Places to Worship Gods from Nirai-Kanai (Sacred place of paradise just beyond the western ocean horizon)
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- Places to Worship Gods from Nirai-Kanai (Sacred place of paradise just beyond the western ocean horizon)
Worship the utopia where the gods live
There are folklore and beliefs throughout the Nansei Islands that God comes from Nirai-Kanai to bring fertility and happiness to the villages. Nirai-Kanai is a paradise beyond the horizon. It is also said to be the place where the decreased people go, life is born, and the ancestral gods live.
Nirai-Kanai is described as [Niruya-Kanaya] in "Omoro-soushi", and there is a theory that the word [Niruya] in festival songs is related to the sea. Also, there is a theory that Narai-kanai means the "part to become roots" or "far away".
Places of worship for the gods of Nirai-Kanai are usually located on the beach in front of villages overlooking the sea, on coastal cliffs, and on hills. In the Native Okinawa Village, the place of worship is placed on the hill of the slope in the west side overlooking the sea.
Kudakajima Island (Nanjo City, Okinawa)
Kudakajima Is. located on the southeastern sea of the main island of Okinawa, has many historical sites that have been preserved since ancient times.
[Habyan] (Cape Kaberu) is a sanctuary where Amamikiyo, the founder of the Ryukyu Kingdom, is said to have descended or landed from Nirai-Kanai.
Ishikihama is a legendary beach where five-grain seeds were washed ashore. There is also well spring on the island, which is said to have been used as a clean bath before picking up the jar.
Nirai-Kanai is described as [Niruya-Kanaya] in "Omoro-soushi", and there is a theory that the word [Niruya] in festival songs is related to the sea. Also, there is a theory that Narai-kanai means the "part to become roots" or "far away".
Places of worship for the gods of Nirai-Kanai are usually located on the beach in front of villages overlooking the sea, on coastal cliffs, and on hills. In the Native Okinawa Village, the place of worship is placed on the hill of the slope in the west side overlooking the sea.
Kudakajima Island (Nanjo City, Okinawa)
Kudakajima Is. located on the southeastern sea of the main island of Okinawa, has many historical sites that have been preserved since ancient times.
[Habyan] (Cape Kaberu) is a sanctuary where Amamikiyo, the founder of the Ryukyu Kingdom, is said to have descended or landed from Nirai-Kanai.
Ishikihama is a legendary beach where five-grain seeds were washed ashore. There is also well spring on the island, which is said to have been used as a clean bath before picking up the jar.