Ichimi Shinsui - Ichimi Shinsui

A custom from the Middle Ages and early modern times. People making a vow would drink sacred water in front of the altar and swear to each other not to break their promises or rules. There were two ways to make a vow: an oral oath or a written pledge. In the latter case, the vow was often written out, then burned, and the ashes were floated in sacred water before drinking. The sacred water was either water drawn from a special well or sacred sake, but in either case it was probably offered before the altar, and drinking it signified that the people involved in the vow drank and ate together with the god, and that the god was present at the vow. For this reason, the occasion of the offering of sacred water was a very realistic one, often described as "horrifying."

The earliest examples of Ichimi Shinsui can be seen from the end of the Heian period, and in the Middle Ages, it was widely practiced in situations such as when monks revolted within temples, when local lords of the local class joined forces in uprisings, and even when peasants rose up in uprisings, for the purpose of swearing to each other not to go against their covenants and to act in unison.

[Chijiwa Toru]

"Ikki" edited by Michio Aoki et al., 5 volumes (1981, University of Tokyo Press)" ▽ "Ikki" by Shizuo Katsumata (Iwanami Shinsho)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中世・近世の習俗。誓約を結ぶ人々が神前で神水を飲み交わし、互いに約束・掟(おきて)に違背しないことを誓い合うこと。誓約には、口頭で誓い合う誓言(せいごん)と、紙に書く起請文(きしょうもん)との二つの方法があった。後者の場合、しばしば誓約を記したあと、その紙を焼き、灰を神水に浮かべて飲んだ。神水は特別な井戸でくんだ水であったり神酒であったりしたが、いずれにしてもおそらくは神前に供えられたものであり、これを飲み交わすのは、誓約にかかわる人々が神と共飲共食し、誓約に神が立ち会ったことを意味した。そのため、一味神水の場は、しばしば「身の毛よだちてぞありける」などと表現されるような臨場感にあふれた場であった。

　一味神水は早い例では平安時代末からみられ、中世には、寺院内部での衆徒の蜂起(ほうき)や国人(こくじん)層の在地領主相互の一揆(いっき)結合、さらには農民たちの一揆への決起に際しても、一致して事にあたり、盟約に背かない旨を誓い合う目的で盛んに行われた。

［千々和到］

『青木美智男他編『一揆』全5巻（1981・東京大学出版会）』▽『勝俣鎮夫著『一揆』（岩波新書）』

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