First fruits - Hatsuho

In agricultural ceremonies, the first grain harvested that season is offered to the gods with the ears still attached, in order to give thanks for the harvest. Also refers to the grain. In Japan, this can be for wheat or foxtail millet, but the most common ceremony is for rice, and there are rituals for hanging the ears and hanging the ears before the harvest. Two or three ears of rice are pulled out and offered to the god of the fields, such as on a Shinto altar. Later, the term "hatsuho" also came to refer to fishing and hunting crops, and also to rice offered to the Shinto altar and money as a thank you to the priest.

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

農耕儀礼において、その期の最初に収穫した穀物を、穂のままで神に供え収穫に感謝すること。またその穀物。日本ではムギやアワの場合もあるが、イネの儀礼がもっとも多く、収穫に先だって穂掛け・掛け穂の儀礼がある。稲穂を2、3本抜き取り、田の神に供えると称して神棚などに供える。のちには漁業や狩猟に関しても初穂といい、また神棚に供える御飯や神主への謝礼金をも初穂とよぶようになった。

［井之口章次］

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