Childbirth - Kozasuke

Japanese: 子授け - こさずけ

Even today, the practice of childless people or those who want children praying to gods and Buddhas to become pregnant is widespread, and there are various popular beliefs and incantations. Gods worshipped for fertility vary by region, but include Koyasu-no-kami, Koyasu-kannon, Koyasu-jizo, Awashima-sama (Awashima faith), Shiogama-sama, and Sanyasu-sama, which is common in the Kanto region. It is said that if you visit this shrine with someone who already has a child, you will be blessed with a child, and if you are blessed with a child, you will go back to give thanks. In many regions, if a woman is unable to have children, she will eventually become pregnant and give birth to a child of her own if she receives a child from someone else and raises it.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

子のない者，子の欲しい者が神仏に妊娠祈願をする風は現在もひろく行われ，種々の俗信，呪法がある。子授けの神としては，土地により異なるが，子安神，子安観音，子安地蔵，淡島（あわしま）様(淡島信仰)，塩釜様，関東地方に多い産泰様などが信仰されている。子どものある人と一緒にまいると子が授かるといい，授かったらお礼参りにいく。子どもがなかなかできない時には，他から子どもをもらって育てていると，やがて妊娠して実子が生まれるという地方も多い。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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