Presentation Information
[O05-P10]The Formation Process of Kumano Myths from the Natural Worship of the Kumano Acidic Rocks in the Kii Peninsula★Invited Papers
*Masahiko Konomatsu1 (1.Faculty of Education, Wakayama University)
Keywords:
Kumano,tafoni,korstone
Along the northeastern coast of the Kii Peninsula, the Kumano acidic igneous rocks are distributed. In the southern part of Mie Prefecture, these igneous bodies protrude as mountainous terrain and form a ria coastline. On the inland side of these igneous bodies lie accretionary sediments deposited in deep marine environments, as well as the Kumano Group, which was deposited in a fore-arc basin; together, these units encircle the igneous mass. The broader region encompassing southern Mie Prefecture and southern Wakayama Prefecture is collectively known as Kumano. Since ancient times, this area has been revered as a sacred land characterized by natural worship and the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. For this reason, it became widely known from the Heian period onward as the destination of the Kumano pilgrimage. It has now been twenty years since this sacred region was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title ‘Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.’
Why, then, did a sacred landscape—one that would eventually be recognized as a World Heritage Site—develop in this region? One major explanation is thought to lie in its geological setting. Historians have pointed out that many of the objects of natural worship in Kumano are composed of igneous rock. Examples include the Gotobiki Rock at Kamikura Shrine in Shingū City, the cave at Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine in Kumano City, and Nachi Falls at Nachi Taisha in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. These features, all linked to natural reverence, are formed within the igneous rock bodies.
In this study, I examine how these objects of natural worship were formed and consider how they became connected to the development of Kumano mythology.
Why, then, did a sacred landscape—one that would eventually be recognized as a World Heritage Site—develop in this region? One major explanation is thought to lie in its geological setting. Historians have pointed out that many of the objects of natural worship in Kumano are composed of igneous rock. Examples include the Gotobiki Rock at Kamikura Shrine in Shingū City, the cave at Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine in Kumano City, and Nachi Falls at Nachi Taisha in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. These features, all linked to natural reverence, are formed within the igneous rock bodies.
In this study, I examine how these objects of natural worship were formed and consider how they became connected to the development of Kumano mythology.