Abstract
In my regard to the structure of villages observed Dozoku-shin (a tutelary deity of Dozoku) rite, I have paid special attention to some villages and their Dozoku system where we can no longer see Dozoku-shin rite but Yashiki-gami (a tutelary deity of family) rite.
So, my attention of field work was applied to Nagura, one of the village of the inner part of Mikawa. There are many groups of small Dozoku system in their village. Complicated a branching and many removals of families from one hamlet to others since Meiji period-these, with historical and economical conditions, have weakened Dozoku-ties and their function in Nagura. In this village, at the present, we have no Dozoku-shin rite, symbol of the union of Dozoku members, While each family-many of them are head families or branch families that appeared in Edo period, celebrates once or twice a year their own Yashiki-gami (whom villagers call Jino-kami).
Along with the tide of folk-faith in Edo periodo, I think, branch families in the days began to celebrate their own familie's tutelary deity, keeping their connection to head families, as their independence were established somewhat concretely
To deepen the inspection of this point, I tried an intensive research by taking up one hamlet. The research at Inosawa is this. I inspected historical transition of each geneology, land possesion of thirteen families of this hamlet in connection with Dozoku system, the foundation of this system in labour and daily life. Their close connection is limited those between newly branched families and their head families and between the present heads of family and members of this close kinship.
As to Yashiki-gami rite, though we can acknowledge some traits of a joints ritual by Dozoku members, it has been transformed to each family's ritual. The manner of its celebration has been directed to simple way.
If it is allowed to understand that the folkway of Dozoku-shin rite is a faith supported by joint consciousness of Dozoku members at a certain step of social developments, and at the same time, a spiritual reflection of their community life this research of Nagura may evidently prove that.
