地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Kamiarizuki: The “Month with Gods”

During the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the myriad deities from across Japan are said to gather in Izumo. Over the course of a week, they consult with Izumo Grand Shrine’s main deity, Ōkuninushi no Kami, to determine things like the success or failure of harvests and the relationships that people will form in the next year. Thus, while this period is referred to as the “month without gods” (kannazuki) in most of the country, it is called the “month with gods” (kamiarizuki) in Izumo.

The origin of the annual gathering in Izumo is tied to stories recorded in Japan’s earliest written records, which date to the early eighth century but are thought to record even older oral histories. The kuni-yuzuri (“relinquishing the land”) myth describes how Ōkuninushi agreed to cede control of the land to the descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami in exchange for a magnificent shrine and the authority to govern the “unseen world.” This unseen world referred not only to the realm of deities, but also included matters dealing with human spirits. In this way, Ōkuninushi became a god of en-musubi (“tying of bonds between people”), and Izumo Grand Shrine was established as his main place of worship.

During kamiarizuki, the visiting deities are housed in subsidiary shrines to the east and west of the main sanctuary. They meet each day at a small shrine complex near Inasa Beach, roughly a kilometer west of Izumo Grand Shrine, and determine the fate of human relationships in the upcoming year. In the “Izumo Grand Shrine and Its Rituals” gallery (left of the central lobby), there is a woodblock ukiyo-e print on display that shows an artist’s vision of this lively gathering. Produced in the nineteenth century, the print shows Ōkuninushi seated in the center of a crowded room. Various deities can be seen writing the names of individuals on wooden tablets and tying these together with string. The resulting pairings are then shown to Ōkuninushi for approval, and he confirms the fate of each couple.

神在月：眾神到來的月份

傳說每到農曆10月，來自日本各地的神明都會齊聚在出雲。在之後的一周，眾神要與出雲大社的主祭神大國主神商議，決定諸如來年豐收與否、人際關係等事項。因此，在日本的絕大多數地方，這段時間被稱為「神無月」，即神明不在的月份；但在出雲，則稱為「神在月」，即眾神到來的月份。

眾神一年一度相聚出雲的傳說源於8世紀初的文獻，文獻記錄一般來源於更久遠的口述歷史。神話「國讓」講述大國主神如何同意放棄這片土地，將統治權轉讓給太陽女神（天照大御神）子孫的故事。作為交換，大國主神得到了一座宏偉的神社和「看不見的世界」的統治權。所謂「看不見的世界」，不但指神明的領域，也包括人類精神世界。就這樣，大國主神成為了「結緣」之神，出雲大社則作為祂的主祭地而得以創建。

神在月期間，來訪的神明都住在本殿（正殿）東西兩側的「十九社」裡。出雲大社往西約1公里處的稻佐之濱附近有一座小神社，諸神每天聚集在此，商討並決定未來一年裡各式人際關係的命運。在博物館中央大廳左側的「出雲大社與眾神之國的祭祀」展覽室內，陳列著一幅19世紀的版雕浮世繪，描繪了藝術家對於這熱鬧聚會的想像：在一個擁擠的房間，大國主神坐在中間，各路神明正在小木板上逐一寫下人名，再用細繩將它們繫在一起。配對結果最終送呈大國主神審批決定每一對組合的命運。

神在月：众神到来的月份

传说每到旧历10月，来自日本各地的神明就会齐集出云。在接下来的一周里，众神要与出云大社的主祭神大国主神商议，决定诸如来年丰收与否、人际关系如何等事项。因此，在日本的绝大多数地方，这段时间被称为“神无月”，即神明不在的月份；可是在出云，它被称为“神在月”，即众神到来的月份。

众神每年一度相聚出云的传说源于日本早期神话，这些故事都记录在8世纪初日本最早的文献中，而文献记录一般总是来源于更久远的口述历史。神话“国让”讲述了大国主神如何同意放弃这片土地，将统治权让给太阳女神（天照大神）子孙的故事。作为交换，他得到了一座煌煌大社和“看不见的世界”的统治权。所谓“看不见的世界”，不但指神明的领域，也包括人类精神世界。就这样，大国主神成为了“结缘”之神，出云大社则作为他的主祭地而创建。

神在月期间，来访的神明都住在本殿（正殿）东西两侧的“十九社”里。出云大社往西约1公里处的稻佐滨附近有一座小神社，诸神每天聚集于此，商讨并决定未来一年里各项人际关系的命运。在博物馆中央大厅左侧的“出云大社与众神之国的祭祀”展室中，陈列着一副出自19世纪的版雕浮世绘，描绘了艺术家对于这热闹聚会的想象：在一个拥挤的房间，大国主神坐在正中，各路神明正在小木板上逐一写下人名，再用细绳将它们牵系在一起。配对结果最终送呈大国主神审批，由他决定每一对组合的命运。