Sainokami event

History of Sainokami rituals

While January 1st is called New Year's Day (Taishogatsu), January 15th is called New Year's Day. small new year ( Pepper ) It's called. This is due to the fact that the 15th day of the full moon was thought to be a break, but due to the influence of calendaring from China, the 1st day gradually came to be celebrated as New Year's Day, and the traditional 15th day was called Koshogatsu. Now it looks like this. Various events were held during the New Year, one of which was the Sei no Kami event.
Shinto rituals include New Year's pine decorations and note decoration ( Shimekaza ) This is an event that is held all over the country, and involves gathering all the vegetables in one place and burning them. It has different names in various places, such as Dondo-yaki, Sagicho ( heron ) It is also called , site-yaki, site-barai, etc. In this event, there is a belief that fire is considered sacred, and people hold up a written kajime to the fire, saying that if you expose your body to a burning fire, your body will become strong, and if you eat dumplings that have been roasted over a burning fire, you will not get sick. It is said that if you soar high, your handwriting will improve.
In the eastern region of Japan, Dosojin ( Dosojin ) It is often associated with the belief of Dosojin is a god who prevents evil spirits from entering, and is a god who protects people from entering villages and crossroads. Shrine ( pine tree ) They also have the personality to protect their path from being attacked.

Inagi City Sainogami event

In Inagi City, each region has long had small letters ( Bruise ) every or class ( Kouchu ) Sa no Kami events have been held every year. In the 20s of the Showa era, it was canceled or disappeared in some areas, but it has been revived in the 40s and 50s of the Showa era and continues to this day. After the revival, there are many places where the implementation organization, content, schedule, scale, etc. have changed. So, let's restore the ancient rituals of the gods here.

Old sainokami event (in the case of Yanoguchi/Sakahama area)

Building a hut for the god of death
Nanakusa ( Nakusa ) After the New Year, elementary and junior high school students took the lead in procuring materials such as bamboo, wood, and straw for building huts (note: also called yagura), and going door to door to prepare the New Year's huts. Collect decorations. Around the 11th, a hut is built for the shrine god. The frame of the hut is made of bamboo or wood in a conical shape, and is surrounded by straw and decorations. When the hut is completed, the Dourokujin stone is enshrined inside.
　
After the hut is completed
For several days after the hut is completed and before it is burnt down, the children sleep inside the hut and protect it. This is because young people from other regions come and set the huts on fire and steal the sacred Dourokujin stone.
　
Mayu ball dumplings
Around the 13th, Mayutama dango are made to be baked and eaten during the Sei no Kami ritual.
　
burn the hut
Burn the hut on the 14th or 15th. When it is burned, not only children but also adults gather. Mayutama dango (rice cakes) or mochi (rice cakes) attached to a tree branch are held over a burning fire and roasted. It was said that if you ate these dumplings or rice cakes, you would be in good health for a year, and if you burned the beginning of your writing and soared high, you would improve your handwriting. When the fire subsides, they take out the Dourokujin stone and bury it somewhere again to hide it.

Sainokami rituals, the difference between the past and the present

Implementing organization
In the past, it was mainly children, such as elementary and junior high school students. Nowadays, it is mainly done by adults, with children helping out (adults include youth development district committees and neighborhood associations in each district). The scale of implementation has expanded from Kochu and Koza units to district units, and the size of the Sainokami hut has also become larger than in the past.
　
Implementation schedule
In the past, preparations started after the 7th and were burned on the 14th or 15th. Currently, preparation and burning days are held on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays close to the 15th. The schedule will be decided according to the convenience of the adults.
　
Implementation report
In the past, people would sleep in the huts of the gods of the dead, set fire to huts in other areas, and steal the stones of Dourokujin, the object of worship, but these customs almost no longer exist.
　
Place of implementation
In the past, there was a fixed place to hold the Sei no Kami ritual, but now it is held in a park, vacant lot, rice field, or other location that is not surrounded by other people's houses. Shu no kami events have rapidly changed in line with modern Mori meetings. The content of the events may change, or things that have disappeared may be revived in new forms, but the traditions of each region remain and continue to live on in modern times.
References cited: “Folklore of Inagi City (Part 1)” “Inagi City History Volume 2”