Prayer Festival - Kinensai

Japanese: 祈年祭 - きねんさい

A festival to pray for a good harvest at the Jingikan and Kokufu. It is also called "Tosigoi no Matsuri (the festival of the gods)". It is held on the 4th February of the lunar calendar every year. On that day, all government work is suspended. According to the Engishiki, there are 3132 deities worshipped in total. Of these, there are 737 deities worshipped by the Jingikan, 304 at large shrines that receive official offerings from Anjo, and 433 at small shrines that receive official offerings from Ange. There are also 2395 deities worshipped by the kokushi (Kokuheisha), 188 at large shrines and 2207 at small shrines. The festival includes three days of Sansai and one day of Chisai, for purification. The ceremony involves the Nakatomi clan reading prayers and the Ibe clan distributing offerings, and in particular, offerings of a white chicken, a white boar, and a white horse to Mitoshi no Kami of Yamato Province.

Prayer Festival and Goi Festival

Please see the Prayer Festival page.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

神祇官，国府において穀物の豊作を祈る祭り。「としごいのまつり」ともいう。中祀。式日は毎年旧暦2月4日。当日官庁の執務は中止。『延喜式』によれば，祭神は全部で 3132座。このうち神祇官で祭る神は 737座で，案上 (あんじょう) の官幣にあずかる大社 304座，案下 (あんげ) の官幣にあずかる小社 433座。また国司の祭る神 (国幣社) は 2395座で，大社 188座，小社 2207座。祭りには散斎3日，致斎1日の潔斎を行う。儀式は中臣が祝詞 (のりと) を読み，忌部が幣帛 (へいはく) を分け，特に大和国御歳神 (みとしのかみ) には，白鶏，白猪，白馬を奉納する。