Tsuki-nami Festival - Tsuki-nami Festival

This festival, stipulated in the Jingi-Ryo (Courtesy of the Shinto Gods), was held twice a year, in the sixth and twelve months of the lunar calendar, at the Jingikan. The origin of the name is unknown. The ceremony was held with the participation of various officials at the Jingikan, with offerings of sacred offerings made to the shrine, and the Nakatomi clan recited prayers, followed by the Inbe clan performing a ceremony of offerings to Ise Shrine and other shrines. However, the only place where imperial envoys directly offered offerings was to Ise Shrine. Afterwards, the emperor appeared at Chuwa-in and performed a jinkonjiki (a sacred meal). The focus was on prayers for the peace and prosperity of the nation and the Eucharist, and for abundant harvests. Due to the wars of the Middle Ages and the resulting changes in the imperial family's ceremonies, all of the festivals were abolished, with the exception of Ise Shrine. At Ise Jingu, the Kanname Festival and these two monthly festivals are called the Sansetsu Festivals and are held as the most important ceremonies. At ordinary shrines, festivals held on the 1st and 15th of each month for the purpose of monthly tribute are called Tsukimi Festivals.

[Motegi Sadazumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神祇令(じんぎりょう)に規定する祭りで陰暦の6月と12月の二度、神祇(じんぎ)官にて行われた。名称の由来は不明。その儀は、神祇官に諸官人の参集を得て、幣(ぬさ)を案上に供えて中臣(なかとみ)氏が祝詞(のりと)を奏し、忌部(いんべ)氏が伊勢(いせ)神宮以下の諸社に頒幣(はんぺい)の儀を行った。ただし、直接に勅使が幣帛(へいはく)を供進するのは伊勢神宮に対してのみであった。その後、天皇が中和院に出御され、神今食(じんこんじき)を行った。国家および聖体の安泰と豊稔(ほうねん)の祈りが眼目である。中世の戦乱とそれに伴う皇室の式微により、伊勢神宮を例外として、すべて廃絶した。伊勢神宮では、神嘗(かんなめ)祭とこの二度の月次祭を三節祭(さんせつさい)と称し、もっとも重要な祭儀として行われてきた。一般の神社にあっては、月の1、15日などに、月ごとの報賽(ほうさい)のために行う祭りを月次祭といっている。

［茂木貞純］

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