天祭とは、太陽や月をはじめとする神仏に、風雨順調、五穀豊穣などを祈願する行事です。下田原上組の天祭は、天棚を設置し、神仏を迎えて祈願するとともに、お囃子の太鼓に合わせてみんなで踊ります。かつては山伏風の祭文を唱えていたらしい、とも聞きました。宇都宮周辺では江戸後期に盛んとなり、50カ所以上の地に存在していたことが知られています。8月初旬、2日かけて天棚を組み上げ、3日目に天祭が行われました。組み立ての様子を記録する目的で映像撮影をお手伝いしました。合間に写真も撮影しました。
Ten-Dana, Shimotawara Kamigumi, Utsunomiya
下田原上組の天棚組み上げ
4, August 2023
The Tensai festival is an event where prayers are offered to deities including the sun and moon, wishing for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. In Shimoda Hara Kami-gumi, the Tensai festival involves setting up a heavenly shelf to welcome deities and pray, along with everyone dancing to the rhythm of festival drums. I heard that in the past, mountain priest-like prayers used to be chanted. Around the Utsunomiya area, it became popular in the late Edo period, and it is known that it existed in over 50 locations. At the beginning of August, the heavenly shelf is constructed over two days, and the Tensai festival is held on the third day. I helped with video recording to document the assembly process. I also took some photographs in between.
