The 63rd Shikinen Sengū (式年遷宮) at Isë Jingū (伊勢神宮) continues, with another important event in mid April. This was reported on the front and back pages of the April 27th issue of Jinja Shinpō and addressed in the editorial.
As you might guess from the title of this post, this event is called the “Okihiki Zomëshiki” (御木曳初式). Literally translated, this means something like “ceremony for the beginning of pulling the exalted trees”. You may remember that there have already been two ceremonies involving the pulling of trees, for the Mihishiro and Mifunashiro, and wonder why this one is called “the beginning”.
The pulling of the trees within Isë is extremely similar to that at the earlier events. The wood for the Inner Sanctuary is pulled up the Isuzu river on a sled, while the wood for the Outer Sanctuary is pulled through the town on a wheeled cart. The people doing the pulling are local residents. In the past, these areas were ruled by the priests of Jingū, so these people are referred to as “people of the former domain of the kami” (kyūshinryōmin — 旧神領民). Historically, doing this has been both an obligation, and a right that the people defended. They dress in matching happi coats, and the labour is accompanied by traditional songs called “kiyariuta” (木遣り唄), which means something like “songs for sending trees”.
The reason why this one is the “beginning” is that this wood is for the structures of the sanctuary buildings, while the previous ceremonies were about the wood for making the boxes that will contain the sacred objects housing the kami. There is a whole series of events called Okihikigyōji (御木曳行事) that happens over the next couple of months, and over the same period next year, in which most (maybe all) of the wood for the sanctuary buildings is ceremonially delivered to the areas in which the sanctuaries will be built. This event marks the beginning of these.
The trees that are delivered in this ceremony are also called “yakugi” (役木), which means “trees with a role”, because they provide the wood for important parts of the building. That is all that the article says, so I guess the details get a bit complex. I believe that these trees are used for the ridgepole of the roof and the two pillars, one at each end, that support it, but that may not be universally the case.
The trees for the Inner Sanctuary and its Betsugū (別宮), the most important subsidiary jinja, were delivered on April 12th. The trees for the Inner Sanctuary itself and the Betsugū on the same site were dragged up the river, but there are two Betsugū sites within Isë City that are not near the river. According to the article, the trees were left on the sled to be dragged up the road, but there are no more details. Was the sled put on wheels? I may find out later… There are also two Betsugū sites outside Isë City, and while the ceremony was held there as well, the article gives no further details.
The trees for the Outer Sanctuary and its Betsugū were delivered the following day, the 13th, and they were pulled through the streets on wheeled carts.
This event is, as a basic rule, only open to people who live in the area. That is no longer true of the follow-up events, for less important timber, but I will write about those later, when they have happened.
Pingback: Kozukuri Hajimesai – Mimusubi