Encyclopedia of Shinto

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カテゴリー1： 7. Concepts and Doctrines
カテゴリー2： Basic Terms
Title
Shinkon
Text
Marriage among kami or between kami and human beings. It is also called sacred marriage (seikon). In the case of a male kami and a female human being the woman was always a virgin (shojo). In general virgins were believed to be pure in mind and body. The spirit of the august kami possessed these pure bodies. The ancient tradition of Tamayorihime associated with the Kamo and Miwa shrines is a representative example of this kind of union. The union of Toyotamabime, daughter of Watatsuminokami to Prince Hoori (Hohodemi, a variation in name) is an example of the union of a female kami and a human being. Over time the notion grew that such unions are heterogeneous rather than sacred. In short they came to be seen as unusual or abnormal. In folktales these unions have been further transformed into humorous stories. Such an example is the welcoming of a monkey as a bridegroom. Based upon a universal concept, divine marriages are widely seen in the myths and legends of the world.
— Nishioka Kazuhiko

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

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