Kashima faith - Kashima faith

Belief in Kashima Okami (wolf) and Kashima Shrine. Centered on Kashima Shrine in Hitachi (Ibaraki Prefecture), it has spread throughout the country, including the coastal areas of Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture. Kashima Okami was originally the patron deity of navigation, but was also called Takemikazuchi no Okami and was highly revered by the Imperial Court as a god in charge of military affairs. When the Fujiwara clan extended their influence to this area, they were revered as the clan deity. As this area was an important base for the development of the eastern provinces, the branch shrine, Kashima Miko Shrine, was enshrined along the coast, and its distribution allows us to know the traces of the Yamato Imperial Court's advance northward. One of the reasons why Kashima faith became widespread in later generations is because there was a group of diviners who spread it to the general public. They traveled around delivering the oracles of the shrine maidens known as "monoimi" at Kashima Shrine to the people. This was the beginning of the "Kashima Kotobure." Wearing black hats and robes and carrying offerings, the Kotobure traveled around the people announcing the prosperity of the rice crop and other such events. Later, they began to perform songs and dances to drive away evil spirits, and spread religious customs and ritual arts such as the Kashima Okuri, Kashima Nagashi, Kashima dolls, and Kashima Dance.

[Ken Mitsuhashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鹿島大神(おおかみ)および鹿島神社に対しての信仰。常陸(ひたち)（茨城県）の鹿島神宮を中心として、福島県、宮城県の海岸地帯など全国的に広がっている。鹿島大神は元来は航海の守護神であったらしいが、別に武甕槌大神(たけみかづちのおおかみ)といわれ、武事をつかさどる神として朝廷の厚い崇敬を受けた。また、藤原氏が当地へ勢威を伸ばしてくると、その氏神として尊崇された。当地は東国開拓の重要な根拠地にあったので、分祠(ぶんし)である鹿島御児(みこ)神社が海岸沿いに祀(まつ)られ、その分布により大和(やまと)朝廷の北進の跡を知ることができる。後世、鹿島信仰が普及した事由の一つは、これを民間に広めた神人(じにん)集団がいたからである。彼らは、鹿島神宮にいた「物忌(ものいみ)」とよばれる巫女(ふじょ)の託宣を民間に伝えて歩いた。これが「鹿島の事触(ことぶ)れ」の始まりである。事触らは烏帽子(えぼし)に浄衣(じょうえ)を着て幣帛(へいはく)を担ぎ、稲作の豊凶などを告げて民間を巡回したが、のちには悪霊退散の歌舞を行い、鹿島送り、鹿島流し、鹿島人形、鹿島踊などの宗教習俗や神事芸能を流布せしめた。

［三橋　健］

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