Title Kama Hachimangu: The Sickle Shrine

  • Wakayama
Topic(s):
Shrines/Temples/Churches
Medium/Media of Use:
Web Page
Text Length:
≤250 Words
FY Prepared:
2019
Associated Tourism Board:
hashimoto・itokoikikankokyogikai

鎌八幡宮

丹生酒殿神社の裏手にある鎌八幡宮は、三日月形の鎌が幹に深く打ち込まれている大きなイチイガシのご神木です。江戸時代(1603-1868年)後期に編さんされた地誌である紀伊続風土記によると、これは農業や林業を営んでいた地元の人々が神々に願掛けを行った方法でした。

錆で覆われた古い鎌に混じって、いくつか新しい輝く鎌も打ち込まれていることから、この昔からの慣習は現在も続いていると見うけられます。木の保全のため、現在では神社は参拝者に願い事を鎌形の絵馬に書いてもらっています。願い事が書かれた絵馬は、ご神木の前の鳥居の近くに掛けられます。


Kama Hachimangu: The Sickle Shrine

Tucked behind Niusakadono Shrine, Kama Hachimangu is a large, sacred red-bark oak tree in which dozens of crescent-shaped sickles have been thrust, their blades deeply embedded in the trunk. According to the Kiizoku Fudoki chronicle compiled in the late Edo period (1603–1868), this was how the locals, who depended on agriculture and forestry for their livelihood, made entreaties to the gods.

The long-standing custom appears to still live on, as a few shiny new sickles can be found embedded among the much older rust-covered implements. To maintain the health of the tree, the shrine now requests that worshippers write their wishes on sickle-shaped prayer plaques (ema), which are then hung near the torii gate in front of the sacred tree.


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