Fire relay - coffin

Succession of the sacred flame. In the days when fire-making technology was still in its infancy, kindling for cooking and warmth was always preserved, but even after the times had progressed, there were cases where the sacred flame was passed down while maintaining its connection to religion. Examples include ancient Greece, Rome, India, and China. In Japan, at Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City, there is a nightlight that has never been turned off since its founding, but the most famous is probably the fire-passing ritual at Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture. The chief priest of this shrine is called Izumo Kokuso, and for the inauguration ceremony, a sacred fire is ignited with a treasured fire drill and mortar, and rice and sake are prepared overnight, which are then eaten together with the gods to receive their spiritual power. A sacred fire was always kept burning in the fireplace at the kuni no miyatsuko's residence, and until 1872 (Meiji 5), the kuni no miyatsuko were not allowed to eat any food that was cooked with fire other than this.

[Hirai Naofusa]

"Ancient Cities" by Fustel de Coulanges, translated by Sadanosuke Tanabe (1956, Hakusuisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

聖火の継承。発火技術の幼稚な時代には、調理や採暖のための火種がつねに保存されたが、時代が進んだのちも宗教とのかかわりを保ちながら、聖火の継承を行うことがあった。古代ギリシア、ローマ、インド、中国などにその例がある。日本でも長野市善光寺には創建以来消されたことがないという常夜灯があるが、もっとも有名なものは島根県の出雲(いずも)大社の火継神事であろう。この神社の宮司職は出雲国造(こくそう)と称し、就任の儀式には、宝物の火鑽杵(ひきりぎね)・火鑽臼(うす)で鑽(き)った神火で一夜酒(ひとよざけ)と御飯を用意し、神々とともにこれを食べて、神々の霊威を受ける。国造邸のお火所には常時神火が焚(た)かれ、1872年（明治5）までは国造はこれ以外の火を使った食物をいっさい食べてはならなかった。

［平井直房］

『フュステル・ド・クーランジュ著、田辺貞之助訳『古代都市』（1956・白水社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例