Living Spirit God - Ikumusubi no Kami

One of the many Musubigami (soul gods), including Takamimusubi and Kamumusubi. "Musu" means production, and it is the deification of the ability to produce things. In agricultural societies, there was a strong interest in promoting production, so it is likely that many Musubigami were born. In the Imperial Court, Musubi was one of the eight gods served by mikamunagi (shrine priests), and was also worshiped in the requiem festival for the Emperor and Empress (Engishiki), probably because a productive god was thought to be suitable for giving vitality to declining souls.

[Toshihiko Moriya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

高御魂(たかみむすび)、神魂(かむむすび)など多くの魂神(むすびがみ)のなかの一神。「むす」は生産の意で、物を生産する能力を神格化したもの。農耕社会では、物の生産促進に関心が高いところから、多くの魂神が誕生したのであろう。宮中では御巫(みかむなぎ)が奉仕する八神のなかに入り、また天皇や中宮のための鎮魂祭(たましずめのまつり)の祭神ともなっている（延喜式(えんぎしき)）が、これは衰える魂に活力を与えるには、生産する神がふさわしいと考えられたからであろう。

［守屋俊彦］

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