Nariki Torture - Nariki Torture

This is a type of incantation that hits persimmons and other fruit trees on Little New Year's Day to promise a good harvest. It is called Kimajinai, Kimatsuri, Narenare, etc. depending on the place, but the format is that one person approaches the tree with a hatchet or sickle and chants, "Will it happen or not? If it doesn't, I'll cut it down," making a small wound in the trunk, and then another person acts on behalf of the tree and replies, "It will happen, it will happen," and then they often smear azuki bean porridge on the wound and feed it to the tree. This was once widespread in villages all over the country. Sometimes, instead of a blade, the attack is carried out with a celebratory stick that is said to have spiritual power, or with bamboo or pine that is left over from a Dondo-yaki fire, which is thought to be more old-fashioned. It also has a common purpose with the bride-tataki event, which also takes place on Little New Year's Day, in which children go around to newlywed families and hit the buttocks of the newlyweds in an attempt to make them pregnant.

[Noriaki Tanaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小(こ)正月に柿(かき)などの果樹を打ち責め、豊熟を約束させようとする呪術(じゅじゅつ)。キマジナイ、キマツリ、ナレナレなど呼称は所によって異なるが、形式は、1人が鉈(なた)か鎌(かま)を持って木に向かい、「成るか成らぬか、成らねば切るぞ」と唱えて幹に少し傷をつけると、他の1人が木にかわって、「成ります成ります」と答えるというような演技をしたあと、傷口に小豆粥(あずきがゆ)を塗り与える場合が多く、かつては全国の村々に広く分布していた。刃物ではなく、霊力があるとされる祝い棒やどんど焼の燃え残りの竹、松で打つこともあり、このほうが古風かと考えられる。また、同じ小正月に子供たちが新婚家庭を回って新嫁の尻(しり)を打ち、はらませようとした嫁タタキの行事とは、趣旨において共通するものである。

［田中宣一］

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