Japan - Shrines and Temples

21/03/2020

Suwa Jinja Legends

- - - Enshrined deities:
Tateminakata no Mikoto 建御名方命
Yasakatome no Mikoto 八坂刀売命
O-Suwa Sama, Suwa Sama 御諏訪様 the "Suwa Deity"

. hakuja (shirohebi) 白蛇 white serpent - messenger of the Deity .

There are many sub-shrines with this name in other parts of Japan.

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

- quote -
Kōga Saburō 甲賀三郎 Koga Saburo
is a character in Japanese folklore associated with the Suwa region.
Many variants on the basic story exist; the following summary is based on the earliest literary version of the tale found in the Shintōshū.
The third son of a local landlord of Kōka District in Ōmi Province, a distinguished warrior named Kōga Saburō Yorikata (甲賀三郎諏方) was searching for his lost wife, Princess Kasuga (春日姫 Kasuga-hime) in a cave in Mount Tateshina in Shinano, with his two elder brothers.
The second brother, who was jealous of Saburō's prowess and fame and who coveted Kasuga, traps the latter inside the cave after they had rescued the princess.
With no way out, Saburō has no other choice but to go deeper into the cave, which was actually an entrance to various underground realms filled with many wonders. After travelling through these subterranean lands for a long period of time, he finally finds his way back to the surface, only to find himself transformed into a giant snake or dragon.
With the help of Buddhist monks (who turn out to be gods in disguise), Saburō regains his human form and is finally reunited with his wife.
Saburō eventually becomes Suwa Myōjin, the god of the Upper Shrine of Suwa, while his wife becomes the goddess of the Lower Shrine.
This version of the legend explains the origin of the name 'Suwa' (諏訪 or 諏方) via folk etymology
as being derived from Saburō's personal name, Yorikata (諏方).
- source : wikipedia -

.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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南宇和郡 Minami-Uwa district 城辺町 Johen city

O-Rei san おれいさん the babysitter O-Rei
O-Rei san おれいさん The babysitter of 庄屋 the village headman family, O-Rei, had by accident dropped the baby into the well and it died. The angry father threw O-Rei also into the well to kill her.
But soon the headman felt a curse and became very ill.
To find peace of mind he had special rituals for O-Rei held at 諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine.
愛媛県南宇和郡愛南町城辺甲1782

.......................................................................　Gifu 岐阜県 .....
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When they tried to relocate 諏訪神 the Suwa Shrine to built a castle, a reija 霊蛇 ghost serpent appeared. It lied on the road and did not move. Someone took the branch of a plum tree and hit the serpent on the head. The serpent had a wound on the left eye and left, never to be seen.
Since that event, the ujiko 氏子 parishioners of the shrine never planted plum trees again.
. ujiko 氏子 local worshiper, parishioner of a Shinto shrine .

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Gifu 荻原町 Hagiwara town

aodaishoo, ao daishoo 青大将 Japanese rat snake
For the festival at 諏訪神社 Suwa Jinja people wanted to get the mikoshi 神輿 portable shrine out, but a Japanese rat snake was lying in there and did not move. A retainer of the 金森家 Kanamori family got angry, took the branch of a plum tree and hit the serpent on the head. The serpent had a wound on the left eye and left, never to be seen.
. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
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いわき市 Iwaki city

. ema 絵馬と伝説 Legends about votive tablets .
At 諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine of 下平窪 Shimo-Hirakubo there is an ema 絵馬 votive tablet of an old woman giving Sake to 金太郎 Kintaro.
This was maybe offered with the wish to be healthy in old age to enjoy Sake.
. Kintaro 金太郎 the Golden Boy .
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At 八幡神社 the Hachiman Shrine at 草野 Kusano and at 諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine at 絹谷 Kinuya there are ema 絵馬 votive tablets from Dewa Sanzan 出羽三山 the three mountains of Dewa. They depict a priest standing unter a waterfall.
In front of the waterfall is a mirror and sometimes people can see the Deity in this mirror.
- At the Suwa Shrine in 絹谷 Kinuya is also an Ema with a serpent. The Serpent is the protector of kaiko 蚕 silk worms, because it eats the rats.
. kinu 絹 legends and tales about silk and silk worms .

.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
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渋川市 Shibukawa city 赤城町 Akagi town

. shinboku 神木, shinju　神樹　sacred tree, divine tree .
To prepare a water pipe for 江戸玉川上水 the Tamagawa waterway to Edo the villagers cut the shinboku 神木 sacred tree in the compound of the Suwa Shrine. But over night the tree had grown back.
Another time there was red liquid dripping out of the tree. This was a sign that a forest worker from Echigo had died.

.......................................................................　Ibaraki 茨城県 .....
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茨城町 Ibaraki town
. tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢－ racoon dog, badger legends .
and the keyaki 欅 zelkova tree at お諏訪様 the Suwa Shrine

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Ibaraki 古河市 Koga city

. shii 椎 the Shii-oak, Pasania .
In the compound of 古河城 Koga castle there was a huge 椎の木 Shii-oak tree, venerated as shinboku 神木 a divine tree, to host the Deity of Suwa. The tree became very huge, so the villagers cut it down. But when they used the wood as firewood, the place became cursed.
. shinboku 神木, shinju　神樹　sacred tree, divine tree .

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. keyaki 欅と伝説 Legends about the Zelkova tree .

.......................................................................　Ishikawa 石川県 .....
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鳳至郡 Fugeshi district 穴水町 Anamizu town

. ryuutoo, ryūtō 龍燈 Ryuto, "dragon lantern" .

At 一本木諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine of Ippongi, there was a strange "dragon light", a ball of fire to be seen at the huge boulder in the sea on the last day of the year. The fire ball would head toward the Suwa Shrine and then back to the sea to Ryuto Misaki 龍燈崎 "Cape Dragon Light".

.......................................................................　Iwate 岩手県 .....
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和賀郡 Waga district

aki matsuri 秋祭り autumn festival
If it rains on the day of the autumn festival of 諏訪神社 the local Suwa Shrine, it will also rain on other Suwa Shrines in the area.

.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県 .....
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さぬき市 Sanuki city

shokki 食器 dishes
On the festival day of the 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine there come many visitors and there are not enough dishes to serve them all.
The priest goes to the Shrine on the day before the festival and anounces how many visitors will come. On the Festival day there are just the right number of dishes in a cave near the Shrine. After the festival the priest brings the dishes back to the cave.
One day a family did not bring back the dishes and from that day on, people could not borrow dishes from the Shrine any more.

....................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
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津久井郡 Tsukui district

. ushi no koku mairi 丑の刻参り .
The double-hour of the bull from one to three at night used for a curse.
Once a woman betrayed by her lover went to 諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine at the double-hour of the bull.
Her hair hung down, the robes were in disarray and she clutched a razor with her teeth.

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
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綾部市 Ayabe city

One of the seven wonders of Kyoto :
一日で熟す諏訪神社の柿 the kaki persimmons of the tree at Suwa Shrine ripen in just one day.

source : ayabebunkazai.blog ...

.......................................................................　Mie 三重県 .....
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四日市市 Yokkaichi city

. 大入道 The O-Nyudo of Yokkaichi .

.......................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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仙台市 Sendai city 青葉区 Aoba ward

jatai banzan 蛇体番山 (ジャタイバンザン) straw serpent from Banzan
For a rain ritual, people prepare a large serpent made of straw. Inside they put a living serpent and more straw and then carry it to 番山 Banzan, where the ritual is performed.

Near 蛇台原 Jadaihara close to 下愛子の諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine at Shimo-Ayashi they make a large serpent of straw.
Banzan has three districts, 東番山 Higashi, 中番山 Naka and 西番山 Nishi. At Nishi-Banzan they call it "jatai banzan".
For rain rituals during a period of long rain, they go to the 黒滝不動 Kurotaki Fudo Waterfall tt the North side of Naka-Banzan of offer the straw serpent. Then the rain will stop.
. amagoi 雨乞いと伝説 Legends about rain rituals / Regenzauber .

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

nana fushigi 七不思議 the seven wonders of the Suwa Shrine in Suwa city

湖水の神幸 Kami walking over the water
元旦の蛙狩り catching frogs on the first day of the year
正月十五日五穀の筒粥 cooking rice in a bamboo pipe on the 15th January
三月酉日の高野の耳割鹿 on the day of the rooster in March splitting ears of the deer
六月朔月の御田植の新木 on the day of the new moon in June rice planting
午の日午の刻宝殿の点漏 water leaking from the treasure hall on the day of the horse, at the hour of the horse
葛井の清水 clear water of the kuzu arrowroot pond

. nanafushigi 七不思議 "The Seven Wonders" of Japan .

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. Omiwatari 御神渡 O-Miwatari "God's Crossing" of the Lake .

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Nagano 北安曇郡 Kita-Azumi district 白馬村 Hakuba village

. katsura 桂 Japanese Judas tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum .
katsura no ki かつらの木 Katsura tree
雨降宮嶺方諏訪神社 Amefurimiyaminekatasuwa Shrine

The deity in resicence at 嶺方雨降宮諏訪社 Minekata amefuri no miya Suwasha is a jatai 蛇体 a serpent.
It had come from Echigo and wondered where to go, until it reached Nagano. At that moment, there was a great light emanating from the Katsura tree.
. hebi 蛇と伝説 Legends about snakes and serpents .

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Nagano 南佐久郡 Minami-Saku district

chinshoo 沈鐘 the sunken temple bell
At the riverpool 七曲りの渕 Nanamagari no fuchi there was a sunken bell and the villagers could not pull it out. One villager mumbled: "If we ever get it out, we should give ti to 松原の諏訪様 the Suwa Shrine at Matsubara." Now all of a sudden they could pull it out and even now it is at the Suwa shrine at Matsubara.

Matsubarasuwa Shrine 松原諏訪神社
4316 Toyosato, Koumi, Minamisaku District, Nagano
- homepage of the Shrine . matsubarasuwajinja -

- - - - - . ujigami　氏神 clan KAMI deities .
In the ground of the Ujigami at 諏訪様 Suwa Shrine there lived once many serpents. The villagers asked the priest of the nearby temple to perform 蛇封じ special rituals to drive out the serpents and read the sutras. After that, the serpents did not appear any more.

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Nagano 南佐久郡 Minami-Saku district 小海町 Koumi town

. asa 麻 hemp .
At 佐久穂町 Sakuho town, 諏訪様 the Suwa Deity does not like hemp, because once it had an eye pierced by a stem of hemp.
Therefore the local villagers do not grow hemp.

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. mitsume no usagi 三つ目のうさぎ rabbit with three eyes .

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o-kyozuka no yoru no ame お経塚の夜の雨 rain in the evening at the sutra mound
West of the 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine three is kyozuka 経塚 a sutra mound.
In the forest of this sutra mound there is one place where it rains just a bit on every night.
In this area they say if rain falls at night, there will be bakemono 化け物 a monster coming out.

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suo no ki すおうの木 Caesalpinia sappan tree, Indian redwood
This tree resembles the つがの木 Tsuga sieboldii, southern Japanese hemlock tree. If people use the bark of this tree for dyeing things, they can get any color they like. This tree grows in the compound of お諏訪様 the Suwa Shrine, but nobody ever dared to use the bark.
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Takanebayashi no horagaishi 高根林のほらが石
conch-shell stone of Takanebayashi forest
North of the forest of Suwa Jinja there is a stone looking like a horagai 法螺貝 consh-shell.
If there are strange things to happen in the village, the stone makes a warning sound of a conch-shell.
Nearby is also a statue of 地蔵様 Jizo Bosatsu, and some call the stone
Jizo no horagaishi 地蔵のほらが石 conch-shell stone of Jizo.
. Jizō - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 - ABC List .

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ryooha no susuki 両葉のすすき pampas grass with leaves on both sides
There was a place where this special pampas grass grew wild. If anyone got it, he would be lucky for life.
It grows in the compound of 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine, but nobody dared to get any.
. susuki 薄 (すすき) pampas grass .
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Nagano 諏訪市 Suwa city

kaeru 蛙 frogs

At 信州諏訪大社 the Great Shrine of Suwa there was a frog venerated at the river 御手洗川 Mitarashigawa, the river where people purify their hands in the water.
Once the Shrine priest cut the ice of the river with an ax and frogs came jumping out. He caught three frogs and used them as an aim for shooting with his arrow.
In the year 1706, on the last day of the year, there was a strong rain and all the ice had melted. So the priest could not get any frogs. But when the first day of the New Year had come, the priest saw three frogs squatting at the stairs to the Shrine. So he could proceede with the rituals. This is one of the seven wonders of the Great Shrine of Suwa.

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Nagano 上田市 Ueda city

. kuzuryū, kuzu ryuu 九頭龍 Kuzuryu, "9-headed dragon" at Togakushi .

Once upon a time, 諏訪様 the Deity of the Suwa Shrine transformed into a woman and got married. When she gave birth, a creature with nine heads came creeping and sliding out.
It was Kuzuryu 九頭龍 the nine-headed dragon, which is now venerated at 戸隠 Togakushi.

.......................................................................　Nagasaki 長崎県 .....
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長崎市 Nagasaki city

. yakudoshi 厄年 "years of calamity" .
On the 1st day of June men of the age of 41, their yakudoshi 厄年 year of calamity, go to 諏訪神社 the Suwa Shrine for a special purification ritual.
After that they go to a restaurant or bar and start drinking. These men do not go home the whole day.
If they would go home, they will be cursed.

- quote -
the major Shinto shrine of Nagasaki, and home to the Nagasaki Kunchi (kunchi (くんち) means "festival"). It is located in the northern part of the city, on the slopes of Mount Tamazono-san, and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine.
Suwa shrine was established as a way of stopping and reverting the conversion to Christianity that was taking place in Nagasaki. In modern times it remains an important and successful center of the community.
The shrine in Nagasaki is one of many Suwa shrines, all of which are dedicated to Suwa-no-Kami, a kami of valor and duty, and are linked with Suwa Taisha, the head shrine of Suwa-no-Kami worship. Two other kami spirits are also enshrined at Suwa shrine, all three of which are celebrated during the Kunchi.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

.......................................................................　Niigata 新潟県 .....
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長岡市 Nagaoka city

katame no kamisama 片目の神様 Kami with one eye
諏訪様 The deity of Suwa Shrine once fell down and pierced one eye with the ears of wheat. Therefore the people in this area do not grow wheat.
Many villagers are said to have one very small eye.
. Yamanokami legends . 片目片足の神様 the Deity with one Eye and one Leg.

. katame no Kami 片目の神 Kami with one eye - legends .

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魚沼市 Uonuma city
諏訪様 The deity of the Suwa Shrine once had a bout of Sumo wrestling in a field of goma ゴマ sesame.　The shells of the sesame pierced its eyes and it became a deity with one eye.

.......................................................................　Saitama 埼玉県 .....
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秩父郡 Chichibu district 吉田町 Yoshida town

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake .
A couple which did not have any children went to お諏訪様 the Suwa Shrine to pray and indeed, the woman got pregnant. When the girl was 15 years old, it suddenly wanted to go to the Suwa shrine. The parents thought it strange and had some purification rituals held. The girl then jumped to the local pond and became a daija 大蛇 huge serpent.

.......................................................................　Shizuoka 静岡県 .....
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浜松市 Hamamatsu city 龍山町 Tatsuyama town

o-hataki オハタキ / o-hataki mochi オハタキ餅 / おはたき餅 bare and long steamed rice cake

On the second day of the New Year, people pound rice at 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine in a stone mortar. They use the powder to make rice cakes, called o-hataki mochi.
If people eat them, they will not become ill all year long.
. mochi 餅と伝説 Legends about rice cakes .

.......................................................................　Toyama 富山県 .....
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富山市 Toyama city

. Aragamisama, Koojin sama 荒神様 Kojin Wild Deity .
During the festival of 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine, there are two hikiyama 曳山 festival floats, one for each deity.
The floats from each neighbourhood pass each other, hitting the floats and fighting.
This is done because the deity of Suwa Shrine and the Kojin deity like to have a fights.
Thus the festival became known as kenka matsuri 喧嘩まつり fighting festival.

.......................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県.....
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北杜市 Hokuto city

. meoto keyaki 夫婦欅 "husband and wife Zelkova" tree .

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Yamanashi 北都留郡 Kita-Tsuru district

shikazuka no tatari 鹿塚のたたり curse of the deer mound
The Suwa Shrine of 川久保 Kawakubo is counted as one of the 24 major Suwa Shrines of 信州 Shinshu.
At the Shrine they collect the heads of deer. The same order was given to the Suwa Shrine at 小菅 Kosuge.
The bodies of the deer were buried at the border between 山沢 and 大久保. A sekito 石塔 stone pagoda was erected above the grave. If people defile this pagoda, they will be cursed.

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南巨摩郡 Minami-Koma district 南部町 Nanbu town

Suwa Jinja no Kami 諏訪神社の神 The Deity of Suwa Shrine
The messenger of Suwa Shrine is hakuja (shirohebi) 白蛇 a white serpent. It came down on the river, riding on 「麻からのくき」 a hemp leaf.
The villagers from 睦合村 Mutsuai village　塩沢部落 Shiozawa hamlet saw it first, scooped it from the water and built a small Shrine to venerte it. To honor the situation, the villagers do not grow asa 麻 hemp any more.
Now they hold a festival in its honor at the Suwa Shrine on April 15 every year. During the festival, the mikoshi 神輿 portable Shrine in placed in a small hut erected for this purpose at the banks of the river 富士川 Fujikawa.
But one year they did not erect the small hut and and soon after densenbyoo 伝染病 an epidemic came over the hamlet.
This was the curse of the Deity. Therefore the next year they build the hut again and all went well.

. hayariyamai はやり病 / Ryukobyo 流行病と伝説 Legends about epidemics .
伝染病 Densenbyo contagious diseases / pandemic

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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- #suwajinja #suwashrine #suwataisha #hakuja #shirohebi -
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20/03/2020

kamugatari divine speach

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrines (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
. kami　神　Shinto deities .
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kamugatari 神語 divine speach

かみがたり kamigatari かむがたり kamugatari かんがたり kangatari
shingo 神話シンゴ divine title
shintaku 神託 oracle /

- quote
Suseribime
The daughter of Susanoo and the principal wife of Ōnamuchi. Ōnamuchi visited Susanoo in the underworld land of Ne no katasukuni (see Ne no kuni) and there met Suseribime, but Susanoo presented Ōnamuchi with numerous trials before he would permit the two to be married. Aided by Suseribime, Ōnamuchi succeeded in overcoming the trials, and at last escaped from Ne no kuni. As Ōnamuchi fled, Susanoo called after him, urging him to use his valor to subjugate his brother kami, to take on the new name Ōkuninushi and rule the land with Suseribime as his principal wife.
Although Ōnamuchi had earlier married Yakamihime of Inaba, he honored Susanoo's request and made Suseribime his principal wife, returning Yakamihime to Inaba. But Ōnamuchi also enraged Suseribime by traveling to the Niigata area, where he married the local maiden Nunakawahime. In confusion, Ōnamuchi decided to leave Izumo for the Yamato area, but he was reconciled to Suseribime and the two renewed their wedding vows, remaining settled in Izumo. The poem sequences exchanged during this episode between Nunakawahime, Ōnamuchi, and Suseribime were thereafter referred to as kamugatari ("divine speech").
- source : Mori Mizueｘｘｘ kokugakuin

- quote -
神語（しんご）とは
、「幸魂奇魂守給幸給」（さきみたまくしみたままもりたまえさきはえたまえ）の事で、最も重要な「唱詞（となえことば）」でもある。
出雲大社や出雲大社教などでは、神語を唱えたり、奉書する伝統がある。仏教徒が「南無阿弥陀仏」を唱えたり、キリスト教徒が「アーメン」と言ったりするように、出雲大社では「幸魂奇魂守給幸給」である。
神語の起源は日本神話にある。大己貴神が国造りの半ばで少彦名命に常世郷に先立たれて困難に直面し、出雲国に至り言挙げした時、海のかなたから、光る神が近づいてきた。それが「幸魂奇魂」（さきみたまくしみたま）であった。[1] そして「今何処にか住まむと欲ふ」との問いに「三諸山（みむろのやま）に住まむと欲ふ」と答えたので、大己貴神その地に宮を作り大三輪の神となった。大国主大神は、「幸魂奇魂」の存在を知り、そして自分自身の中に潜む「幸魂奇魂」の霊力により「縁結びの神」になられた。「幸魂奇魂」の「幸」（さき）は、「咲き」や「裂き」であり、増殖や分裂である。「幸魂奇魂」の「奇」（くし）は、「串」や「櫛」であり、「整え」や「統一」を意味する。「幸魂奇魂」は「分化繁殖」したモノを「整え統一」させ、大国主大神の道に神習い、明るく和やかな日々が送れるということを意味する[2]。「神語」すなわち「幸魂奇魂守給幸給」(さきみたまくしみたままもりたまえさきはえたまえ)の神語は通常は三唱するが、非常にゆっくりと、また独特な節回しで唱える。また神事では神職や参列者も神語を声に出して一緒に唱えることが多い。なお、出雲以外でも大神神社[3]や大国主大神を奉斎する神社が神語を用いる例もある。
なお葬儀や慰霊祭などでは幽冥神語(ゆうめいしんご)「幽世大神憐給恵給幸魂奇魂守給幸給」(かくりよのおおかみ　あわれみたまえめぐみたまえ　さきみたまくしみたま　まもりたまえさきわえたまえ）を唱える。その他に神語を墨書し出雲大社に献納申し上げる「神語奉書」も盛大に行われている。
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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- quote -
Shingō
A "divine title" affixed to the name of a kami. A wide variety of titles have come into use in accordance with the unique characteristics of kami, and as a result of historical changes in the way kami have been understood. In the ancient period, the title mikoto was used, while expressions such as myōjin ("shining kami"), daibosatsu (great bodhisattva), and gongen (avatar) came into use as a product of kami-buddha combinatory cults (shinbutsu shūgō). During the Edo period, the title reisha ("spirit shrine") was applied to the departed spirits of human beings.
The title mikoto, written variously with the characters 命 or 尊was used in ancient classics such as Kojiki and Nihongi as a title of respect for both kami and noble persons. It is believed that mi represents an honorific prefix, while koto means "thing," "event," or "word"; together, the reading mikoto has been interpreted as referring to a "noble personage," "minister" or "medium" (mikotomochi), and "noble child" (miko; see mikogami).
Nihongi differentiates between the usage of characters 尊 and 命 for mikoto, stating that the earlier character is used to refer only to kami of the utmost dignity with direct linkage to the imperial descent, while the latter character is used for all other kami.
The title myōjin 明神 as applied to Japanese kami is believed to evolved from an earlier term myōjin 名神 ("eminent kami"), which was used in ancient works like Engishiki to refer to kami of particularly noteworthy power. Under the influence of the homophonic myōjin 明神 ("shining deity") found in Chinese and Buddhist texts, the latter character combination came to be applied to indigenous kami as well.
Daibosatsu is obviously a term of Buddhist origin, and refers to a "great kami that has awakened to the Way of the Bodhisattva." The title daibosatsu is first seen in 781, when the kami Hachiman was honored with the title Gokoku Reigen Iriki Jintsū Daibosatsu ("Great Bodhisattva of National Protection and Marvelous Spirit Power"). From that time, the title daibosatsu has been applied to numerous other kami, including Fuji Sengen Daibosatsu and Tado Daibosatsu.
Gongen (avatar) is likewise of Buddhist origin, a term deriving from the doctrine of honji suijaku ("original essence, manifest traces"). According to this belief, buddhas may provisionally manifest themselves in this world in the form of kami or deities indigenous to various locales. Some well-known kami bestowed with this title include Kumano Gongen, Kasuga Gongen, and Hakusan Gongen.
The title reisha originates with the Yuiitsu Shinto school of the Yoshida family, which first used the term to refer to a shrine erected over the grave of the school's founder. Mano Tokitsuna's Kokin shingaku ruihen describes reisha as "a general term referring to shrines devoted to the spirits of human beings," but the term was also later used as a title for the kami themselves. Within Yoshida Shintō, the titles reijin reisha and myōjin were all applied to deceased human spirits, and this usage influenced the use of the terms in other schools as well, including Yoshikawa Shintō and Suika Shintō, where they were applied to persons who had mastered the deepest imports of the religion. Some of these individuals included Yoshikawa Koretari, posthumously titled Miaredō Reisha, and Yamazaki Ansai, who was titled Suika Reisha.
Another unusual example of the attribution of shingō to humans is that of Sugawara Michizane, who was titled tenjin or "heavenly deity." See also shin'i, shinkai.
- source : kokugakuin Satō Masato -

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- #kamugatari #kamigatari #shingo -
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18/03/2020

Yasaka Shrine Legends

. Yasaka Shrine and the Gion Festival .
祇園祭 Gion Matsuri Festival - - - There are many kigo related to the Gion Festival.
yamaboko 山鉾（やまぼこ）Gion Festival floats

. Gozu Tenno 牛頭天王 - Legends.
In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to Gozu Tennō 牛頭天王.

. hayariyamai はやり病 / Ryukobyo 流行病と伝説 Legends about epidemics .
densenbyoo 伝染病 Densenbyo contagious diseases // ekiri 疫痢 plague // ekibyoo 疫病 epidemic

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.......................................................................　Chiba 千葉県 .....
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成田市 Narita city

千葉県成田市吉岡 Chiba, Narita, Kichioka
- reference source -

The ujiko 氏子 parishioners of the Yasaka Shrine never eat eggs.

. ujiko 氏子 local worshiper, parishioner of a Shinto shrine .

.......................................................................　Fukuoka　福岡県 .....
.......................................................................
小倉 Kokura city

Jonai, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
- homepage of Kokura Yasaka Shrine -

At the shrine 小倉八坂神社 Kokura Yasaka Jinja there is a legend about the beginning of the festival. Once Lord 細川越中守忠興 Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563 - 1646) went hunting with hawks and took a rest at 不動山 Mount Fudoyama. There was one small stone shrine and when Tadaoki placed his staff against it, it opened and one 霊鷹 sacred hawk flew out of it. The hawk kicked out both eyes of Tadaoki. He felt great pain, went home soon but would not heal at all. He realized it was the punishment of Gozu Tenno and had a shrine built in his honor. After a performance of a ritual Kagura Yudate, 神楽湯立, one eye begun to heal. He had 能興行 No Kogyo rituals of Noh performed and the other eye begun to heal too.

.......................................................................　Hiroshima 広島県 .....
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尾道市 Onomichi city

Gion Jinja 祇園神社 Gion Shrine

広島県尾道市土堂　 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima
- reference source -

About 300 years ago there was a severe ekibyo 疫病 epicemic in the region and the local fishermen and merchants suffered a lot. To help them the head priest of 鞆の浦の祇園神社 the Gion Shrine of Tomonoura prepared many amulets and went to Onomichi, but the local villagers did not let him in, because they said there was a Gion Shrine in Onomichi. They gathered at the nearby temple 常称寺 Josho-Ji and offered prayers too. Indeed, the epidemic stopped miraculously and Onomichi returned to a quiet fishing village.
Many villagers believe in 祇園さま Gion Sama and from June 7 for seven days they celebrate a large festival to honor the deity.

.......................................................................　Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
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津久井郡 Tsukui district 城山町 Shiroyama town

. hitodama 人魂 / 人玉と伝説 Legends about the lights of the human soul .
The main festival of Yasaka Shrine is on August 1. Sometimes on a bright evening, when the mikoshi 神輿 floats parade through the town there appear hitodama 人玉 lights like human souls among the floats.

.......................................................................　Kochi　高知県 .....
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幡多郡 Hata district　大月町 Otsuki town　

960 Himenoi, Otsuki, Hata district, Kochi

八坂宮 Yasaka no Miya Shrine
During the war, an important person came to this shrine and said "If you do not worship here, you will be cursed!" Then he died. So the villagers now pray for him here.

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
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京都祇園八坂神社七不思議 The seven wonders from Yasaka Shrine - there are varieties
The West Gate 西楼門（にしろうもん） Nishiromon (Sairomon), formerly called Kagomon 籠門 / also Goryumon
saru 猿 monkey
kiji 雉 pheasant
竜宮まで届く底無し井戸 a well to the dragon palace
Futami Iwa 二見石
kinukake iwa 衣掛岩
chikaramizu 力水
ryuuboe 龍吼
ryuuketsu 龍穴
Tadamori no tooroo 忠盛灯篭 / ? 油取りの燈籠
yonakiishi 夜啼石
- source : yasakajinjya-nanafushigi... -

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東山区 Higashiyama ward

kaibutsu 怪物 monster
About 800 years ago on a very stormy rainy night, at the 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine, there appeared a monster holding something that looked like a bundle of thick needles over its head. The soldiers of 平忠盛 Taira no Tadamori (? - 1153) were much afraid, but when they looked closer, they realized it was the kannushi 神主 Shinto priest who had covered his head with wheat straw during the rain.

.......................................................................　Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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仙台市 Sendai city 青葉区 Aoba ward

宮城県仙台市宮城野区岩切字若宮前11-7 / Wakamiyamae, Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai, Miyagi

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Kappagami カッパ神 the Kappa deity
During a お花湯立 divination ritual with hot water at the 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine, people bring two kyuuri 胡瓜 cucumbers, one as an offering for the deity and one to throw in the river as an offering to Kappagami 河童神 the Kappa Deity. The villagers do not eat cucumbers until this festival is over and they made their offerings.
Gozu Tenno Gozu Tenno 牛頭天王 likes cucumbers.

Gion Kappa 祇園かっぱ The Kappa Water Goblin connection
祇園さま Gionsama, Gion Sama, Gion-Sama - The Gion Deity
The messenger of お稲荷さん the Inari deity is the fox, but the messenger of the deity Gion sama is the Kappa.
Therefore on the festival for Gion Sama children must not play in the river to avoid accidents. Instead they have to throw cucumbers into the river from the bridge.

. Gion Sama 祇園さま / Gion Kappa 祇園かっぱ .
. . Miyagi 宮城県 Kappa Legends 河童伝説 .

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. sugi no ki 杉の木と伝説 Legends about the cedar tree .
It is a taboo to cut the sugi 杉 cedar tree in the compound of 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine or pick up some needles from the ground.
Once the tree seemed to bend and almost fall down, so a miko 巫女 shrine maiden performed an oracle ritual.
She was told to leave the tree alone, the Deity would care for it.

.......................................................................　Shiga 滋賀県 .....
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甲賀市 Koka city 水口町 Minakuchi town

Behind the Shrine 八坂神社 Yasaka Jinja is Ryuu-ga-mori 竜ヶ森 the Dragon Forest. There stood a huge sugi 杉 cedar tree which 6 people could hardly cover with their arms around it. A dragon lived in this tree. The tree was hit twice by lighting, and at the second time, the Dragon went back to heaven.
This special tree broke down during the Isewan Typhoon.
Nearby is a Ryuu-ga-ido 竜ヶ井戸 "Dragon Well" which is used for amagoi 雨乞い rain rituals and prayers.
. amagoi 雨乞いと伝説 Legends about rain rituals / Regenzauber .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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16/03/2020

majin akushin devil legends

- source : krazy-dotty.blogspot.jp... -

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

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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- - - - -　 H A I K U　 - - - - -

根子岳に魔神集へば年暮るる
nekodake ni majin atsumeba toshi kururu

when the devils come
to meet at Mount Nekodake
the year comes to an end ...

保坂春苺 Hosaka Shui

- quote -

The Myth & Legend of Nekodake, one of the five peak of Mount Aso - 2,207 m.
Aso Mountain which consist of five brothers. Takadake known as the eldest brother, followed by
Nakadake, Eboshidake, Kishimadake and the last being Nekodake.
... Nekodake, being the youngest among his brothers is a very mischievous boy and always quarreling and giving trouble to his elder brothers.
- source : aso-denku.jp/englis... -

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Hitotsume Kozo 一つ目小僧 Young Monk with One Eye .
... me hitotsu kozoo 目一つ小僧 is simetimes seen as 悪神 Akushin.

.......................................................................　Aomori 青森県 .....
.......................................................................
// 悪神

When 菊地ミヤ Kikuji Miya was 11 years old, she had reikan 霊感 a religious inspiration.
She was taught by the Kami and sometimes could see the appearance of a Kami. When her husband died, she went to the mountain to meditate.
During a perios of danjiki 断食 fasting, she met the Kami, but was overcome by doubts about zenshin 善神 the good or akushin 悪神 the bad Kami and threw her shintai 神体 statue of the Kami into the river. The statue came back, but now her inspiration told her to burn it first ant then throw it into the river. She also had another period of fasting.
She did not hear anything from the Kami for about 2 weeks, so she put the statue in a basket and stood under a waterfall.
When she asked about akushin 悪神 the devil, some strange things appeared but she could see it after one week.
People said that Miya has always done as the Kami had told her.

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
.......................................................................
// 悪神

At the beach they prepare a small hut, 鳥小屋 Torigoya, for a ritual on January 14 (the end of the New Year period), make offerings on a small alter and then burn the hut.
In the fire of the hut they roast mochi 餅 rice cakes and lite the pipes to use the smoke to make 悪病・悪神 the bad deities of Illness and Evil leave.
The rest of the ashes they take home and spread it at the entrance as mayoke 魔よけ an amulet.

. mochi 餅と伝説 Legends about rice cakes .

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Fukushima 相馬郡 Soma district 飯館村 Iitate village // 悪神

If someone has a grave illness and the akushin 悪神 needs to be driven out, people call for a priest to hold rituals.
Especially for netusbyoo 熱病 illness with high fever they called a powerful priest.

.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....
.......................................................................
利根郡片品村花咲 Tone district, Katashina village Hanasaki hamlet

. hanasaki ishi 花咲石 Hanasaki Stone with flowers .

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Gunma 勢多郡 Seta district 鬼石町鬼石町 Onishi machi // 鬼石 Oni Ishi

. Onishi Jinja 鬼石神社 Onishi Shrine .
The protector deity of stones was called 鬼石明神 Onishi Myojin and is known at least since 1703.
Daibagami (daibakami) だいば神 / 大馬神 is a strange illness of horses.

.......................................................................　Hokkaido 北海道 .....

.......................................................................
網走市 Abashiri city 浦士別町 Urashibetsu town // akujjn 悪神

Two sisters were lured to the river by akushin 魔神 two Deveil brothers. The elder sister feared they would be eaten and run away as fast as she could.

.......................................................................　Kochi 高知県 .....

majin no bakegi 魔神の化木 a tree becoming a devil
A man was about to cut down a large tree in his fields, when suddenly his stomach begun to hurt very much and he died.
Now his younger brother tried to cut the tree and burned the saw dust in a fire. That night an old man with white hair appeared in his dream.
He said he was 魔神の化木 Akujin, the incarnation of the tree, and said he would take away the cut part.
When the man awoke next morning, he realized his right arm was cut off at the shoulder.

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Kochi 中村市 Nakamura city // 魔神

meshi o kuwan kaka 飯を食わん嬶 a wife that did not eat rice
A greedy man got a wife that did not eat any rice. He thought that was strange, hid in the straw and observed her.
At lunchtime he saw her cook a large portion of rice and eat it with two mouths at her head.
That day when the man was in the bath, the wife took the bath tub and carried it deep into the mountain. The husband got hold of a branch and jumped out of the tub.
Now he saw that a devil had shape-shifted into a kumo クモ spider and would come back in the evening.
That evening he made a fire in the stove and when he saw the spider coming down, he burned it.

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

A strange O-Ise Sama お伊勢様 the Deity of Ise had come down to the village, but the elders told the villagers it was just majin 魔神 the devil and they could get rid of him with harae 祓え a purifiction ritual. They did it and all was well again.
. harae　祓 purification ritual .

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Miyagi 塩竃市 Shiogama city 浦戸 Urado / Urato

When the deity 塩釜明神 Shiogama Myojin had come to the area, a devil named 香背男（かしろを) Kashirao chases it to the island 桂島 Katsurajima. The chase went up and down the mountains and the devil was finaly slain at the beach near トヤケ山 mount Toyake.
The beach is now known as 鬼ヶ浜 Onigahama. The place where the body was buried is now called 香背崎 Kashirasaki.

. Shiogama Myojin 塩釜明神 Shiogama Deity .

.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....
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. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake legends .
The wife of 甲賀三郎頼方 Koga Saburo Yorikata had been kidnapped by a mashin 魔神 devil. Saburo and his two brothers went to the cave at 蓼科山 mount Tateshinayama to search for her, but the two brothers could not get out any more.
Yorikata had eaten awamochi 栗餅 foxtail millet rice cakes, the offerings for the deity in the cave, and stopped being a human.
He turned into a huge serpent and lived on in 諏訪湖 Lake Suwa.
. mochi 餅と伝説 Legends about rice cakes .

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Nagano 木曽郡 Kiso district 木曽町 Kiso town

akushin sama 悪神様 the honorable devil
This bad deity is bewitching people. To get rid of the bewitchment, people have to pray ask 御嶽教の人 for absolution rituals.

.......................................................................　Niigata 新潟県 .....
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新発田市 Shibata city // 悪神

. Kamaitachi, kama itachi 鎌鼬（かまいたち） "sickle weasel" wind god Yokai.
If someone is cut by the sickle of a Kamaitachi, even if the wound is deep there is little bleeding and little pain.
If a man happens to enter the sphere where a Kami is wielding his sword, he might get this wound.
It is seen as the deed of the devil 悪神 Akujin. A good medicine for this kind of wound is burning Ise goyomi 伊勢暦 a calender from the Ise shrine and place the ashes on the wound.
The powder can also be spread on a weasel to make it disappear.
. Ise goyomi 伊勢暦 calender from the Shrine of Ise .

.......................................................................　Okinawa 沖縄県 .....
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石垣市 Ishigaki city

. dokuro 髑髏 skull legends .

.......................................................................　Tochigi 栃木県 .....
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下都賀郡 Shimo-Tsuga district // 悪神

. koto hajime 事始 beginning of work and activities .
On the 28th day of February, people used to celebrate the beginning of work in the New Year.
They prepare special food and put it in a basket with holes on a long pole on the roof.

The akushin 悪神 devil will stare at the holes, but not dare to come into the home.

.......................................................................　Toyama 富山県 .....

. nanakusa gayu 七草粥 ritual gruel with seven Spring vegetables .
If people prepare ritual rice gruel with seven herbs, the akushin 悪神 devil will not come into the home.
It will also prevent people from falling ill and bring them good luck in the coming year.

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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- #majin #devil #akuma #teufel #nekodake #debiru -
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14/03/2020

shinshi otsukai messenger

kujira 鯨 whale fish ，umigami 海神
In areas where they fish for for whales and also in areas where they do not, he is venerated as the messenger of
. Umi no Kami 海の神 God of the Sea .

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宮城県 Miyagi 気仙沼市 Kesennuma city 唐桑町 / 白鯨 white whale

. Shrine Osaki Jinja 御崎神社 .
There is a legend from a shipwrecked boat, that was rescued by 白鯨 a large white whale fish and brought to this shore safely.
The white whale, as the deity 御崎明神 Osaki Myojin, came riding on 白馬 a white horse. He sat down on the beach on a mat of warabi ワラビ bracken, fern,.
So the people in this area, to show their respect of the deity, never eat whale meat or bracken.

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. unagi 鰻 eel - Mishima Taisha 三嶋大社 .
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鹿児島県 Kagoshima 大島郡 Oshima district 瀬戸内町 Setouchi town

In the hamlet 大島郡古仁屋町勝浦 Katsuura there was one izumi 泉 spring, where many eels lives. hHe nearby villagers venerated them as divine messengers and would never catch or eat them.
Some had a mark on the head as special messengers.

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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

.......................................................................　Aichi 愛知県 .....
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南設楽郡 Minami-Shitara district 長篠村 Nagashina village

yamakagashi ヤマカカシ poisonous snake, Rhabdophis family
If there is raimei 雷鳴 a thunderstorm, this snake is going up to heaven (or so some people say.)
This snake is a divine messenger, the messenger of Atago 愛宕 or the messenger of 山の神 Yamanokami.

.......................................................................　Chiba 千葉県 .....
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船橋市 Funabashi city

The messenger of the Shrine at Funabashi is shika 鹿 the deer. Six people who had killed a deer got a divine punishment. Their homes burned down and they all got a high fever and died the same day.

.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....
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松山市 Matsuyama city

. Sai no Kami, Sainokami 塞の神 and 道祖神 Dosojin, Dososhin deities .
Sai no Kami is venerated in many villages. The Deity is also seen as a matsu 松 pine tree and often shirohebi 白蛇 a white serpent lives there.
This serpent is seen as 塞の神の使い the messenger of the Deity.

.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
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いわき市 Iwaki city

The messenger at the Shrine 四八社神 Shishu Jinja is kamome かもめ a sea gull. People are not allowed to catch and eat this bird.
四十八社山神社 - Shimokori-14 Shimokoriyama, Tomioka, Futaba District, Fukushima

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南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district 檜枝岐村 Hinoemata village
. Hashiba no Banba 橋場のばんば the old woman at the bridge .

.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県 .....
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shiro mamushi 白蝮 white viper

This animal is also called オハッスン Ohassun.
It is the messenger of the deity and thus never hunted.

.......................................................................　Kagoshima 鹿児島県 .....
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habu 波布 pit viper
The messenger of 山の神 Yamanokami. On special ritual days it might appear.
One day on the second day of the New Year, a carpenter prepared offerings and there he saw two vipers coiled on this tool box.

.......................................................................　Kyoto 京都府 .....
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亀岡市 Kameoka city 大井町 Oi town
. Carp Koi Daimyojin 鯉大明神 from Tanba province .

.......................................................................　Kumamoto 熊本県 .....
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shinshi no tori 神使の鳥 a bird as divine messenger
Going down the river 球磨川 Kumagawa there is a stone gate and cave named 神の瀬 / 神瀬 Kami no Se.
In this cave lived a bird with only one leg, the divine messenger, venerated by the local people.
They fear if they capture the bird, the village will be cursed.
If they drink from the water in the cave, all illness will be cured and they will live a long healthy life.
球磨村神瀬石灰洞窟
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

.......................................................................　Miyazaki 宮崎県 .....
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東臼杵郡 Higashi-Usuki district 諸塚村 Morotsuka village

. shirozaru シロザル / 白猿 hakuen - a white monkey .
of 市山大明神 Ichiyama Daimyojin.
- - - - -
At the stone lantern near the torii 鳥居 gate of the Shrine 愛宕神社 Atago Jinja there lives hebi 蛇 a serpent as 神の使い the messenger of the Deity.

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宮崎市 Miyazaki city 青島 Aoshima

miyakodori 都鳥 / yurikamome, 百合鴎　ユリカモメ hooded gull, Larus ridibundus
In Aoshima there lived a couple of hooded gulls. They were venerated as divine messengers.

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Miyazaki 登米市 Tome city

oino, o-ino オイノ, (oinu, o-inu オイヌ)　狼 wolf
The pronounciation oino instead oinu is an expression of veneration.
Once upon a time, a wolf had come from Mitsumine Shrine as a divine messenger. If people met him, they would greet him and say
"Honorable Wolf, please protect our fields carefully!"

. Shrine Mitsumine Jinja 三峰神社 / 三峯 .

.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....
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茅野市 Chino city

shinshi no tori 神使の鳥 a bird as messenger
At the peak of 蓼科の峯 Mount Tateshina there lives 神鳥 a divine bird, resembling a raichoo 雷鳥 Raicho snow grouse, "Thunderbird".
In the morning and evening its voice can be heard to announce the time. The male bird is rather black, the female more yellow, with a black breast and white spots on it.
The chicks like to eat matsu no mi 松の実 pine nuts and green pine leaves.

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shinshi no tori, uma 神使の鳥，馬 bird and horse as divine messenger
In former times when many horses were kept outside, about six were selected and offered to 権現 the Gongen Deity.
When the horses kneeled in front of the Shrine, a divine bird messenger came with small branches of a pine tree and offered them to the horses. The horses took them in their mouth and went home. If the branches are kept close, the horses will not have problems with wild animals or dokuhebi 毒蛇 poisonous serpents.

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Nagano 諏訪市 Suwa city

shinshi no kitsune 神使の狐 the fox as divine messenger

source : suwatakken.naganoblog...

諏訪湖 Lake Suwako freezes every year in the coldest season.
During that time, the 神狐 divine Fox messenger might walk over the lake to the Suwa Shrine. Sometimes even horses with heavy burdens can cross it.
If there is no Fox messenger walking over the ice, it is not strong enough.
In Spring, when it gets warmer and the ice melts, the fox comes back from the Shrine and walks back over the lake. From that time on, humans can not cross any more and the ice melts.

. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain and fox legends .

.......................................................................　Okinawa 沖縄県 .....
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石垣市 Ishigaki city / 神の使い

karasu 烏 a crow
The crow is seen as the messenger of the Deity. It is called bunaji 女頭（婢、ブナジ）.

.......................................................................　Saitama 埼玉県 .....
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春日部市 Kasuga city

. three masks of 竜神 the Dragon Deity .

.......................................................................　Shiga 滋賀県 .....
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犬上郡 Inugami district 多賀町 Taga town

During the main festival on November 1 there are many ritual offerings at 八幡神社 the Shrine Hachiman Jinja.
A senjiki dana センジキ棚 special ritual shelf for offering of rice, called senjiki 握り飯（センジキ）. When the priest claps his hands two times, the sound will wake two karasu 烏 crows which come to eat the offerings. They are the messengers of this Shrine and are called
okarasu, o-karasu オカラス "venerable crows".

.......................................................................　Tottori 鳥取県 .....
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東伯郡 Tohaku district 三朝町 Misasa town

shiro ookami 白狼 a white wolf
. Legends from Misasa Onsen 三朝温泉 Misasa Hot Spring .

.......................................................................　Wakayama 和歌山県 .....

. Keyamura Rokusuke 毛谷村六助 .
A strong farmer turned samurai and messenger of the Deity. He got records of the art of war from a Shrine at the foothills of Mount Hikatayama, where the Deity Kora 高良 is venerated.
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みなべ町 Minabe Town

A 天狗 Tengu is the messenger of 秋葉の神 the Akiba deity.
. Akibagongen 秋葉権現　Akiba Gongen .

.......................................................................　Yamagata 山形県 .....
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長井市 Nagai city / 神の使い

. shishimai 獅子舞 a lion dance for Inari .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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