Ishigami Stone Deity 2

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

Ishigami 石神 Stone Deity
石の神 Ishi no Kami

手力男命 / 天之手力男神 / 天手力男神 Ame no Tajikara Onokami, Amenotajikara O no Kami
天手力男神 Amenotadikaraonokami / Ame-no-tajikarao



Jinseki 石神 a place name in Hiroshima

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


. Iwagami 岩神 "rock deity" .
Often a special rock or boulder venerated by the villagers.

. Shibagami 柴神 / シバガミ Shibagami / 柴取り神 Shibatorigami .
and トンビョウ神 Tonbyogami

. magaibutsu 磨崖仏散歩 Stone Cliff Buddhas .

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

Isonokami, iso no kami 石上 (ishi no ue) 石上サン on a stone

- quote -

homepage of isonokami.jp

. Isonokami Jingu 石上神宮 .


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

- - - - - Various shrines with the name Ishigami Jinja 石神神社 / 石神社 - - - - -



- quote -
The "Ishigami-san" (Stone God) on the grounds of 神明神社 Shinmei Jinja Shrine
is worshipped by the women divers since the old days as a god who "grants at least one wish of a woman".
In the present day, many women from all parts of Japan come to worship here.
All you have to do is to write just one wish on the "Wish Paper", and post the Wish Paper in the wish box in front of "Ishigami-san", then pray.
A rather unique good luck charm, which has the embroidery of a star and grills, is also popular.
Because a star could be drawn in one stroke, the women divers believed "they could return where they started after the dive".
Also, the grills implied that "there is no open space from where a demon could enter".
- source : kankomie.or.jp/en/spot... -


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


source : pmiyazaki.com/takachiho/isigami...

高千穂の石神神社　（いしがみじんじゃ）in Takachiho
Deity in Residence is 牛神大明神 Ushigami Daimyojin
. ushigami 牛神　Kami of cattle .
= Ta no Kami, Ta-no-Kami 田の神 Tanokami, God of the Fields

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


. Onishi Jinja 鬼石神社 Onishi Shrine .
Onishi 鬼石町（おにしまち） was a town located in Tano District, Gunma Prefecture.
The region produced many stones 石の産地.
The protector deity of stones was called 鬼石明神 Onishi Myojin and is known at least since 1703.

oni ishi 鬼石 lit. Demon Stone

- Reference : kojiki.kokugakuin...

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

. shingun 神軍 / jingun ジングン heavenly army phenomenon .
Stones like arrowheads falling from the sky.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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


- - - - -　 H A I K U　 - - - - -

蝶の類枯れ石神に日燦爛
木村蕪城


化石神やまなみねがえりをうつか
田畑耕作


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


- - - Ishigami 石神 often refers to an unusual stone formation, venerated as a deity.

reference : 蒲生郡安土町老蘇式内奥石神社『神社本紀』

青森県黒石市牡丹平大山祇神社　砲弾鬼石神
大山祇神社（おおやまづみじんじゃ）Oyamazumi Jinja

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

Hakoishi Jinja 箱石神社
in 宮城県 Miyagi 石巻市 Ishinomaki city

. ryuu, ryū 龍　竜　伝説　Ryu - dragon legends .
A ujigami 氏神 clan deity of the ashigaru 足軽 soldiers of the Sendai domain, who lived in 成田町 the Narita town, along 北上川 the river Kitakamigawa.
When 坂上宿禰高道 Sakanoue Sukune passed here in 863 to fight the Emishi, he found his death here.
His soul turned into a dragon and caused great flooding. To appease his soul, the shrine was erected.

. ashigaru 足軽 "light legs", common foot soldier .

. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro 坂上田村麻呂 (758 - 811) .

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

Retsuishi Jinja 裂石神社 "split stone" Shrine
in Yamanashi　山梨県, Enzan city - 岩盤から湯が湧出
The saddle of the deity riding to Retsuishi Shrine became a stone.

At the temple 裂石山 雲峰寺 Retsuishizan Unpo-Ji

source : rubese.net/gurucomi...

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

Tateiwa Jinja 立石神社 (たていわじんじゃ) "standing stone" in various places / 立石稲荷
- photos -


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

. ubusuna ishi うぶすな石 stone for the Deity of Birth .


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


. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

// 石の神
There is 自然石の神 a natural stone deity called 松倉様 Matsukura sama.
They say if flew here in one night.

source : www43.tok2.com/home/hikeaomori...
Matsukura Jinja 松倉神社
Aomori, 五所川原市前田野目

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


.......................................................................　Akita 秋田県 .....
.......................................................................
秋田市 Akita city 金足 Kanaashi

Ishigami Sama 石神様
At 鳰崎 Niozaki there are two hokora 祠 small Shrines, one dedicated to 石神様 Ishigami Sama and one to 白山様 Hakusan Sama.
At the Hakusan Shrine, amagoi 雨乞い rain rituals are performed. If they do not bring any result, the next rain ritual is performed at the Shrine for Ishigami Sama.
. amagoi 雨乞いと伝説 Legends about rain rituals / Regenzauber .




.......................................................................　Aomori 青森県 .....
.......................................................................
大石神社 Shrine Oishi Jinja

Gomiso ゴミソ a Shaman like the Itako
Around 1920, 工藤むら Kudo Mura was worried about the health of his daughter さだ Sada. He consulted a local Gomiso Shaman, who told him she should to go to 赤倉山 Mount Akakurayama.
For three years and three months, she went to venerate the ウブスナさま Ubusuna-Sama in the village of 鼻和村 Hanawa. At the end of this time, 成田の不動様 the great Fudo of Narita showed his form. The following year from the New Year on she went to Akakura and the shrine 大石神社 Oishi Jinja for three days of prayer and eventually became a Gomiso Shaman.

The Shrine 赤倉山神社 Akakurayama Jinja is located at Higashiiwakisan-1-39 Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki.




.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
.......................................................................
今治郡 Imabari district // 石神サン

There is kyoseki 巨石 a huge stone megalith and if people touch it, their stomach will begin to ache.

There are various large stones in Imabari.



伯方島　宝股山　石神
石清水八幡神社　磐座
伯方島　喜多浦八幡神社の亀石
手水鉢の石
- reference and more photos : shamon/kyoseki/ehime/imabari... -

.......................................................................
Ehime 西条市 Saijo city 千町 Sencho town // 石の神体

osainoki san, o-sai no ki san おさいのきさん honorable tree at the border
This type of tree is located ath the borders of a village.
One is at 旧加茂村内部落 Kamo village Murauchi hamlet at the pond 御代池 / 御代ヶ池(みよがいけ) Myogaike, where ia rock is venerated as Kami.
At its side are many zoori 草履 straw sandals.
It is venerated as tagori no kami タゴリの神 (tagori means coughing).
If prayers have helped to cure, people offer straw sandals.

. Sekigamisama 咳神様 Deity of coughing .




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


群馬県利根郡片品村花咲
source : webgunma.com/189...

hanasaki ishi 花咲石 - ハナサキイシ Hanasaki Stone
Yamato Takeru was on his way to Northern Japan to fight 悪勢（おぜ）Oze, a bad grouop of people.
In the mountains lived majin 魔神 a bad deit (Oze), which did not follow the orders of the Imperial Court but brought trouble to the villagers.
This bad deity was overpowered and burned. His daughter was a pure girl, but the soldiers of Takeru captured and killed her. Her maid servant cried herself to death and her soul became a stone. The stone was called Hanasaki "Stone of flowering blossoms".
The stone is now a historical landmark in 片品村 Katashina village.
Another version of the legend tells of the wife of Oze, which had hidden in a cave. The enemy set fire to the cave and she died in the flames. Her dead body begun to grow into a large stone, with the pattern of rainbow-colored botan 牡丹 peony blossoms.
After her death, the villagers begun to get ill and have misfortunes, so they built a red torii 鳥居 Shrine gate and venerated the place as
牡丹石明神.
This part of Katashina village is called 花咲 Hanasaki Hamlet.

. Yamato Takeru 日本武尊 .

. majin 魔神 - akushin, akujin 悪神 devil, Teufel .




.......................................................................　Hiroshima 広島県 .....
.......................................................................
神石郡 Jinseki district 神石高原町 Kogencho town // 石神さん

A 伊勢参りの旅人 pilgrim to the Ise Shrine forgot a package on iwa 岩 a rock, but the villagers found it. First they wanted to throw it away but the next day they put it back in the rock. This went on for a few days and eventually they opened it.
Inside were tamagushi 玉串 branch offerings. The villagers placed them on the rock and venerated them as shintai 神体 the Body of Kami.
Later a stone mason wanted to split the rock, but red blood came out of it.
The stone had originally been the size of a bed, but now it begun to grow more and more into the sky.

. tamagushi 玉串 offering of a sacred Sakaki branch .

. shintai 神体 "body of the deity" .

.......................................................................
Hiroshima 庄原市 Shobara city 東城町 Tojo town

. Ishigami san 石神さん The Venerable Stone Deity .




.......................................................................　Hyogo 兵庫県 .....
.......................................................................
明石市 Akashi city // 明石の神 Kami from Akashi

. Kakinomoto Jinja 柿本神社 Shinto Shrine in Akashi, Hyogo .
moojoozakura 盲杖櫻 / 盲杖桜 "Blind Stick Cherry".
A blind person from 筑紫 Tsukushi no Kuni province come here and repeated the prayer for a certain time:
ほのゞとまこと明石の神ならば　我にも見せよ人丸の塚
When he could see again, he placed his blind stick here and it grew into a cherry tree.



.......................................................................
Hyogo 神戸市 Kobe city まや山天上寺 Mayasan Tenjo-Ji

yakusui shinkoo 薬水信仰 belief in healing water
At the temple Tenjo-Ji there is a special stone monument with a hole on the top, where the water collects.
In former times this was attributed to 石神 Ishigami or 石仏地蔵碑 a stone statue of Jizo Bosatsu.
The water would heal eye diseases.

. Maya san Tenjooji 摩耶山天上寺 Tenjo-Ji .




.......................................................................　Iwate 岩手県 .....
.......................................................................
八幡平市 Hachimandaira city

Shizukuishi Jinja 滴石神社

At this Shrine there is a mysterious stone with an opening like a bottle to pour a drink. On its top it makes a sound like シズクイシ "shizuku ishi", on the bottom it makes a dripping sound like tantan タンタン. Many people come here to take a look. The local headman who had to guide the visitors became weary of the job and split the top of the spring stone. As a curse his family became very poor, but the story was told from grandfather to grandchild.




.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県 .....
.......................................................................
さぬき市 Sanuki city // 田石の神様 Taishi no Kamisama

. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢 － racoon dog, badger legends .
The neighbour of 広瀬 Hirose san once said "I am going to pray at 田石の神様 Taishi no Kamisama sanctuary. When he wanted to go back, it was already quite dark. Suddenly 白い狸 a white tanuki appeared in front of him. This Tanuki, quite a Yokai monster, was called Ashimagari 足まがり Ashi-Magari, trying to prevent him from going straight .
But he kicked the animal with one leg, so it disappeared.
It took him more than 12 hours to get home.




.......................................................................　Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
.......................................................................
鎌倉市 Kamakura city

At the Shrine 石神神社 Ishigami Jinja (In the compound of Goryo Jinja) there is an annual ritual on the 25th of July to appease the local 河童 Kappa. Young men with bowls of offerings swim as far as the point from where the island of Enoshima can be seen, then they throw the offerings into the sea. This will prevent the Kappa from doing harm to the swimmers on the famous beach.
. Kappa Legends from Kanagawa 神奈川 .




.......................................................................　Kochi 高知県 .....
.......................................................................
幡多郡 Hata district 西土佐村 Nishi-Tosa village // 石神さん

. kannazuki 神無月 month where the Kami are absent .
kami no rusu 神の留守 the gods are absent
This is the 10th lunar month, when the Kami father at 出雲 Izumo.
During that time Izumo no matsu 出雲の松 the pine of Izumo begins to bend.
Konpira san 金毘羅さん and 石神さん Ishigami san do not go.

. matsu 松と伝説 Legends about the pine tree / 松の木 matsu no ki .




.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
.......................................................................
上京区 Kamigyo ward

iwagami 石神 / イワガミ Iwagami Deity
The rock at 下の石神 Shimo no Iwagami has been pulled here by 高松殿 the lord of Takamatsu. There had been a strange light every night at the top, so the wet nurse of the lord was awarded to become priestess at the temple / shrine to venerate and appease Ishigami 石神寺 / 石神社.
The Shrine is also known as 岩神神社 Iwagami Jinja, 「岩神祠(いわがみし/いわがみ　の　ほこら)」 Iwagami no Hokora, 、「岩神さん」 Iwagami san or 「岩上神社」 Iwagami Jinja.

Iwagami Shrine (岩上神社) - Daikokucho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto

- quote -
It Shrine is very small. When I first visited the place, I almost overlooked it, because the shrine consists of only one water basin and one main building. The size of the shrine is about 10 square meters of land. However, it has obviously been enshrined importantly by local people for a long time.

This shrine’s object of worship is this rock.
There is an interesting story related to this rock. In ancient times, this rock used to be placed at Nijo Horikawa. However, people in those days decided to relocate the rock to different places, and they did so several times. The rock was actually really upset about it, and some people heard the sound of crying from the rock at night. What is more, soon after the relocations, many unfortunate accidents happened in Kyoto over and over again. People of that time were terrified and started to believe that these accidents were results of the rock’s wrath. Consequently, people decided to establish a shrine to appease the wrath of the rock, and they restored the peace in the city. Today, we can still see the rock enshrined at Iwagami Shrine. - source and more photos : urarachan.wordpress.com/... -




.......................................................................　Mie 三重県 .....
.......................................................................
河藝郡 Kawage district 栗眞村 Kurima village // 石神

A woman in the village became ill. An oracle told her, it was because the family had burned down the little forest around the local Shrine for 石神 Ishigami. Since then the family begun to pray at the Shrine and never cut a tree from there again.




.......................................................................　Miyazaki 宮崎県 .....
.......................................................................
西都市 Saito city 銀鏡 Shiromi // 石神

tatsu no koma 龍の駒 horse of a dragon
On the Westernn slope of 龍房山 Mount Ryubusuyama there is a hamlet called 秋切集落 Akkiri.
There is 石神 a stone deity named Ryu no Tama 龍之玉. In the nearby river the tatsu no koma 龍の駒 horse of the deity comes do drink.



銀鏡(しらみ)神社 Shirami Jinja / 銀鏡神社（しろみ神社） Shiromi Shrine
- reference source : pmiyazaki.com/siromi_j... -




.......................................................................　Okinawa 沖縄県 .....
.......................................................................
マユイシノカミは前石の神 mayuishi no kami

.......................................................................
モンイシノカミ mon ishi no kami
門の石の神 stone deity of the gate

.......................................................................
パライシノカミ para ishi no kami
パライシノカミ（腹石 hara no ishi） は柱石の神である。

.......................................................................
シティイシノカミshitii ishi no kami
シティイシノカミは墓の下部の石の神である。

.......................................................................
ウヤイシノカミ waya ishi no kami
ウヤイシノカミは親石、または上石の神である。




....................................................................... Osaka 大阪府 .....
.......................................................................
天王寺区 Tennoji ward

During the construction of 四天王寺 Shitenno-Ji temple, ox carts were used to transport the stones. When the construction was finished, one bull turned into a stone.
He is now venerated at 石神の祠 a small Ishigami Shrine, Ishigami Do　石神堂.

. Temple Shitenno-Ji 四天王寺 .




.......................................................................　Saga 佐賀県 .....
.......................................................................
東松浦郡 Higashi-Matsuura district 鎮西町 Chinzei town // 石の神

ochosusama, o-chosu sama おちょす様 Deity to protect children
At the roadside is a stone deity named O-Chosu Sama, venerated in a small shrine with a thatched roof.
On the 20th day of the New Year there is 的射り a ritual of children shooting at a target. The small shrine was once relocated to 十二社宮 the place for 12 Shrines, but a priest said this was not good, so it was brought back to its old place.
In former times, children had used bamboo sticks to pick the stone, but a farmer stopped them.
The farmer soon died of a curse from the Deity.
. kodomo no kami 子供の神 Deity to protect children .




.......................................................................　Shimane 島根県 .....
.......................................................................
浜田市 Hamada city

Once upon a time, there was a huge rock. If people touched it, they got crazy or even died. When スサノオノミコト the Deity Susanoo no Mikoto split it into two parts, the strange things did not happen any more. One of these rocks gave name to the Shrine erected there, 石神神社 Ishigami Jinja.



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

. Shakujii Park 石神井公園 Shakujii Koen .
石神井神社 Shrine Shakujii Jinja

sakana 魚 fish
At 石神井の池 the pond in Shakuji Park there lived a strange fish, each of its scales looked like a torii 鳥居 gate of a Shinto shrine.
During flooding this fish is swept out to the surrounding rice and vegetable fields. The villagers revere it as a messenger of the deity of Shajuji Shrine and never catch it.

- - - - - 石神井川 River Shakujigawa
Once a man heard the bell of a bicycle along the river Shakujigawa.
There were very few bycicles in this area and it might have been the mischief of the ghost of someone who had once fallen into the river and drowned.
Suddenly the place became quite popular and many people came to look out for the ghost.
Finally they realized it was the voice of frogs and the excitement died down.



. Yamata no orochi 山田の大蛇 / 八岐大蛇 huge monster serpent .




.......................................................................　Yamaguchi 山口県 .....
.......................................................................
防府市 Hofu city // 立石

Tateishi Inari 立石稲荷 / 立石稲荷神社
Dannouracho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi


Built in the slope in three steps.

Tateishi Inari Myojin 立石稲荷明神
Once the elder brother was very sick and his life in danger. The parents went to 立石稲荷社 Tateishi Inari Jinja to pray for his recovery. The next morning there was a long flag from white cotton hanging from the ceiling. The flag touched the cheek of the boy, fell down before the mother and then vanished. The sick boy recovered very soon. The flag must have been from the Deity of the Tateishi Shrine.

. momen 木綿 legends about cotton .
.......................................................................
大島郡 Oshima district 周防大島町 Suo Oshima town

On the mountain near the Shrine 志度石神社 Shidoishi Jinja there is a bird with white patterns below its wings. It is said to be fed by the Deity itself.
On the 11th day of the new year, there is a ritual called Otogui, O-to kui 御鳥喰 "feeding the bird", when the bird is fed. If the bird does not eat the food, there will be a bad year with disasters ahead.

.......................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県 .....
.......................................................................
// 石の神

On the 14th day of the New Year the Dosojin 道祖神 Wayside Gods are venerated as 石の神 Ishi no Kami. The fire of the ritual will protect children from getting ill.
. Doosojin 道祖神 Dosojin, Dososhin - Legends about Wayside Gods .

. Yooka sama. Yōka 八日様 Yoka Sama, the Honorable Day Eight .
oyooka sama お八日様 O-Yoka Sama


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

- reference : nichibun yokai database -
（蒲生郡安土町老蘇式内奥石神社『神社本紀』）

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

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #ishigami #stonedeity #stone #rock #iwagami #rockdeity #tateishi #shibaori #jizo #jinzeki #shakuji #magaibutsu -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yama no Kami 07 Regional

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and Legends from 福井県 Fukui and Fukuoka 福岡県

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


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

Kuniyama no Shinji 国山の神事 Shinto ritual at Kuniyama village



- quote -
n the past, the Kuniyama no Shinji Ceremony was held on four nights: February 3rd, 4th, and 6th at a layperson’s home and February 7th at the Hachioji Shrine for the main ceremony. However, today it is only held on January 3rd every 4 years at the shrine. (To be held next in 2021)
The ritual of Kuniyama no Shinji was previously called naruwai ナルワイ and tagayashi タガヤシ. At the beginning of the year, partakers would simulate the farm work carried out throughout the year and pray for an abundant harvest for that year. The ritual is a reenactment broken down into 3 parts.
The first is a reenactment of the beginning of farm work until the planting of seedlings.
The second is the taking of seedlings from the seedling bed and planting them,
and the third is the harvest.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, tree branches that have been hung from the shrine ceiling in advance are all pulled down at once. It is said that the branches piled on the floor will bring about a rich harvest of rice crop.
国山を説明する「しやうの言ひ立の事」、「籾種をつける事」、田を耕す「鍬打ち」、「麦の草を取る事」、奥州へ牛を買い下る事」、「草刈に参る事」、「東西に種をまく事」、「蚕のはか」、「苗をほめる事」、「田主の言立の事」、「東西の棒振り」、「是より大苗のはか」の場面が順次演じられる。
- 福井市国山町
- source : fukuisan.jp/en/lis... -

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

敦賀市 Tsuruga
天筒山山の神神社 Yamanokami Jinja
野坂岳 - 山の神神社

金ヶ崎天筒山山の神ルート

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

Once upon a time
the head of the Nakanishi family, 中西佐平 Nakanishi Sahei, went out fishing. But he only got a stones caught in his net. He threw the stones back into the sea each time.
That night he had a dream vision:
"I am just a stone, but not just any stone. I am Yamanokami. I came rolling here after a great flooding. I want to go back to the land. Next time you catch a stone, bring it back to the mountains and pray to me."
Next time he was fishing, indeed he caught a stone, brought it to the mountain and venerated it.

- - - - -

The 9th day of the 12th lunar month is the festival for Yamanokami.
. Yama no Kami matsuri 山の神祭り Yamanokami festivals .

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

. yama no kami no yadorigi 山の神の止り木 / 山の神の宿り木 sacred trees .
山の神のケヤキの木 Keyaki zelkova tree of Yamanokami
三方郡 Mikata district 美浜町 Mihama // 遠敷郡 Onyu district 名田庄村 Natasho


.......................................................................
大飯郡 Oi district 高浜町 Takahama

On the 28th day of the 9th lunar month, the Deities are seen off (to the great meeting in Izumo 出雲). They come back on the 28th day of the 10th lunar month.
But Yamanokami is seen of on the 8th day of the 10th lunar month and comes back on the 8th day of the 11th lunar month.

The tenth lunar month (now November), after the harvest when the Japanese gods had done their duty, they left their local shrines for a bit of a vacation. They would all go for an audience and to celebrate at the great shrine of Izumo, so the rest of Japan was "without gods".
. kami okuri 神送り sending off the gods .


.......................................................................
足羽郡 Asuwa district 遠敷郡 Onyu district 吉田市 Yoshida town 大野市 Ono town

In many villages of these district Yamanokami and Tanokami are venerated in their respective season.

.......................................................................
南條郡 Nanjo

tatari たたり the curse
On the sacred day of Yamanokami, one old hag went to the mountain forest to get some zenmai ぜんまい / 薇 Japanese royal fern, a favorite food.
Something strange with hair touched her hand and when she looked, her own had begun to grow a lot of hair. Afraid she hurried home, but there she fell down dead.
This is the curse of Yamanokami.


.......................................................................
武生市 Takefu 坂口村 Sakaguchi

They say Yamanokami is a Tengu.
. Yamanokami and Tengu 天狗 the Mountain Goblin .


白馬 white horse
. Yamanokami brings the first snow .

.......................................................................
敦賀市 Tsuruga

yoru no mamono 夜の魔もの monster of the night
yama no kami koo 山の神講 prayer group for the god of the mountain / kanko (かんこ)
This prayer group has special rituals for its members.
For example if someone has built a new home the children have to gather in the 大日堂 Dainichi-Do Hall. Their leader has a shimenawa しめ縄 sacred rope around the hips which he lays down at the big matsu no ki マツの木 pine tree.

The other children also have to lay down their tsuto ツト / 苞 ropes.
Now they can all go inside. They have all brought a special offering, シトキ shitoki, a kind of dough made from rice drained in water, squashed and kneaded with sake 酒 rice wine.
They smear this dough on their body to get all white and then go to back to the home of the prayer group leader.

Smearing shitoki on their body symbolizes they have become お地蔵さん Jizo Bosatsu.
Since Yamanokami is seen as a monster, this will protect them from his evil.

300年以上も赤崎地区 A custom at Akasaki district for more than 300 years.
- reference source : athome.tsuruga.fukui.jp/nuclear... -

. Jizō - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - ABC List .






.......................................................................　Fukuoka 福岡県 .....

A bus stop named Yamanokami !



山の神：福岡県糟屋郡久山町久原 | バス停
Kubara, Hisayama, Kasuya District, Fukuoka

.......................................................................
八女郡 Yame district 星野村 Hoshino

池の山の神 Yamanokami from the Pond
About 600 years ago, there was a long drought and famine.
This was the curse of Yamanokami from the Pond, as a Shaman told them.
The villagers had to make a human sacrifice to the Lord of the Pond, a Dragon, every year and this time a young man named ハンニャ Hannya was selected.
On the 18th day of the 9th lunar month he was placed into a 駕籠 palanquin. Before he entered, he danced
Hannya no mai ハンニャの舞 the Hanya dance.
"If the dragon of the pond can dance like this, he will not eat me. From now on I will come here and dance every year."
This was the beginning of a dance ritual in the village.

- - - - -

On the 16th day of the first and 12th lunar month, Yamanokami walks around the mountain forest to inspect the trees.
On this day humans are not allowed to go there and cut trees.

- - - - -

Sometimes when walking in the mountain, people feel a sudden dizziness, chill, or headache.
This is a vision of Yamanokami who might have caught a cold himself.


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


- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

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


. Legends about Yamanokami 山の神と伝説　.

from Fukushima 福島県 to 山梨県 Yamanashi - will be updated.

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




- - - - - . Join the Updates of Facebook ! . - - - - -


. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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

sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #tanokami -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yama no Kami 06 Regional

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and Legends from Ehime 愛媛県



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


山の神硝子工房 Yamanokami Glass Factory
360 Tamagawacho Koya, Imabari, Ehime Prefecture 794-0115 / 愛媛県今治市玉川町高野360



- reference source : yamanokami-glass.jimdo.com -


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


Yamanokami Kosenjo 山の神古戦場 - War Landmark in Matsuyama
799-2468, Ogawa, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture 799-2468



In memory of a battle in 1179, remembering Minamoto no Yoritomo 源 頼朝 (1147 - 1199) and 河野通清 Kono Michikiyo (? - 1181).
Michikiyo killed himself 大松 under a huge pine tree.
The tree lasted until 1965, when it dried of old age.


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

ツール・ド・玉川　- 山の神降臨 Tour de Tamagawa - Yamanokami Korin



An event to enjoy the villages, gorges and peaks of Japan.
The tour is 68 km long and climbs to an altitude of 1604 m.
- reference source : cyclesports.jp/depo... -


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


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


. Yama no Kami matsuri 山の神祭り Yamanokami festivals .
山の神の火祭り Yamanokami Fire Festival at 内子町 Uchiko

. Yamanokami and okoze 虎魚 / 鰧魚 / オコゼ stonefish .
. Yamanokami and yamainu 山犬 wolf .


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

On the first day of the New Year, farmers are not allowed to go to the mountain forest or the fields.
On the 20th day of the New Year, Yamanokami comes out and again farmers do not go to the mountain forest.
On 盆の16日 the 16th during the O-Bon rituals for the ancestors it is taboo to go fishing.
On doyo no ushi no hi 土用の丑の日 (a day in mid July) the special dog day of Doyo
it is taboo to make 味噌 Miso paste.

.......................................................................
今治市 Imabari city

. muenbotoke 無縁仏 graves of the unknown pilgrims .
and their spirits possessing humans

.......................................................................
今治市 Imabari 玉川町 Tamagawa

Yamanokami no Shoogatsu 山の神の正月 New Year of Yamanokami
The ninth day of the first lunar month is the "New Year of Yamanokami".
If people go to the mountain forest for work, they will met with divine punishment.
They also make special offerings to Yamanokami.
Every month on the 9th day there is a taboo of cutting down trees.

This "New Year of Yamanokami" is also celebrated in 新潟県 Niigata.


.......................................................................
浮穴郡 Kamiukena district 久方町 Hisakata-cho

Yamanokami gets angry easily and curses peopole.
The old mountain hag, 山姥 Yamanba, is an incarnation of Yamanokami.
But she also brings a good harvest if venerated properly.


.......................................................................
喜多郡 Kita district

shiroi mizu 白い水 white water
Deep in the mountain there is Yamauba Jinja 山婆神社, often called バアサン Baa-San and also shrine Oyamatsumi Jinja 大山祇神社, where Yamanokami is venerated.
There is a huge boulder with two small caves. On the right cave ヤマノジサ Yama no Jisa (Grandfather) is venerated, on the left side ヤマノバサ Yama no Basa (Grandmother).
In olden times there was white water coming out from a hole between 山の爺さん Grandfather and 山の婆さん Grandmother. (They used this hole to talk to each other, says the legend.)
The water has been sent to the prefectural government for analysis and found to be quite healthy. So many people came here to get it. The water was also known to cure ear diseases, help weak children and grant an easy birth.
They said the water was white because Grandmother uses it daily to wash her rice.
Nowadays there is just normal water flowing there and if bad people come, it stopped flowing.
Grandfather was also called 金時さん Kintoki San.

. Yamanba, Yamauba 山姥 / 山婆 Yamanba "mountain hag" .

- - - - -

If Yamanokami talks to a person, they should not try to argue with him.
In the hamlet 帯江 Obie there is a small sanctuary above the home of the 中村氏 Nakamura family, where Yamanokami is venerated.

- - - - -

Ashi nashi tengu 足なし天狗 Tengu without feet
On the left of the sanctuary for Yamanokami there is a rock called 足なし天狗の足休めの岩 "Rock where the Tengu without feet rests his legs"
Once a forest worker was cutting a tree the rock when he had the feeling someone was stomping on his head repeatedly. He got angry and swung his ax in the space above his head - and indeed cut off the feet of the Tengu. The Tengu was not clever enough to sense what the man was up to so he got his legs cut off.
The Tengu in this region are also seen as a kind of kaze no kamisama 風の神様 God of the Wind.

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .



.......................................................................
松山市 Matsuyama

The 12th day of the 12th lunar month was called
hate no hatsuka 果ての二十日 the final day 20 .
This is an evil day. To avoid angering Yamanokami, people should not enter a mountain.
In former times victims used to be beheaded on this day.
In 怒和 Nuwa it is called ミテの二十日 mite no hatsuka.
It is taboo to go to the forest or go fishing or to cut material to make robes.
At 大浦 Oura it is the day of the festival for Yamanokami.
On this day it is taboo to go to the forest.

. hate no hatsuka 果ての二十日 the final day 20 .

- - - - -

On the 20th day of the first luner month, people prepare a special meal for Yamanokami. If the smoke of the fire while preparing this food comes to the eyes, the person will go blind.

. Yama no Kami matsuri 山の神祭り Yamanokami festivals .
西条市 Saijo and others


.......................................................................
南宇和郡 Minami-Uwa district

14 families who did not venerate Yamanokami were cursed and their houses burned down.
When they asked a Shaman about it,
It seems they had chopped vegetables and left them on the stone hearth (ishiguro 石グロ), which is the living quarter of the Deity.

- - - - -

. shishi misaki シシミサキ "Wild Boar Misaki Deity" .


.......................................................................
西条市 Saijo

inu hito sanjin 犬人三神 "Two Dogs and one man as three deities"
At a small sanctuary at 川来須 Kawagurusu the person 伊藤綱次郎 Ito Kojiro is venerated as a deity.
Once upon a time there was a famous hunter in Kuwagurusu, who could throw a spear skillfully. He went hunting with his two beloved dogs, one white and one black. He was attacked by a bear and killed.
The two dogs decided to take revenge for their master, killed the bear and then killed themselves.
This episode is remembered as "Two Dogs and one man as three deities".
Kojiro is now venerated together with Yamanokami as the protector of the area. If someone walks past and happens to see the two dogs, he must return home fast, otherwise he will have bad luck.

- - - - -

Yamanokami no ki 山の神の木 The Tree of Yamanokami
If someone tries to cut down this kind of tree, he will be cursed, get all red in the face and almost faint.
He has to turn to the Northern direction fast, sit down and be fanned with a mino 箕 straw coat three times to get better.

. shinboku 神木, shinju　神樹　sacred tree, divine tree .


.......................................................................
四国中央市 Shikoku Chuo Town 富郷町 Tomisato

Yamanokami no ki 山の神の木 The Tree of Yamanokami
It is not allowed to cut a tree of Yamanokami. The huge trees at the top of the mountain are resting places for the local Tengu and if cut down, the person will be cursed.
A bifurcated tree with two stems is called heigushi ヘイグシ（幣串) "Shinto purification wand" and it is strictly taboo to cut down such a tree.


.......................................................................
周桑郡 Shuso district 丹原 Tanbara 　小松町 Komatsu

Tengu 天狗 at mount Ishizuchisan 石槌山
Once a man took off early in the morning to be the first to climb Mount Ishizuchisan, when a man carrying a young boy on his shoulders came down the path, all clad in white robes.
They greeted each other and when the man turned around a moment later to observe the two climb further down, they were already gone. It must have been Yamanokami, who did not want a human to be the first in the morning on the mountain, who got angry. So he had asked his disciple, the Tengu, to interrupt the man on his climb.

. Hōkibō 法起坊天狗　Tengu Hoki-Bo, Hokibo .
石鎚山法起坊 / 石槌山法起坊 - Ishizuchizan Hoki-Bo


.......................................................................
宇摩郡 Uma district 土居町 Doi town // タゴリ coughing

Near the bridge 河内橋 Kawachibashi there is a huge boulder with a stone sanctuary.
Once the villagers brought fuujin 風神 the Wind God from the village up here to venerate.
The deity helped calm down the local 山神 Yamanokami and also helped heal タゴリ coughing.


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

- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

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


. Legends about Yamanokami 山の神と伝説　.

from Fukui 福井県 to 山梨県 Yamanashi - will be updated.

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




- - - - - . Join the Updates of Facebook ! . - - - - -


. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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

sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #tanokami #ehimeyamanokami -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yamanokami juunisama

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and juunisama, jūni sama 十二様 Juni Sama
"Honorable 12" deities,
another name for this male / female mountain deity
In some regions, Juni Sama is seen as two deities, husband and wife.

His / her messengers are Okoze, the stonefish and Okojo, a kind of weasel.

. Tanokami 田の神 and legends about
okoze 虎魚 / 鰧魚 / オコゼ stonefish and オコジョ Okojo weasel.
with legends from Gunma and Nagano.



hondo okojo ホンドオコジョ Mustela erminea nippon

The name of this deity varies from region to region,
十二山の神 Juni Yamanokami, 十二山神 Juni Yamagami . . .
Shrines in his / her honour are called 十二神社 Juni Jinja, 十二大明神 Juni Daimyojin,
大山祇十二神社 Oyamazumi no Mikoto Juni Jinja . . .
These deities are often venerated at 12 stone memorials or in 12 small shrines.



The explanations of the name are various too, some from a Shinto and others from a Buddhist background as a group of 12 honorable deities :

1 - A deity giving birth to 12 children in one year (one for every month)
2 - A deity that has given birth and raised 12 children.

3 - A place where 12柱の神 12 deities are venerated.

4 - . 12 incarnations of Amida Nyorai - 十二光仏 / 十二光佛 Juni Kobutsu .

5 - . 12 zodiac animals 十二支 Juni Shi .

6 - . 12 Kumano Junisha Gongen Avatars from Kumano 熊野十二所権現 .

7 - . 12 Ten Deities, 12 Devas 十二天 Juni Ten, Jūniten .

8 - . 12 Heavenly Generals 十二神将 Juni Shinsho .
12 Warrior Generals . 12 Divine Generals of Yakushi Buddha
Each of them represents one heavenly direction, one of the twelve hours of the day and one of the twelve months of a year.


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


heisoku 幣束（へいそく） ritual paper wand
Yamanokami venerated as Juni Sama has given birth to 12 children in one year.
He is venerated as a mountain deity that brings 山の豊穣 a rich mountain harvest.


source : kan*an1*57

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


熊野十二社　（くまのじゅうにそう) Edo Kumano Juniso
Kumano Juniso Gongen no Yashiro Shrine
Kumano no Yashiro, Juniso Gongen no Yashiro



This began during the Oei Era (1349-1427), when a man called Suzuki Kuro came from Kishu and he enshrined deities the Juniso of his hometown Kumano. The name of the surrounding area is called Juniso.
The Juniso Pond which was located at the west side of Kumano-jinja Shrine, was used as a reservoir for the town of Tsunowazu, and there is a legend that a woman drowned herself and became a giant serpent. There was a waterfall on the eastern side and it was popular as a scenic spot.
- source : national diet library -

. Twelve Shrines at Tsunohazu in Yotsuya .
Yotsuya Tsunohazu Jûnisô ike Kumano yashiro


. 12 Kumano Junisha Gongen Avatars from Kumano 熊野十二所権現 .


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






. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
南会津郡 Minami-Aizu

十二山神 Juni Yamagami
Juni Yamagami is seen as husband and wife. Near the hamlet is the shrine 山神神社 Yamagami Jinja.
It houses two statues, a husband and wife.


toorigami 通り神 Kami passing by
Once a woman felt very ill and had an itinerant shaman look at her problem.
He told her she had peed on a spot where Juni Sama uses to pass by. He performed ablutions and soon the woman was healed.

.......................................................................
Minami-Aizu 檜枝岐村 Hinoemata

山の神 Yamanokami and 十二大明神 Juni Daimyoji
At the hut for the hunters it is customary to take water ablutions every morning before entering the forest and pray to Juni Sama.
He is also called 十二大明神 Juni Daimyojin or 大山祇命 Oyamazumi no Mikoto.

.......................................................................
fuchikari 貂 / フチカリ，heko ヘコ weasel, marten
If someone dies in the mountains, his soul can be transferred to a weasel.
At the foot of the mountain, Juni Sama and Fuchikari are venerated every morning and evening.
Fuchikari gets special food offerings.




.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
There are quite a few legends about Juni Sama in Gunma.

Komochiyama 子持山 Mount Komochi "having children" 1296 m
渋川市 Shibukawa town



- Long Japanese explanation is here
- reference source : 偏平足 -

.......................................................................
Gunma 吾妻郡 Azuma district

hitotsu manako ヒトツマナコ "one eye"
Juni Sama is a female deity who gave birth to 12 children in one year, one in every month.
This is most probably the same as the deity called Hitotsu Manako, who comed to the village on the 30th day of the 11th lunar month.

.......................................................................
Gunma 吾妻郡 Azuma district 六合村 Kunimura

Okojo オコジョ weasel
Dried Okoze fish is called okojo オコジョ. If it is offered to Juni Sama, the Weasel, there will be a good hunting season.
But the offerings have to be made in the correct way. If they are placed with both hands, the hands might disappear with the offering.
The Weasel often stays with one family and watches over their well-being.

.......................................................................
Gunma 倉渕村 Kurabuchi

yamainusama 山犬様 Yama-Inu Wolf Deity
Once upon a time, the Wolf Deity had given birth in the shrine of Juni Sama. People then brought special rice offerings to celebrate.

. Yamanokami messenger, the inugami 犬神 Wolf Deity .


O-Tengu sama お天狗様
On the night of the tenth people prepare special mochi餅 ritual rice cakes and make offerings to the small shrines of 八幡様 Hachiman Sama, 十二様 Juni Sama, 道陸神 Dosojin, the Wayside Deities and O-Tengu sama, the local Tengu.
The Mochi for the Tengu are especially long and narrow, called
O-Tengu Sama no Obi お天狗様の帯 Belt of the Tengu.
They are placed on the roof of the small sanctuary, cut in 108 small stripes.
Other offerings are long radish and chrysanthemums.
In some regions, people take the Mochi home after making an offering and eat them.
In 三ノ倉 Sannokura they are called Tengu no Sawa Mochi 天狗のサワ餅. People either place them on the sanctuary and leave or they take home an offering that had been made by a person before them.
This is called Tengu Sama no Omigoku 天狗様のオミゴク　Offering for the Tengu.

. tookanya 十日夜 night of the tenth .
tenth day of the tenth lunar month, with special rituals

.......................................................................
Gunma 沼田市 Numata city 利根町 Tone village

In Tone they make offerings to Juni Sama, because in former times a goze 瞽女 blind itinerant woman had been killed there and cursed the region.

. goze 女盲, ごぜ, ゴゼ, 瞽女 blind woman .

.......................................................................
Gunma 利根郡 Tone district 片品村 Katashina

inukuguri イヌクグリ plant, Veronica polita, Grey Field-speedwell
inu kuguri 犬潜り - "a dog walks through it"
This is a plant / tree, which is not allowed to be cut down in the mountain forest. It has two stems and the branches become one as it grows. Yamainu ヤマイヌ the Mountain Dog, messenger of Juni Sama, walks through this.


Tengu sama 天狗様
Trees with two-pronged roots sticking out on a mountain road or at a swamp are sacred to Juni Sama.
Tengu also like to rest on them. So they are not to be cut down.


Juunisama no shimeharigi 十二様のシメハリギ Sacred tree of Juni Sama
The 注連縄 ritual Shimenawa rope is fastened around this tree, which is sacred to Juni Sama (Yamanokami) and thus not te be cut down.
If someone cuts it, he will be crushed by 十二様の鳥居 the torii Gate of the Shrine for Juni Sama.

.......................................................................
Gunma 碓氷郡 Usui district 松井田町 Matsuida

In this region on the border to 上越国 Joetsu, Yamanokami is called "Juni Sama".





.......................................................................　Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
藤野町 Fujino

The ubugami 産神 deity of birth is called Juns Sama in the hamlet of 藤野町名倉 Nagura in Fujino.

. ubugami 産神 "deity of birth" .
guardian deity of pregnant women, newborn babies and one's birthplace

.......................................................................
Kanagawa 鎌倉　Kamakura　十二所 Juniso

Juniso Jinja　十二所神社
This shrine is located up in the mountain, at the foot of Asahina pass.



- quote -
Beyond a stone shrine gate, of a myojin-style torii (明神鳥居), lies the main building directly ahead. To the right of the main hall are three small shrines: Yamano Jinja (山の神社), Hoso Jinja (疱瘡神社) and Usa Hachiman Jinja (宇佐八幡神社).
A large, heavy-looking stone to the right of the torii is called Hyakukan-ishi (百貫石, or Hyakkan-ishi). The stone, long neglected, weighs roughly 110 kilograms and was once a popular object of weightlifting at shrine festivals. Further to the right stands Kaguraden Hall (神楽殿), for sacred music and dances.
... Early in the Meiji period (1867-1912), under a government policy of separating Shintoism and Buddhism, the shrine was moved from the grounds of Kosokuji Temple (光則寺) in the neighborhood to its present site and dedicated to
seven deities in Heaven and five deities presiding on Earth.
At the same time, the name was changed to Juniso Jinja Shrine　from
Kumano Juniso Gongensha (熊野十二所権現社).
- source : kcn-net . org - Juniso Jinja　十二所神社 -




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

. juunikko ジュウニッコウ（十二講) Junikko .
prayer groups

.......................................................................
中魚沼郡 Naka-Uonuma district 川西町 Kawanishi

Juni Sama is a male mountain deity who protects women giving birth. He also helps with a good harvest.
The 12th day of the second lunar month is dedicated to this deity, when he leaves the mountains to go to the fields as Tanokami.
He comes back in Autumn after the harvest.

Yamanokami 山の神
Wheat bran (karako, カラコ, 麩) is offered to Yamanokami and then given to children to help them grow up healthy. JuniSama descends to the fields in spring and comes back after the harvest.

.......................................................................
長岡市 Nagaoka 成願寺町 Joganji

山の神 Yamanokami and 十二神社 Juni Jinja
Once the deity of 十二神社 the Shrine Juni Jinja, Yamanokami, fell down in a field of garlic and lost one leg,
looked at the ears of wheat and lost one eye.
So he is now known as 片目片足の神様 the Deity with one Eye and one Leg.
Since then it is forbidden in the village to eat ニンニク garlic or 麦 wheat.
Children born in the village of Joganji are often born with one eye much smaller than the other.




.......................................................................　Yamagata 山形県 .....

Yamagami Jinja to fuufu katsura 山神神社の夫婦カツラ
and the "Husband-and-Wife Katsura tree
katsura 桂 Japanese Judas tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum



The trees are about 26 m high.
In 新庄市北部 the North of Shinjo is 不動山 Mount Fudoyama (546 m). At the entrance of the shrine are two large Katsura trees.
These two 門カツラ Katsura trees at the gate keep any Oni demons from entering the compound.

- 山形県新庄市萩野土内 Tsuchiuchi Hagino, Shinjō-shi
- reference source : hitozato-kyoboku.com/yamagamijinja... -




.......................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県 .....
北都留郡 Kita-Tsuru district

. 十二天様 Juni Ten Sama，十二天神 Juni Tenjin .



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

- reference source : nichibun yokai database -
- reference : 十二様 -
tba

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




- - - - - . Join the Updates of Facebook ! . - - - - -


. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

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

sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #yamanokami #godofthemountains #tanokami #juunisama -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::