九州とのつながり
歴史家は、安曇族はかつて北九州に居住し、アジア大陸と交流をおこなっていた漁民だったと考えています。理由は不明ですが、彼らは5世紀から6世紀の間のいつごろかに故郷を離れ、新しく根を下ろす土地を求めて日本中に散らばりました。
長い探求の後、彼らの一部はついに現在の安曇野の場所に定住することを決めました。険しい山々で四方を守られたこの土地は、彼らがもともと住んでいた沿岸地域からは程遠いものでした。
船と海での生活を手放しても、安曇族は、かつての航海の日々と北への移住の旅において加護を与えてくれた氏族の神、穂高見命を大切にし続けました。今日、穂高神社の神は、交通安全の守り神とされ、新年の時期には多くの人々が自動車に祈祷を授かりにやってきます。また、北アルプスに登る前に安全を祈願する登山者も数多くみられます。
The Kyushu Connection
Historians believe that the Azumi clan were fishermen who once made their home in the northern part of Kyushu, where they had contacts with mainland Asia. For reasons unknown, they decided to abandon their homeland sometime in the fifth or sixth century and scattered over Japan in search of a new place to put down roots.
After a long search, some of them finally decided to settle in what is now known as the Azumino valley. Protected on all sides by rugged mountains, this place was a far cry from the coastal regions they had come from.
While the Azumi clan gave up their boats and nautical lifestyle, they stayed true to their principal deity, Hotakami no Mikoto, who had protected them in their seagoing days and on their land journey north. Today, the deity is regarded as a guardian of transportation, and many people bring their cars to Hotaka Jinja to be blessed during the New Year period. Many climbers can be seen offering prayers for safety before setting off to trek the Northern Alps.
