祭概要

美しい田園風景に太鼓と唄が響く！牛馬を供養する、中世から続く田植行事

古くから牛馬安全の神・大山智明大権現（だいせんちみょうだいごんげん）への信仰が盛んな備北地方。この辺りに伝わる供養田植のなかでも最も古い形を残しているとされるのが、4年ごとに現地公開される「塩原の大山供養田植」です。神社横の供養棚を牛が通る「棚くぐり」により、不慮の死にあった牛馬の霊を供養し、現在飼育している牛馬の安全や五穀豊穣を祈願。飾り付けられた牛たちが田をならす「しろかき」や、花笠をかぶった早乙女たちによる「田植踊り」などが行われます。
クライマックスは「太鼓田植」。サゲ棟梁たちが打ち鳴らす太鼓に合わせて、早乙女たちが歌いながら苗を植えていきます。

Listen to drums and singing against the backdrop of a beautiful rural landscape!
This rice planting event, dedicated to cows and horses, dates back hundreds of years.

The Bihoku region is known since long ago for its people’s strong belief in Daisen Chimyo Daigongen, protector deity for the safety of cows and horses. Amongst the rice-planting rituals of this area, the oldest surviving form, held every four years for the local public, is called Shiohara no Daisen Kuyo Taue. Cows walk along an offering area next to the shrine in order to put to rest the souls of cows and horses that died a bad death, as prayers are dedicated to the safety of horses and cows living today, as well as the plentifulness of crops. Beautifully decorated cows plow the fields, and women wearing traditional conical hats perform a special rice-planting dance.
The climax of the event is the rice-planting to the sound of drums. Master drummers are accompanied by female dancers singing as they plant the rice.

祭基本情報