Shishi-odori in Iwate prefecture / Shinto's eccense / Dance dedication for nature gods
Friday, February 3, 2017
(C)Iwate Tourism Association
Shishi-odori is a traditional folk dance mainly in Touhoku,Japan.
The concept belongs to Shinto.(Nature worship)
The dark green color region is Touhoku.↑There are 6 prefectures.
Generally speaking,rural still keep strong culture of Shinto.
(C)Iwate Tourism Association
(C)Iwate Tourism Association
Iwate prefecture's Shishi-odori is famous.
"SHISHI" means not only "Deer"but also all animal meat for eating.
Originally,Shishi-odori was ancient ritual for hunted animals.
People dedicated thank with dance towards nature gods and sacrificed animals.
Dance performance represents "thank" because people dance and jump when we feel happy.
(C)Iwate Tourism Association
Hunt animals/Gain → Dedicate thank for meat - Eat/Gain - Dedicate thank again - People were able to hunt animals again/Gain
The permanent cycle ruins soon if we eat meat without gratitude.
So,Japanese people say thank words before and after meals.(Itadakimasu and Gochisousama)
To study Shinto and Japanese original culture,
please refer to Jomon people in Jomon period or Ainu people.
Our root is living with nature with thank.(Shinto)
Gratitude feeling is very light weight.
If you keep emitting the warm feeling, you will go to higher level in another world after your death.
This is not a fairy story.
"Thank for everything"
Everything is already enough. Everything is given from God.
Keeping the mind is a little bit difficult at first,but try to keep the feeling as possible as you can.
One day,you will know what I am writing.
Anyway,keeping the mind is important to be real human.
You may cry with joy when you recognize that you have been living with God.
In Japan,the happiest mind condition of human is called Kannagara.
Keep Kannagara so you can live very freely.
By the way,
Shishi-odori is different from Shishi-mai,a kind of Dragon/Lion dance performance of new year.
But I would say Shishimai's root is Shishi-odori.
Shishimai.
Shishimai.
Below explanation is quoted by Iwate tourism association
Shishi-odori, or deer dance, is performed in various parts of Iwate. There are various stories concerning the origin of the dance, such as: that it was to pray for a deer that was killed; that it imitated the movement of a wild deer; that it was a ritual associated with Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara, etc.
There are many shishi-odori programs, but they can roughly be classified into 2 groups: the taiko-odori programs are danced with taiko drums and are mostly performed in southern Iwate, while the maku-odori programs are danced without taiko drums and are mostly performed in northern Iwate. The late Taro Okamoto, one of the most renowned Japanese artists, once saw a dynamic taiko shishi-odori performance, and compared its rhythm to “dry jazz.”
Shishi-odori is performed at the Hanamaki Festival, the Tono Fall Festival, and at various events at some hot spring inns. Shishi-odori is usually performed by 8 dancers; however, on August 16, the Dance of One Hundred Deer is performed at Esashi Fujiwara-no-Sato Heritage Park in Oshu City.
Shishi-odori is performed at the Hanamaki Festival, the Tono Fall Festival, and at various events at some hot spring inns. Shishi-odori is usually performed by 8 dancers; however, on August 16, the Dance of One Hundred Deer is performed at Esashi Fujiwara-no-Sato Heritage Park in Oshu City.
Shishi-odori at Tonogou Hachimangu shrine.(Tono city,Iwate prefecture)