Akiba faith - Akiba Shinko

Japanese: 秋葉信仰 - あきばしんこう

This is a belief related to the deity enshrined at Akiha Shrine. The main shrine is located at the top of Mt. Akiha in Haruno-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It is written in the "Tokaido Meisho Zue" that it is miraculous for preventing accidents by sword, water, and fire. It is especially famous for its belief in fire prevention, as well as Atago Shrine. Mt. Akiha became a sacred place for Shugendo (Japanese asceticism) due to the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, and the ascetic Sanjakubo (a tengu) who was said to be an incarnation of Kannon and well versed in the art of fire prevention, flew from Echigo Province (Niigata Prefecture) to become the guardian deity of Mt. Akiha, and was enshrined at Mt. Daitozan Akiha Temple under the name of Sanjakubo Daigongen. In 1685 (Jokyo 2), worshiping Sanjakubo Daigongen became popular, and shrines were sent to various places one after another, but it was banned by the shogunate before it reached Edo. This faith was mainly in the Chubu region, but was deeply connected to the common people, with lecture societies being formed from the Tokaido to the Kanto region. With the Shinbutsu Bunri Rei (law to separate Shinto and Buddhism) in the early Meiji period, it was renamed Akiba Shrine and became independent, and Akiba-dera was abandoned, so the statue of Sanjakubo and other items were moved to Kasui-sai (a temple in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture), but it is still deeply worshipped today. Especially during the Edo period, it was often visited on the way to Ise Shrine.

[Takahiro Nogami]

[References] | Mount Akihabara | Akihabara Shrine | Atago faith | Kasuisai

Akiha Shrine Fire Festival
This is the annual festival of Akiha Shrine, which has long been worshipped by both the government and the public as a god of fire prevention. It is held every year on December 15th and 16th, and late at night on the 16th, the "Bow Dance," "Sword Dance," and "Fire Dance" are dedicated to the shrine. The photo shows the "Fire Dance." Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture © Shizuoka Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Akiha Shrine Fire Festival

Akihabara Temple Fire Festival
The Akiba-dera Temple Fire Festival is held on December 15th and 16th. When the great goma fire is lit, the monks stand in the fire, raise a large cloth (kite), and perform a magical dance to prevent fires. The fire-walking by the monks and worshippers is also famous. Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Akihabara Temple Fire Festival

Kasuisai
A famous temple of the Soto sect said to have been founded during the Oei era (1394-1428). It is affectionately known as "Okasui." The main hall (photo) and the main hall (Akiha Sohonden) at the back enshrines Sanjakubo Daigongen, which was moved from Akihabara Temple on Akihayama in Hamamatsu City. Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture © Shizuoka Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Kasuisai

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

秋葉神社の祭神にかかわる信仰。根本社は静岡県浜松市天竜区春野(はるの)町の秋葉(あきは)山頂に鎮座。剣難、水難、火難に霊験(れいげん)あらたかであると『東海道名所図会』に記されている。とくに火難（火伏せ、防火）信仰は愛宕(あたご)神社と並んで有名。秋葉山は神仏習合に伴い修験(しゅげん)の霊場となったが、修験者の三尺坊(さんじゃくぼう)は、観音の化身で火伏せの法に通じた天狗(てんぐ)といわれ、越後(えちご)国（新潟県）から飛来して秋葉山の鎮守となり、三尺坊大権現(だいごんげん)と称して、大登山秋葉寺に祀(まつ)られたという。1685年（貞享2）には三尺坊大権現を祀ることが流行し、順次各地に送り祀られていったが、江戸に入る前に幕府から禁圧された。この信仰は中部地方を主として、東海道筋から関東地方にかけて講社を結成するなど庶民と深く結び付いた。明治初期の神仏分離令で、秋葉神社と改称、独立し、秋葉寺は廃寺となったため三尺坊の像などを可睡斎(かすいさい)（静岡県袋井(ふくろい)市の寺）に移したが、現在も根強く信仰されている。とくに江戸時代は伊勢(いせ)参宮の途次に参詣(さんけい)されることが多かった。

［野上尊博］

[参照項目] | 秋葉山 | 秋葉神社 | 愛宕信仰 | 可睡斎

秋葉神社の火祭り
古くから火防の神として朝野の信仰を集めた秋葉神社の例祭。毎年12月15・16日に行われ、16日深夜には「弓の舞」「剣の舞」「火の舞」が奉納される。写真は「火の舞」。静岡県浜松市©静岡県観光協会">

秋葉神社の火祭り

秋葉寺の火祭り

可睡斎
応永年間（1394～1428）の創始と伝える曹洞宗の名刹。「お可睡」とよばれ、人々に親しまれている。本堂（写真）奥にある御真殿（秋葉総本殿）には、浜松市秋葉山の秋葉寺から移された三尺坊大権現が祀られている。静岡県袋井市©静岡県観光協会">

可睡斎

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

<<: Takashi Akiba

>>: Akihayama - Akihasan