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is a general term for an important Shinto sanctuary complex on both banks of the Kamo River in northeast Kyoto. It is centered on two shrines.〔McCullough, Helen Craig. (1994). (''Genji and Heike: selections from The tale of Genji and The tale of the Heike,'' p. 474; ) Iwao, Seiichi ''et al.'' (2002). (''Dictionnaire historique du Japon,'' p. 1405; ) Kyoto Prefectural Government Tourism Division: (Kamigamo ).〕 The two shrines, an upper and a lower, lie in a corner of the old capital which was known as the due to traditional geomancy beliefs that the north-east corner brought misfortune. Because the Kamo River runs from the north-east direction into the city, the two shrines along the river were intended to prevent demons from entering the city.〔Miyazaki, Makoto. ("Lens on Japan: Defending Heiankyo from Demons," ) ''Daily Yomiuri.'' December 20, 2005.〕 The Kamo Shrine encompasses what are now independent but traditionally associated ''jinja'' or shrines: the in Kyoto's Kita Ward, and the in Sakyo Ward.〔 They are amongst the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.〔Kamigamo-jinja: ( "Links" ); Shimogamo-jinja: ( "Tadasu-no-mori (Forest of justice)" ).〕 The ''jinja'' name identifies the clustered ''kami'' or deities who are venerated at the Kamo Shrine; and the name refers to the ambit of shrine's encircling woods. The shrine name also references the area's early inhabitants, the Kamo clan, many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served.〔Nelson, John K. (2000). ( ''Enduring Identities: The Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan,'' pp. 92-99. )〕 The Kamo are credited with establishing this Shinto sacred place.〔Iwaso, ( p. 1712. )〕 The formal names of corollary ''jinja'' memorialize vital roots in a history which pre-dates the founding of Japan's ancient capital.〔 Although now incorporated within boundaries of the city, the ''Tadasu no Mori'' location was a site planning factor.〔Terry, Philip. (1914). ( ''Terry's Japanese empire,'' p. 479. )〕 It is theorized that this forest was the primeval forest home of the sacerdotal Kamo clan, who were the exclusive caretakers of the shrine from prehistoric times.〔Nelson, (pp. 67-69. )〕 The boundaries of today's smaller forest encompasses approximately 12.4 hectares, which are preserved as a national historical site (を国の史跡). The woods of this sacred grove are designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site along with other Shinto shrines in its environs.〔Shimogamo-jinja: ("Tadasu-no-mori (Forest of justice)" )〕 The shrine's annual festival, ''Kamo no Matsuri'', also called Aoi Matsuri, is the oldest of Kyoto's three major festivals. The others are Jidai Matsuri and Gion Matsuri.〔 ==Shinto belief== The popular name for ''Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja'' is the ''Kamigamo jinja'' or Kamigamo Shrine, also called Upper Shrine. In part, it is called the "upper" shrine because it is situated on the east bank of the up-stream from its non-identical twin.〔Shively, Donald H. (1999). (''The Cambridge History of Japan: Heian Japan, p. 181. )〕 The more commonly used name for ''Kamo-mioya jinja'' is the ''Shimogamo jinja'' or Shimogamo Shrine, also called the Lower Shrine. In part, it is called the "lower" shrine because it is situated at the confluence of the and the Kamo River down-stream from its twin.〔 The Kamo Shrine is so named because its rituals and festivals are designed to assist in the veneration of the Kamo family of kami and other associated deities; and Kamo kami (''kami-no-Kamo'') is referenced in other Shinto contexts. In the "Congratulatory Words of the Chieftain of Izumo," the "sacred grove of Kamo" is mentioned along with other wooded Shinto sanctuaries at Ō-miwa, Unade and Asuka: ::Then, Ō-namochi-no-mikoto said: ::"The Sovereign Grandhild〔Here the term "Sovereign Grandchild" refers to the Emperor of Japan.〕 will dwell peacefully in the land of Yamato." ::Thus saying, he attached his peaceful spirit ::To a mirror of large dimensions, ::Eulogizing it by the name ::Yamato-no-Ō-mono-nushi-Kushi-mika-tama-no-mikoto, ::And had it dwell in the sacred grove of Ō-miwa. ::He caused the spirit of his son ::Aji-suki-taka-hiko-ne-no-mikoto ::To dwell in the sacred grove of Kamo in Kaduraki;〔Mt. Kaduraki -- ''see'' Ashkenazi, Michael. (2003). ( ''Handbook of Japanese mythology,'' p. 166. )〕 ::Caused the spirit of Koto-shiro-nushi-no-mikoto ::To dwell in Unade; ::And caused the spirit of Kayanarumi-no-mikoto ::To dwell in the sacred grove of Asuka.〔de Bary, Theodore ''et al.'' (2001). ( ''Sources of Japanese Tradition,'' p. 39 ), citing Philippi, Donald L. ( ''Norito,'' pp. 73-74. )〕 At the Kamigamo Shrine, Kamo Wake-ikazuchi, the ''kami'' of thunder, is the focus of attention and reverence.〔Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1964). ''Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan,'' pp. 119-175.〕 Shimogamo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Kamo Wake-ikazuchi's mother, Kamo Tamayori-hime. Shimogamo is also dedicated to Kamo Taketsune, who is the father of Kamo Taayori-hime.〔Ponsonby-Fane, ''Visiting Shrines,'' pp. 1-118.〕 All feature prominently in the annual Aoi Festival, which occurs in May. Featured in this event are a procession between the two shrines, horse races, and demonstrations of mounted archery (''yabusame''). Kamigamo Shrine's two large conical sand mounds memorialize the holy trees that once served to welcome spirits. Shimogama Shrine has since become one of the key shrines in the area, being associated with prayers to ensure the success of the annual rice harvest. The Shrine is located within ''Tadasu no Mori'' (糺の森), 'the forest of truth,' a primeval forest that is reputed to have never been burned down. The forest has, in fact, suffered some damage over the centuries when all of Kyoto was burned during successive revolts and wars; but the forest growth has rebounded again and again. ''Tadasu no mori'' is left to grow in its natural state. It is neither planted nor pruned.〔 Although Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines are considered to be paired or twinned, they are not located next to each other. Approximately 2 km. distance separates these two Shinto shrine complexes,〔( Shimgamo Shrine )〕 which can be explained in part because shrines on the outskirts of Heian-kyō were developed to prevent the infiltration of demons. The Kamogawa river descnds from an ill-omened direction; and the shrines along the flow were positioned in order to prevent demons from using the river to enter the city.〔Miyazaki, "Defending Heiankyo."〕 Although Kamo-jinja is not directly on the banks of the Kamo River, the site locations were positioned as part of a plan for mitigating the consequences of periodic flooding.〔Katsuya Atsuo. ("Historical Study on Kamo-Wakeikazuchi Shrine and Myojin River in the Kamigamo Area." ) ''Bulletin of the Institute for National Land Utilization Development'' (Kyoto Sangyo University), No. 21, pp. 13-31 (2000).〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kamo Shrine」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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