Summer Purification Rites at Matsunoo Taisha Shrin

 


 

On June 30th, "Nagoshi-no-Ooharae(i.e. Summer Purification Rites)" are held at many shrines in Kyoto.

This year, I went to Matsunoo Taisha Shrine, the guardian deity of the west of Kyoto.

 

Matsunoo Taisha is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, built in 701 AD. It has many divine virtues, but it is especially the god of brewing, and is revered by brewers, miso, soy sauce, and vinegar manufacturers and sellers all over the country.

 




After passing through the shrine's torii gate, there is a large thatch ring, which our readers are already familiar with. Go through it in a leftward and rightward direction, and finally go straight.

 




They sell sweets called Minazuki, which is a good luck charm made from kuzu powder, etc.

On the 29th and 30th, you can get an "Oharaisan(i.e. Mr.exorcist)" made of thatch (pay a donation of about 100 yen).

"We're going to run out of Oharaisan this year," said a shrine worker. Everyone seems to want to purge the corona disaster.



 

Wind chimes are displayed at the hand-watering area, making a cool sound.







The approach to the shrine is decorated with lanterns, creating a fantastic atmosphere.



 

A long line of people waiting to pay their respects in front of the main shrine.


 

At three o'clock, the Shinto priests came out from the shrine office. They went inside the Hall of Worship. The purification ceremony is about to begin.




Prayers were said in the hall of worship. The sound of the drums echoes.




Hitogata Nagashi.  The hitogata is a piece of paper with the name of the person to be purified written on it, cut into the shape of a person.



The box containing the hitogatas is carried through a ring of thatch and then returned to the shrine.


The Shinto priests gather at the bridge and throw the hitogatas into the brook.


 

Then, the Shinto priests gather at the thatch ring.



Going through the thatch ring.



After this, everyone went through the thatch ring, and this year's Nagoshi-no-Ooharae was over.

Just before the ritual started at 3:00, it rained hard, but miraculously it stopped by the time the ritual started. I hope the corona disaster will subside as well.

 

Matsunoo Taisha's garden is also magnificent, and I'm sure I'll have a chance to introduce it again soon.

 

Matsunoo Taisha Website:

http://www.matsunoo.or.jp/

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