ShokiIwami Kagura
Shoki
Originally Shoki was a Chineise god who was regarded as a vanquisher of
ghosts and evil beings. But in Japan, he is well-known as a guardian god
against plagues. In the olden days, plagues were a great threat, so this
piece had been played with people’s prayers.
Susano-no-mikoto, a Japanese god, appears on the stage and introduces himself
as Shoki. He fights against plagues with a large hoop of hemp. It is thought
that the hemp has a sacred power against disease. After a fierce fight,
Shoki successfully defeats those plagues.
You can see that people walk through the large hoop of hemp in the ritual
ceremony held on June 30th and December 31st.
Go to Kagura Programs