Ōyashiro

大社 The Grand Shrine

1 Source and/or Related Material

Shirin Saiyō-sho, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A courtier (waki) and his entourage (wakitsure) have come to the Izumo Grand Shrine (Shimane) for a special festival in the Tenth Month. They meet an old man (maeshite) accompanied by a court lady (maetsure), so they ask them about the festival. In most of Japan, the Tenth Month of the lunar calendar is called Kannazuki (“Month with no Gods”), but in Izumo it is called Kaminarizuki (“Month of Thunder”) because it is then that all the myriad Gods leave their usual haunts and gather in Izumo, dancing and singing and making a thunderous din. Suddenly, the couple disappear into the main sanctuary of the Shrine. A heavenly maiden (nochitsure) appears before the courtiers and performs a dance. The God Ōnamuchi (nochishite), creator of the land, emerges from the main sanctuary and does a dance of his own. Finally, a dragon God (nochitsure) emerges from the sea, takes a small dragon out of a golden box, and offers it to the God. All rejoice in the peace and order of the world.