4K【淡嶋神社】Awashima-jinja Shrine | Memorial Servise for Dolls | 人形供養

“Awashima-jinjya Shrine” memorial service for dolls
Awashima-jinja Shrine is known for its memorial service for dolls, and there are more than 20,000 dolls dedicated from all over Japan.
[History]
It is said to have started when Sukunahikona-no-mikoto and Oonami-no-mikoto,who are said to have created Japan in mythology, were enshrined on Kamishima (Awashima),one of the　Tomogashima islands off the coast of Kada.
Awashima-no-kami was the consort of Sumiyoshi-no-kami and was exiled to Awashima because of a gynecological disease.
As a result, Awashima Shrine became a shrine to pray for all things related to women, including gynecological diseases, safe childbirth and child-bearing.
During the Edo period(1600〜1868), people called Awashima Gannin carried a doll of Awashima Myojin on their backs and preached the divine virtues of Awashima Myojin, spreading Awashima worship throughout the country.
The current shrine was destroyed by fire during Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s conquest of Kishu, but was rebuilt by Yoshinaga Asano and restored by Yorinobu Tokugawa, the founder of the Kishu Tokugawa family. In 1979, it became the current shrine building.
The current shrine building was destroyed by fire during Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s conquest of Kishu, but was later rebuilt by Yoshinaga Asano, and repaired by Yorinobu Tokugawa, the founder of the Kishu Tokugawa family. In 1979, it became the current new shrine building.
[Memorial service for dolls]
It is famous as a shrine for memorial services for dolls, and countless Hina dolls, Ichimatsu dolls, and French dolls that were offered for the memorial service are displayed in the precincts. Other local toys such as Shigaraki-yaki raccoon dog figurines, beckoning cats, and Fukusuke dolls are also lined up.
[Needle memorial service]
It is also famous as a shrine for needle memorial services, and needle mounds are built in the precincts of the shrine, and needles collected from all over the country are held around February every year. In recent years, it is said that the number of needles dedicated to memorial services is also decreasing because there are fewer opportunities to sew.
[Prayer for women’s diseases]
According to the legend that Awashima-no-kami was exiled to Awashima after suffering from a gynecological disease, the shrine is said to heal all kinds of women’s ailments, including gynecological diseases, safe childbirth and child-bearing. In the past, phallic forms and hair were offered as prayers, but nowadays many women offer their own underwear instead. At the end of the precincts, many women’s underwear are dedicated along with votive plaques.

Filmed Date : October 20, 2022

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撮影日：2022.10.20

人形供養『淡嶋神社』国指定重要文化財
淡嶋神社は人形供養で知られ、日本全国から奉納された2万体以上の人形が並んでいます。
【歴史】
神話において日本を創造したと伝えられる少彦名命（すくなひこなのみこと）と大己貴命（おほなむじのみこと）の祠が加太の沖合いの友ヶ島のうちの神島（淡島）に祀られたことが始まりとされます。淡島神は住吉神の妃神で、婦人病のため淡島に流され、そこで婦人病を治す誓いを立てたとする伝承もあります。これによし淡嶋神社は、婦人病を始めとして安産・子授けなど女性に関するあらゆることを祈願する神社となりました。
江戸時代、淡嶋元人（あわしまがんにん）と呼ばれる人々が淡嶋明神の人形を背負って淡嶋明神の神徳を説き、全国に淡嶋信仰が広まりました。
現在の社殿は豊臣秀吉の紀州征伐で焼失しましたが、その後浅野幸長が再建、紀州徳川家初代・徳川頼宣が修復を加え、江戸時代末期に第10代・徳川治宝が造営し、1979年に現在の新社殿となりました。
【人形供養】
人形供養の神社として有名で、境内には供養のために納められた、無数の雛人形や市松人形、フランス人形、信楽焼の狸の置物や招き猫、福助人形などといった郷土玩具も境内に陳列されています。
【針供養】
針供養の神社としても有名で、同神社境内には針塚が建てられており毎年2月ごろに全国から集められた針を供養ます。近年では縫い物をする機会が少なくなっていることから、供養に奉納される針の数も減っているようです。
【婦人病祈願】
淡島神は婦人病にかかったため淡島に流されたという伝承から、婦人病を始めとして安産・子授けなど女性のあらゆる下の病を快癒してくれる神社とされています。かつては祈願のため男根形や自身の髪の毛などが奉納されていましたが、現在はそれらに代わって自身の穿いていた下着を奉納する女性が多いようです。境内奧の末社には絵馬などと共に多数の女性用下着が奉納されています。

Music: Tunetank.com

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