Tokubata Tenjin shrine Shunki Reitaisai

Taka-town, Hyogo

Place

Taka-town, Taka-gun, Hyogo
Google MAP

Date

Saturday and Sunday around April 24th and 25th

Contact

Taka-town City Office/+81-795-32-4779

Related Web Site

Taka-town Homepage

Overview

In Tokubata-Tenjinsha Shrine, three gods of creation – Amenonakanushi-no-kami, Takamimusubi-no-kami, and Kamimusubi-no-kami – and Sugawara no Michizane are enshrined. During the Kyuan period (1145–1150), Minamoto no Yorimasa, a feudal lord in this area, established the shrine and enshrined these gods. However, the shrine burned down in 1267. It is reported that a farmer called Kyubei rescued goshintai (an object of worship) from the fire and was later given a revelation during a dream, and the enshrined object was transferred to the present site according to the revelation.

Tokubata-Tenjinsha Shrine consists of four areas of parishioners: Tokubata, Okunaka, Nakamuramachi, and Shigeri. Four floats from these areas had been paraded in the annual spring festival. However, Tokubata was submerged into a dam reservoir, and there are currently only three floats from three parishioner areas. The festival is held on the weekend around April 24 and 25 (former festival dates).

On the eve of the festival (first day), each float is paraded through each parishioner area in the morning, and the three of them gather in the center of the town. Then, the procession of the three floats winds through all areas. The floats visit shrines here and there in the town, where float carriers perform sashiage (lifting the float high) and neri (turning it). Today, lights on the three floats are turned on all at once at the lighting ceremony in the evening. On the eve of the festival, a portable shrine, placed in the front shrine in Tenjinsha, is attended overnight by the villagers in charge.

On the festival day (second day), the three floats head to Tenjinsha and enter the grounds of the shrine. Then, the portable shrine is brought to the shrine gate, followed by the three floats, and a Shinto ritual is performed under the gate. Again, the portable shrine and the three floats travel up the approach, and the portable shrine is returned to the front shrine. All three floats are turned all at once in front of the front shrine, which is the culmination of the festival. At the end of the festival, rice cakes are scattered, and each float is taken back to each parishioner area.

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