Rain Rituals (amagoi)

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Rain Rituals, Dances and Prayers (amagoi, Japan)

***** Location: Japan and other areas
***** Season: Late Summer
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

For a riceplanting culutre like Japan, the seasonal rain is very important, it is a question of life and death! If the rain does not fall enough during the rainy season we have a "Dry Rainy Season" (kara tsuyu　空梅雨), like now in 2005 in Western Japan, where the terraced rice fields in my area did not get enough rain even to prepare the mud fields for planting. Many are not planted at all and the ones who were planted do not have enough to keep them watered. Water reservoirs are dried out...
Whereas in the northern districts of Japan, endless rain has caused the rivers and fields to overflow with water...

the gods of rain
swaying here and there -
floods versus droughts

This is the time when farmers turn to the Gods and Buddhas (kami hotoke) for prayer. There are some kigo related to this.

rain rituals, amagoi　雨乞い
prayer for rain, ame no inori　雨の祈り, ame inoru 雨祈る
prayer and wish for rain, ki-u (kiu）　祈雨
amulet for rain, ki-u fuda　祈雨札
Sutra when praying for rain, ki-u kyoo　
祈雨経, amagoi kyoo　雨乞経

dance when praying for rain, rain dance,　ki-u odori 祈雨踊り

The prayers and rituals for rain take many forms in Japan. Some are accompanied by special dances, some by a lion dance (shishimai 獅子舞), fires are lit on the tops of mountains and sutras are chanted.

Some Rain Dances and Lion Dances are part of regional festivals held every year in spring or early summer and are quite pleasant events for the population. See the haiku of Shiki below.
But the real Rain Rituals take place during the end of summer, when the weather situation calls for it and the farmers are desperate. They have a quite different severe atmosphere.

In the following, I will try and introduce some of these rituals. Rain Riutals have already been performed during the Nara period and are mentioned in old records like the Nihon Shoki.

In some areas, large boulders are inscribed with the characters for "Jizo", but people came to call them "Jizo who loved Rain" ama koi Jizo 雨恋地蔵 and used them for rain rituals.

Gabi Greve
Reference: Saijiki for Rituals and Ceremonies

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Here is a story about Saint Nichiren and a rain ritual I remember from living close to Gokuraku-Ji in Kamakura. Nichiren is the founder of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism and the welfare of the country was one of his concerns.

In 1271, the country was troubled by persistent drought. The government, fearful of famine, ordered Ryokan, the well-known and respected chief priest of Gokuraku-ji temple, to pray for rain.

When Nichiren Daishonin learned of this, he sent a written challenge to Ryokan offering to become his disciple if the latter succeeded in bringing on rain. If he failed, however, Ryokan was to become the Daishonin’s follower.

Ryokan accepted the challenge, but in spite of his prayers and those of hundreds of assistant priests, no rain fell. Instead, Kamakura was struck by fierce gales. Ryokan not only did not become a disciple of the Daishonin, but actually began to plot against him in collusion with Hei no Saemon.

Read more of the intriques following this unsucessful rain ritual:
http://www.nbaa.tv/Nichiren/lifeofnich.html

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Amagoi Matsuri, Kifune Jinja, March 9
The Great Rain Ritual at this shrine (Kibune Jinja 貴船神社) , which is dedicated toSUIJIN God of Water . This shrine is located at the entrance of the waterways of Kyoto, a most important location in olden times.

Horses offered to the gods in rain rituals
Black and white horse offerings Kibune Shrine 貴船神社の馬





The Waterfall for Rain Rituals, 雨乞の滝
It is not very big and does not carry much water. It falls in three steps.

The Rain Ritual 雨乞祭


Priests spraying water during the festival.


Suzuka Valley and Waterfall, 鈴鹿谷
The Main Shrine, 貴船神社本宮
The Rock Garden, 石庭

Page with many thumbnails of the places within the precincts.
http://www.kibune.or.jp/meisho/

The Dragon Character of the Deity


高おかみの神の「おかみ」という漢字は　（雨かんむりに口を三つ、その下に龍）

Copyright (C) 1997-2000 All Rights Reserved by Kibune Internet Project
http://www.kibune.or.jp/

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Mount Rain Ritual, Amagoi-dake 雨乞岳


http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamaken2/yama/amagoidake.htm

In Shiga prefecture.
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The Suzuka Mountain Range
Here the Dragon God resided and people prayed to him for rain. The famous giant "Dadaboshi" who lived there too, heared the people pray and decided to make a water resesrvoir for the people. He started digging and dumped the earth in a place in Suruga province. His pond got bigger and bigger and started fillilng up with water. Now we call this "Lake Biwa" and the place where he dumped the earth is called "Mt. Fuji".

鈴鹿山脈は雨乞い信仰の対象となっていて、山脈の最高峰、御池岳（一二四二メートル）の山頂はカルスト地形の湿地帯、二番目に高い山は雨乞岳（一二三八メートル）で、山頂には小さい池があって、モリアオガエルが棲息する。　山脈の北部には、龍ヶ岳（一一〇〇メートル）があり、御在所山の西には龍王山（八二六メートル）がある。龍王とは、雨乞の水神のことをいう。

昔むかし、鈴鹿の山に「だだぼし」という名の大男がいた。山のように大きかったが、とてもやさしかった。だだぼしは一人で山に住むのがさびしく、里の人たちと遊びたいと思って、「おーい」と呼んだが、里の人にはただの雷に聞こえた。里の人たちが「雷ばっかりで雨が降らない」と雨乞いをするのを見て、だだぼしは溜め池を作ろうと思い立った。夜しか力のでないだだぼしは、夜になると山を下りて穴を掘り、もっこで土を駿河の国へ運んだ。このとき、だだぼしの掘った池は琵琶湖になり、駿河の土の山は富士山になったという。

栗咲いて空の低さよ鈴鹿越え　　　　　　　　
kuri saite sora no hikusa yo suzuka koe
Kanehisa Michiko 金久美智子

chestnut blooms
the sky so lowly
Suzuka pass
(Tr. Nakamura Sakuo)

http://homepage2.nifty.com/cat-fish/200012hm.html


Detailed Japanese Information about the RainRituals at Suzuka Mountain Range.
From a b ook
鈴鹿山地の雨乞（西尾寿一）
http://blog.livedoor.jp/worldkigo/archives/26597355.html


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Worldwide use

Kenya

Drought in Kenya is probably not a kigo -- if it were, it would be a rainy season kigo.
During the dry season, dry weather is normal, even desirable, as crops need sunshine to ripen. But during rainy seasons, rain is needed, and if it does not come, we have drought, and we
potentially have famine.

There is a wonderful prayer for rain in the modern Kenyan prayer book, a powerful prayer too. Having once used it during an Evening Service in All Saints' Cathedral Nairobi, several people commented to me afterwards about the beauty of the words and the wonderful way they channelled their prayers.

Prayer for Rain
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Almighty God, Giver of life and strength,
creator of rain and sky, dust and earth,
preserver of people and plants and animals :
as our cattle leave their enclosures,
as we work on a dry and weary land
we look to you, our heavenly showers,
quench our thirst, strengthen our herds,
raise our crops and refresh our land;
Through Jesus Christ, the water of life.
Amen.

(c) Our Modern Services, Anglican Church of Kenya, 2002.

Isabelle Prondzynski

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North America, Indian Rain Dances

Some Links to explore:

Rain Dance of Zuni
This dance is always performed at the Pueblo of Zuni on August 19th. Both men and women participate, and all are masked. ... Zuni Nick says the song varies from year to year, and it is the privilege of all to improvise the new song for each RAIN DANCE.

Learn how to do a real Zuni Indian rain dance.
This site has a lot of other symbolic dances as well.

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/native/dance/rain_zuni.htm

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Island Powwow's Rain Dance Held as Drought Finally Ends


Story of a rain dance held at the opening of a pow wow.

http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues01/Co08252001/CO_08252001_Rain_Dance.htm

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LOWOCC POWWOW PAGE

Pow-wows are the very heart and soul of life for the Native People. Dancing draws man closer to all living things and through them to unseen forces of the Universe itself. Dancing is a way of expressing feeling, whether there is sadness or happiness or a felling of friendliness. It is a way of asking for rain, for good hunting, for good fishing, for success in war.

It is also a way of thanking the Great Spirit for what he has given to his children-food for the hungry, fur to keep warm, rain for the thirst, sun for the crops, and wisdom for the foolish.

An excellent site on Indian dancing that includes details as to how and why they dance, in particular at their pow wows. The asking for rain is just one of many dances performed.
http://www.lowocc.ca/powwowmain.htm

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The Rain that Follows the Sacrifice
By Ida Postma
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/general/ge-ida.htm

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NATIVE SPIRITUALITY GUIDE
Sponsored byt the RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A very comprehensive site on Indian culture and ceremony.
http://www.rcmp.ca/ccaps/spirit_e.htm

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APACHE NATION

The ceremonies are invariably called "dances. Among these are the rain dance, a puberty right, a harvest and good crop dance, and a spirit dance.

Very extensive esplanations.
http://www.crystalinks.com/apache.html

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First Nations in Canada
An excellent site on the Canadian Pacific Coast Tribes.
http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/MATHSCI/anth/104/pacific.htm

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Sing Down the Rain
written by Judi Moreillon and illustrated by Michael Chiago

http://storytrail.com/pages/SDRK.html

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Tibet

The Tibetan approach to ecology
by Tenzin P. Atisha

WATER AND RAIN RITUAL
In the third and fourth months in every year rain is scarce in Tibet. The Tibetan Government undertook the following measures to ensure proper rainfall:

First, every year during these months, eight monks from Namgyal monastery were went to seven lakes in and around Lhasa. They would recite special texts to summon the rain.

Second, the Tibetan Government would issue a decree banning construction work, both public and private, when the rainfall was not satisfactory. During the fourth month in particular, construction work was completely stopped.

Third, the Tibetan Government would invite 'gomchen' or hermits who specialized in summoning rain over lakes, to perform special rites in the area around Lhasa.

Finally, if the rain still did not come the government ordered a mass reading of the Kangyur (the doctrine of the Buddha) in the fields for several days. At this time no meat would be served. After completing the reading of the 108 volumes, the scriptures were carried in a circular procession around the fields by monks. The public also joined in this ceremony dressed in their best attire.

Another method employed by government to summon rain was to order the public to play with water in the streets for two or three days. Even the ministers and high lamas were not spared, water was thrown over everyone who went in the streets. This was done during the months of water scarcity to prompt the water god.

Read this most interesting article here:
http://www.tibet.com/Eco/eco7.html


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Things found on the way

The Park of God's Well in Kyoto
Shinsen-En　神泉苑
Already during the Heian period, a dragon was believed to live in the park and if you pray sincerely to it, rain would fall.

Look at more pictures of this lovely historical park.
http://www.kyonosachi.co.jp/kotomonogatari/yoshitune1

This is the park, where the famous lady Ono no Komachi prayed for rain.
Amagoi Komachi 雨乞小町. Lit. rain prayer Komachi.

Komachi ends a drought by offering the following poem as a prayer for rain:
"It is only reasonable since this is the Land of the Rising Sun for the sun to shine.
Nevertheless it is also called ama-ga-shita" (both 天 [heaven] and 雨 [rain] reads ame/ama).

kotowari ya/hi no moto nareba/teri mo sen/saritote wa mata/ama ga shita to wa
ことはりや/日のもとなれば/てりもせん/さりとては又/天が下とは

Usually depicted is the petitioning Komachi by the shore of a pond in heavy rain with a servant behind her opening a long-hand umbrella.
http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/n/nanakomachi.htm

The famous priest Kukai, Kobo Daishi 弘法大師　空海 would also perform rain rituals here on behalf of the Tenno.
He recited a special sutra, Shoo-u-Kyoo　請雨経 for seven days in sincere prayer. Then the good dragon godess, 善女竜王, appeared and started to draw dark clouds together and voila! rain fell !
The Rain Sutra 請雨経 in Japanese:
http://blog.livedoor.jp/worldkigo/archives/26581751.html

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The Dragon and Rain Rituals

Chinese ideas, such as amagoi, or praying to the dragon-deity for rain (雨乞い), probably accompanied the dragon concept. Such ideas, which probably played important roles in a rice-farming-based culture like the Yayoi, assume that the water-associated dragon-deity has control over natural phenomena such as rain, the lack of rain, hail, and so on.

Read an interesting essay about ancient rain lore.
Dragon in Japan .
http://www2.gol.com/users/bartraj/TheDragon-1.html

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Gunma
Raiden Shrine Shrine of the Thunder God

In the swamp of the precincts is a dragon, who is the object of the rain rituals.
雷電神社　板倉町
上野国で盛んな雷電信仰の中心的存在。
ここは、古代、万葉集の東歌に「伊奈良の沼」と詠まれた景勝で、境内の雷電沼のほとりにはこの東歌を刻んだ碑が立っております。昔、この沼からは龍駒・龍馬が飛び出したとも、あるいは龍が棲むとも伝えられ、日照りのときに雨乞いを行い、参拝者が身を清める沼でもありました。このほとりには安産・財運・音楽の神を祀る弁天社もあります。
http://www.raiden.or.jp/


Kyoto
Izumo Daijinguu. Great Shrine of Izumo
A special dance is performed.
出雲大神宮　亀岡市丹波国一宮で、明治までは出雲神社と呼ばれていた。徒然草の一文に「丹波に出雲という所あり」と記述されており、そこに出雲大社の分霊を勧請したといわれるが、元々は御影山を神体とし、有力氏族が祀られた社であったとされる。本殿は足利尊氏が修築したもので、三間社流造の檜皮葺。祭礼では雨乞い神事である風流花踊りが知られる。

http://www.joho-kyoto.or.jp/~retail/akinai/maturi/maturi_izumo.html


Nara
Nyuukawa Kamijinja
For the rain rituals, a black horse was used to induce rain and a white horse to make a long rain stop.
丹生川上神社にうかわかみ　上社　川上村　中社　東吉野村　下社　下市町鎮座する地名などから上社を川上神社、中社を蟻通神社、下社を丹生神社ともいう※。676年の創建で、上社に高オカミ神、中社に罔象女神、下社に闇オカミ神を祀る。古来より雨乞いの神として知られ、降雨祈願には黒馬を、止雨祈願には白馬を奉納するのがならわしであった。たが、応仁の乱以後は降雨の霊験がないなどとされ、存在意義を失い、消息を絶った。その後、明治時代に様々な検証を経て、現在に至る。上社の本殿は重要文化財で、愛宕祭りなど例祭が多い。ダム建設により船尾迫に遷座されている。中社では、重要文化財の石灯籠が残るほか、6月1日の例祭には太古踊りが奉納される。下社では、10月16日にだんじり祭りが行われる。歴代神主には尊皇派が多く、南北朝時代には丹生氏が、幕末には橋本若狭、中井越前が天誅組で世を席捲した。
http://www.y-morimoto.com/jinja22/niu_kami.html

Three examples from a link about the most important shrines in Japan.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad-Forest/6130/geographia/shrine.html

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Find more information in my Essays on the Gods of the Elements , including the God of Water, Suijin 水神.

SUIJIN God of Water

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HAIKU

月赤し雨乞踊見に行かん　　　　　　　 　
tsuki akashi amagoi odori mi ni yukan
Masaoka Shiki

a red moon -
let us go to see
the rain dance
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

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雨乞の竜乗込みて瀬の迅し　 　　　　　
ama goi no tatsu nottekomi te se no hayashi
Fujiwara Takao

praying for rain -
the dragon rushes on
to the rapids
(Tr. Nakamura Sakuo)

Japanese Haiku about RAIN
http://homepage2.nifty.com/noura/shiika/amehaiku.htm

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Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo

松明に雨乞行やよるの嶺
taimatsu ni amagoi-gyoo ya yoru no mine
Tan Taigi

rain rituals
in the light of torches -
mountain peaks at night
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

炭　太祇　たん・たいぎ(1738-1791)
http://www.geocities.jp/haikunomori/chuko/taigi2.html


雨乞に夜ひと経よむ僧徒哉
amagoi ni yo hito kyoo yomu zoo kanaa
Kuroyanagi Shoo

for a rain ritual
he reads the sutras -
a monk at night
(Tr. Gabi Greve)


黒柳召波　くろやなぎ・しょうは(1727-1771)
http://www.geocities.jp/haikunomori/chuko/shundei.html


Haiga by Nakamura Sakuo

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Regenzauber, Regenrituale

赤土に雨乞の火を祝女が焚く 　新　城　太　石(unbekannt)
aka-tsuchi-ni amagoi-no hi-wo noro-ga taku 　SHINJOH

Auf der roten Erde/macht die Schamanin Feuer/fuers Regenmachen.
(uebersetzt:TAKANOKURA Yuhki)

the lady shaman
lights a fire on red earth -
rain rituals
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

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雨を乞ふ真夜の火柱立ちにけり 　篠　崎　圭　介(1934～)
ame-wo kou mayo-no hibashira tachi-ni-keri 　SHINOZAKI Keisuke

In der Mitternacht/steht eine Feuersaeule,/um den Regen zu bitten.
(uebersetzt:SATOH Kihakusoh)

a pillar of fire
lights the midnight -
praying for rain
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

http://www008.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kihakuso/html/04sai/natsu04.html

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Another kind of Regenzauber:

Regenzauber -
ein Netz aus gläsernen Perlen
fängt sich den Lichtstreif.

Magie de la pluie -
un filet de perles cristallines
capte le rai de lumière.

magic of rain -
a net of glass pearls
captures the lightbeam
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

Brigitte DORFINGER
http://pages.infinit.net/haiku/autriche.htm

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From the SHIKI archives

head of Waterworks Bureau
prays for rain at the shrine
offering a bottle of sake

*Rain at long last here! Thank Rain-God.
I know a rainmaker who is head of the Waterworks Bureau of Matsuyama City. He sneaked out every morning to make secret prayers at his shrine. He believes that his continuous prayer for rain has been answered this week!

taiko drums
beating the crisp welkin -
villagers dance 'til it rains

(In some remote village it takes place.)

even the dragon
sheds tears of sympathy -
rains of joy for mortals

Takashi Nonin
http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki.archive/html/0008/0081.html

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>... rain dance -
>... dust billows around
>... the dancers feet


parched fields -
a farmer whittles
his own dowser*

*Divining rod to seek out sources of underground water.

Carole MacRury

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desert dust; lips thirst.
still to watch rain dance, drunken
me with your sweet wet.

Look at the photo go go with this haiku:
http://splashhall.org/2005/05/17/rain-dance-a-haiku/

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Nakamura Sakuo and the Issa Haiga
http://blog.livedoor.jp/sakuo3903/

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Related words

***** .. .. .. .. Rain in various KIGO (Japan)

***** Water Shortage (Tropics)

***** Drought (hideri, Japan)

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Fudo Myo-O and Rain Rituals Amagoi Fudo

Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

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