（３４６） Ｃｈｉｎｏｗａ Ｋｕｇｕｒｉ
文字数 3,129文字
“Chinowa Kuguri (茅の輪くぐり)'' is a purification event held by some shrines on June 30th.
It is also called “Chinowa Shinji (茅輪神事)”, “Nagoshi no Ooharae (夏越大祓) ”, “Nagoshi no Harae (夏越の祓)”, or “Wagoshi no Matsuri (輪越祭)”.
“Chi (茅)” is a general term for chigaya (茅萱), suge (菅), and susuki (薄) plants.
"Chinowa Kuguri" is to pass through a ring made of Chi to purify the mind and body, ward off misfortune, and pray for good health. Chinowa is a filter that get rid of impurities.
At the shrine, on June 30th and on New Year's Eve, a Shinto priest cleanses half a year's worth of impurities of worshipers.
Recently, the number of shrines that carry out "Chinowa Kuguri" is decreasing. “Chinowa Kuguri” held in Tsukubasan Shrine and Chikatsu Shrine are famous in Tsukuba City.
★ ★ ★ ★
Here’s how to pass through the Chinowa.
1 Stand in front of Chinowa and bow once. Pass through while chanting the sacred song(御神歌, Goshinnka), then turn counterclockwise to return to the front.
2 Go through the Chinowa while chanting the divine song, then turn clockwise to return to the front.
3 Go through the Chinowa while chanting the sacred song, then turn counter-clockwise again to return to the front.
4 After passing through the Chinowa again, proceed to the front of the shrine and worship.
★ ★ ★ ★
In this event, we transfer impurities and misfortunes to paper or straw dolls called “Katashiro(形代)”, “Hitogata(人形)”, or “Hitokatashiro(人形代)”, and we sometimes throw them into the sea or burn them.
On June 30th, we visited Chikatsu Shrine (千勝神社) first, and then visited Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (金村別雷神社), which is known as a filming location. It was a busy day for me.
You may ask me, "Did you pass through the Chinowa four times?"
Well, I just saw it up close. I take a bath at least once a week, so I don't need to be purified (#^.^#).
① I’ve arrived at Chikatsu Shrine. You can see “Chinowa” or, a ring of Chi.
② I’m approaching the Chinowa. The wooden tag says, “The Shinto ritual starts at 14:00. Until then, you cannot go through the Chinowa.”
③ I’ve come to the other side of Chinowa. I can't go through the Chinowa, so I’ll go to another shrine.
④ I’ve arrived at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (金村別雷神社). You can see the first torii.
⑤ You can see a large hackberry tree in the back and a large zelkova tree in front.
⑥ I am in front of the big hackberry tree.
⑦ The second torii gate has come into view.
⑧ I am in front of the worship hall. Oh, there is no Chinowa. Unfortunately, there is no Chinowa Kuguri event here this year( ；∀；). Photo ⑨and ⑩ are the old photos that Dad took 3 years ago.
⑨ This is a photo of Chinowa seen from the worship hall at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (photographed in 2020). It's the perfect size for me.
⑩ This is a photo of Chinowa seen from the second torii at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (photographed in 2020).
“Chinowa Kuguri” is mainly held at shrines on June 30th, but some shrines hold it on another day, such as June 28th at Kabasan Shrine(加波山神社) in Ishioka City and July 30th at Hie Shrine(日枝神社) in Tsukuba City.
It is also called “Chinowa Shinji (茅輪神事)”, “Nagoshi no Ooharae (夏越大祓) ”, “Nagoshi no Harae (夏越の祓)”, or “Wagoshi no Matsuri (輪越祭)”.
“Chi (茅)” is a general term for chigaya (茅萱), suge (菅), and susuki (薄) plants.
"Chinowa Kuguri" is to pass through a ring made of Chi to purify the mind and body, ward off misfortune, and pray for good health. Chinowa is a filter that get rid of impurities.
At the shrine, on June 30th and on New Year's Eve, a Shinto priest cleanses half a year's worth of impurities of worshipers.
Recently, the number of shrines that carry out "Chinowa Kuguri" is decreasing. “Chinowa Kuguri” held in Tsukubasan Shrine and Chikatsu Shrine are famous in Tsukuba City.
★ ★ ★ ★
Here’s how to pass through the Chinowa.
1 Stand in front of Chinowa and bow once. Pass through while chanting the sacred song(御神歌, Goshinnka), then turn counterclockwise to return to the front.
2 Go through the Chinowa while chanting the divine song, then turn clockwise to return to the front.
3 Go through the Chinowa while chanting the sacred song, then turn counter-clockwise again to return to the front.
4 After passing through the Chinowa again, proceed to the front of the shrine and worship.
★ ★ ★ ★
In this event, we transfer impurities and misfortunes to paper or straw dolls called “Katashiro(形代)”, “Hitogata(人形)”, or “Hitokatashiro(人形代)”, and we sometimes throw them into the sea or burn them.
On June 30th, we visited Chikatsu Shrine (千勝神社) first, and then visited Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (金村別雷神社), which is known as a filming location. It was a busy day for me.
You may ask me, "Did you pass through the Chinowa four times?"
Well, I just saw it up close. I take a bath at least once a week, so I don't need to be purified (#^.^#).
① I’ve arrived at Chikatsu Shrine. You can see “Chinowa” or, a ring of Chi.
② I’m approaching the Chinowa. The wooden tag says, “The Shinto ritual starts at 14:00. Until then, you cannot go through the Chinowa.”
③ I’ve come to the other side of Chinowa. I can't go through the Chinowa, so I’ll go to another shrine.
④ I’ve arrived at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (金村別雷神社). You can see the first torii.
⑤ You can see a large hackberry tree in the back and a large zelkova tree in front.
⑥ I am in front of the big hackberry tree.
⑦ The second torii gate has come into view.
⑧ I am in front of the worship hall. Oh, there is no Chinowa. Unfortunately, there is no Chinowa Kuguri event here this year( ；∀；). Photo ⑨and ⑩ are the old photos that Dad took 3 years ago.
⑨ This is a photo of Chinowa seen from the worship hall at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (photographed in 2020). It's the perfect size for me.
⑩ This is a photo of Chinowa seen from the second torii at Kanamura Wakeikazuchi Shrine (photographed in 2020).
“Chinowa Kuguri” is mainly held at shrines on June 30th, but some shrines hold it on another day, such as June 28th at Kabasan Shrine(加波山神社) in Ishioka City and July 30th at Hie Shrine(日枝神社) in Tsukuba City.
