命の魚 神事場

Down the eastern approach to the precincts of Hachimangu, there is a funeral home called "Menou Shinto Shrine". Many people may wonder what kind of ritual is to be done under the slightly strange name of the funeral home. Actually, this funeral home is called "Meigyohoken no ritual" at the annual festival of Fuhachimangu. It is a place where very rare rituals are held. The annual festival of Fuhachimangu, where the sounds of gorgeous floats, drums, and flutes echo in a row of gorgeous floats. The annual festival of Fuhachimangu, which attracts visitors from inside and outside the city, is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of October every year. Beginning with the eve of the festival, Miyauchi holds regular festivals and evening festivals on Saturdays, and Shinko festivals from the afternoon on Sundays. In Ujigami Town, beautifully decorated floats parade through the city on both days. A Shinto ritual called the "Meigyohoken Ceremony" is held on the second day of this annual festival, during the Shinkosai from Sunday afternoon. The Shinkosai is simply called "God's good luck" and is a festival in which the god (the god of rituals) goes out and makes a pilgrimage (visits various places). Then, the god (god of worship) who was transferred to the portable shrine goes out, and the first place to visit is this "fish of life (agate) Shinto ritual place". (The festival in which the god (festival deity) moves to the portable shrine (Mikoshi) is held at the evening festival on Saturday the day before.) Well then, what kind of ritual will be held in this place? The life fish in the ritual name "Meigyo Hoken no ritual" is a living fish, isn't it? And since consecration means giving things to God and superiors, this Shinto ritual is It is a Shinto ritual that presents live fish to a god (a god of worship). Live fish donated to the gods (gods of worship) are brought from the Oumikuni Tamajinja Shrine in Mitsuke, Iwata City, the Soja Shrine of Totomi Province. In a solemn atmosphere, the live fish carried are placed in front of the portable shrine (Mikoshi), and a congratulatory speech is played in front of it. It seems that the performance of the congratulatory words also means a prayer for the safety of the pilgrimage (traveling around the country) that will be held from now on. Then, when the performance of the congratulatory words is over, the live fish are released into a well (Oshozu) just below this funeral home. It is also an important ritual of the Shinto ritual to release live fish to Oshozu, and it is a ritual called "Hojoe" that releases captured fish and birds and beasts to the field and warns them of their killing. In this way, the Shinto ritual is completed, and the god (god of worship) who rides the portable shrine departs for a pilgrimage to the 17 towns. The "Agate Shrine" is usually quietly nestled in a forest surrounded by silence.