The Key Attribute of Shinme Sacred Horses Dedicated to Ise Jingū since 1865
This paper examines the attribute of "maleness" found in the sacred horses dedicated to Ise Jingū since 1865. Called shinme, horses kept at the Shinto shrine (jinja) are signified as mounts for the kami. Among the Japanese it is an ancient custom to offer horses to kami in return for askin...
| Published in: | Religious studies in Japan |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Japanese Association for Religious Studies
2018
|
| In: |
Religious studies in Japan
|
| Further subjects: | B
Horse
B Jingū B shinme (sacred horses) B kami (deities) B tane (seeds) B jinja (Shinto shrines) |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This paper examines the attribute of "maleness" found in the sacred horses dedicated to Ise Jingū since 1865. Called shinme, horses kept at the Shinto shrine (jinja) are signified as mounts for the kami. Among the Japanese it is an ancient custom to offer horses to kami in return for asking blessings that their wishes come true. Previous studies highlight the whiteness of the horse. However, by analyzing records of shinme kept in Jingū I prove that maleness takes precedence over whiteness. I suggest that the concept of tane (seeds) informs the choice of male horses as shinme because the Shinto rituals strongly relate to Japanese agricultural traditions. As such, shinme may signify the embodiment of vigor. In light of the long-standing relationship between Shinto rituals and horses, I contend we should examine the underlying significance of horses in the Shinto tradition. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2186-9952 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religious studies in Japan
|