Kumano Nachi-Taisha
The Kumano Nachi Taisha (Japanese熊 野 那 智 大 社, even just Nachi (那 智), formerly also Kumano Fusumi -jinja (熊 野 夫 须 美 神社) ) is a Shinto shrine of the community Nachikatsuura district Higashimuro of Wakayama Prefecture in Japan.
It is located on the slope of the mountain Nachisan close to the holy Nachi Waterfall -no- ( Ō ) taki (also Ichi -no- taki, with 133 meters the highest waterfall in Japan ) and the Buddhist temple Seiganto -ji. With this, the Fudarakusan -ji and the Kumano shrines Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha he is part of the Kumano - Yong Jiang, the southernmost of the holy places and pilgrimage routes in the Kii mountains of the UNESCO list in 2004 world Heritage Sites have been recorded.
The waterfall was originally the principal object of worship, and the shrine was located directly below. The current buildings date from the year 1853.
To the east of the shrine, the approximately 32 -acre Nachi Primeval Forest, which is considered sacred since time immemorial is.
The shrine was for a long time with many Buddhist temples in the area connected to these but most were destroyed during the Shinbutsu - Bunri.
Kami and side shrines
Kami of the shrine are, inter alia, Toyo - kumo -nu and Uhi -ji ni and Ō -to -no- ji and Kuno -no- sa- Zuchi -no- kami (as in Hayatama Taisha ) and Izanami (under the name Fusumi -no- kami ). As the central deities but the twelve deities of Kumano are (熊 野 権 现, kumano gongen; gongen a Buddhist term for Shinto kami as avatars of Buddhist Bodhisattva ) worshiped here. As the 13th deity of Kumano is sometimes hiro gongen, the waterfall of Nachi -no- taki Ō- understood as a deity.
The go- shintai is a wooden statue. A copy of which is in the Museum of Hayatama Taisha. The shrine has over 3,000 Bunrei distributed to other shrines throughout Japan.
The three-legged Yatagarasu, the heavenly Crow is, in addition Shrine ( massha ) Kakehiko Kamo -jinja -no- taketsu - numi -no- mikoto worshiped under the name. On January 1, a priest brings a black cap in the form of a crow ( Yatagarasu - bō ) water from the Nachi -no- Ō- taki to the shrine. During this ceremony, lucky charms ( shimpu ) are produced which are used against birth defects or crop damage and ( no witness for contracts on the back of a shimpu was usually necessary) were used in ancient days as documents for contracts.
Ogi Matsuri
On 14 July, the Nachi -no- Hi - Matsuri or Ogi Matsuri finds (formerly also Ōgieshiki - rei -sai ), instead. It is one of the three biggest festivals in Japan and has been held every year since moving to the shrine to his current location. The twelve 10 m long, 1 m wide and 6 m high mikoshi with 32 subjects ( OGI ), 8 mirrors and a copy of the bearded irises like Belamcanda chinensis ( hiogi ) are decorated and then from the main shrine grounds to the side shrine Hiryu -jinja ( the stands with Jimmu - tennō in conjunction ) worn on the waterfall. They will be welcomed by young priests in white clothing, swinging twelve huge, flaming torches, each weighing 50 kg. The fire of the torches and the water of the waterfall to clean the mikoshi ritual.
In advance of the feast be carried out at the shrine under the musical accompaniment ceremonial rice planting ceremonies ( dengaku ).