Suimu Shrine (水無神社) in Kiso and the festival "Mikoshi Makuri"
The festival "Mikoshi Makuri" in Kiso is canceled in this year, since the epidemic of COVID-19. This festival seems one of the main local festivals in Kiso, thus people looked sad about this news. For me, I came Kiso from this March, and I didn't understand what is "Mikoshi Makuri" and this festival's meaning for local people. For understand local area much more, I learnt "Mikoshi Makuri" from materials and local people.
Firstly, it is necessary to learn Suimu Shrine (水無神社), the place that is connected with this festival deeply. Suimu Shrine, also called Minashi Shrine in Hida in Gifu, is a branch of Minashi Shrine in Hida and founded in 1265. The enshrined deity is the deity named "Takateru Himenomikoto". The local people believe this goddess is the guardian deity of food, clothing and housing, who can protect their water use of agriculture.
A legend about the origin of Suimu Shrine has been handed down in Kiso. In old times, a battle occurred in Hida and it putted Minashi Shrine in danger. Two brothers named "Sousuke" and "Kousuke", were working in Hida at that time. They planned to protect the deity in shrine and made Mikoshi, which is the ride for deity. Then, they carried Mikoshi to Kiso that is their hometown. There is mountains between Hida and Kiso. When they carried Mikoshi near the boundary, the people who were chasing them caught up with them. When two brothers struggled with these people, the Mikoshi came off their shoulders and rolled down from mountaintop to the territory of Kiso. Two brothers got out of danger and carried Mikoshi to Kiso-Fukushima to enshrine. From that time, people in Kiso call the shrine, where enshrined deity from Hida, as Suimu Shrine. And the festival "Mikoshi Makuri" is held in every year to commemorate two brothers' achievement. "Makuri" means rolling in Japanese. In 22nd and 23rd July, people rolls and breaks Mikoshi thoroghly.
(Photos of Mikoshi Makuri are from http://www.kankou-kiso.com/event/event_natsu03.html 2020/05/24)
Firstly, it is necessary to learn Suimu Shrine (水無神社), the place that is connected with this festival deeply. Suimu Shrine, also called Minashi Shrine in Hida in Gifu, is a branch of Minashi Shrine in Hida and founded in 1265. The enshrined deity is the deity named "Takateru Himenomikoto". The local people believe this goddess is the guardian deity of food, clothing and housing, who can protect their water use of agriculture.
(Photo is from http://www.nagano-jinjacho.jp/shibu/02cyusin/04kiso/suimu.html 2020/05/24)
(Photos of Mikoshi Makuri are from http://www.kankou-kiso.com/event/event_natsu03.html 2020/05/24)
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