Encyclopedia of Shinto

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カテゴリー1： 5. Rites and Festivals
カテゴリー2： Individual Shrine Observances
Title
Kanmisosai (Mikami Shrine)
Text
A rite held at Mikami Shrine in the town of Yasu, Yasu District, Shiga Prefecture, on November 15 in which a robe is presented to the saijin (enshrined deity). The gūji (chief priest) offers norito (prayers), presents the kanmiso robe, and performs a sacred dance (kagura) called the sakaki no mai. The robe is a two and a half-meter length of silk dyed with chestnut tree bark and a variety of sumac. The kannushi (priests) and ichi (shrine maidens, see miko) cut out the sleeves, collar, skirt, and torso, which are then sown togtether by the ichi. This is draped over a young branch of chestnut and offered to the kami. At sessha and massha (auxiliary and branch shrines), robes are cut out of Mino paper, draped on sakaki branches, and offered to the kami. At one time, a fire-lighting rite would also take place on this day, after which the kanmiso ceremony would be held.
At Atsuta Jingū in Atsuta Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, the festival on May 13 is called the onzosai (sacred robe festival). A procession of shinshoku (priests) carrying silk thread and cloth offer a sacred robe to the kami.
At Shiromi Jinja in Saito City, Miyazaki Prefecture, a sacred robe-changing rite takes place in which the robe of the shintai (in this case, an early Han Dynasty mirror) is changed unbeknownst to festival participants. This occurs prior to the kagura festival, which is held on December 14.
A kagura festival is held in mid-December in the same prefecture at Mera Jinja of Ogawa, Mera Village, Koyu District. At the beginning of the festival priests climb to the top of the mountain to the place of confinement where Iwanaganohime is enshrined. They remove the shinzō (divine image) from the hokora (small shrine) and change the old robe for a new robe made of washi (Japanese-style paper) and silk floss. This is called kanmisogae (changing of the divine robe).
— Mogi Sakae

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

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