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

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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 .....
.......................................................................

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 .

.......................................................................
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 .....
.......................................................................
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.
..
.....................................................................
Saitama 大里郡 Osato district 妻沼町 Menuma town

On the 15th of January, people prepare azukigayu あずきがゆ rice gruel with small soy beans as an offering to お正月様 O-Shogatsu Sama. Sometimes they keep a bit. If helps when stung by a bee.
Keeping the gruel until the 18th day and then eating one bite for each family member will prevent the family from getting ill.



.......................................................................　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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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.

.......................................................................
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 .....
.......................................................................
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.



..............................................................................................................................................

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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


- source : pinterest -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #toshitokujin #newyear #toshigami #koshogatsu #kamidana #kagamimochi #sainokami #dosojin -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::