THE TOPOLOGICAL STRUCTURE IN 'MIARE SHINJI' CEREMONY : Through the priests' service

Abstract

This paper interprets Kamo-Shintoism documents of the 17th century in order to analyze topos in the process of altered consciousness of the priests during the 'Miare-shinji' Shinto ceremony, dedicated to the main Shinto deity of the Kamigamo shrine: Wake-Ikazuchi-no-Kami. In the first stage, the priests serving Wake-Ikazuchi-no-Kami's deities transmigrate into those deities; in the second stage, the priests, transformed into deities, will serve Wake-Ikazuchi-no-Kami. During this process of altered consciousness, the priests hope that Wake-Ikazuchi-no-Kami's forces will appear. In conclusion, while considering Wake-Ikazuchi-no-Kami to be both a deity and a force of Nature (Zoka), it is suggested that this process is a demonstration of Nature (Zoka) itself.