A Study on Location and Continuation Situation of "Moidon" around Kinko-cho, Kagoshima prefecture

Abstract

"Moidon" is a sacred place of the old folk belief to be left on Satsuma and Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima, or a deity enshrined at the sacred place. Moidon is not only a large forest, but also a big tree or a small bush, and usually does not have shrine buildings. Moidon is considered an invaluable asset because it leaves the origin of the Japanese Shinto shrine in now. In this study, we investigated location, continuation situation, the spatial morphology, spatial transformation, relation of local residents, having folklore or not, and management system of some Moidon around Kinko-cho, Kagoshima prefecture. The results shows that Moidon tends to disappear, reduce or be moved in recent years for some kind of development such as agricultural field improvement. On the other hand, in some Moidon, development has been avoided by the curse of Moidon. The relation to local residents such as the festival, offering, and cleaning tends to decrease. It is suggested that Moidon is located in the place where is important to the community spatially. It is necessary to regenerate Moidon as the standpoint of the community by addition of public support.