오키나와 새해 첫 참배행사의 이원성

Abstract

The first worship events in Okinawa has duality of ‘Hatsumoude’ and ‘Hatsuugan.’ It was assumed that ‘Hatsumoude’, a new custom introduced from the man land would be settled down in Okinawa as a similar custom titled ‘Hatsuugan’ existed before. ‘Hatsuugan’ is the first worship event for the New Year held individually, in munchu or town and in this respect, it looks similar to the ‘Hatsumoude’. However, Okinawa people understand that ‘Hatsuugan’ includes ‘Hatsumoude’, but ‘Hatsumoude’ can not be substituted for ‘Hatsuugan’. ‘Hatsumoude’‘s historical origin and status are different from those of ‘Hatsuugan.’ Notwithstanding, Okinawa people are confused about the concepts of ‘Hatsumoude’ and ‘Hatsuugan’. It is because that they have the same point of the first worship in the New Year and ‘Hatsuugan’ is gradually being held according to the Solar Calendar. In the old days, when Okinawa was an agricultural society, a custom of praying to the gods was established to protect crops from harsh nature such as typhoons and droughts that frequently land. This is called ‘Ugan’. The ‘Ugan’, which is practiced daily, is a self-sustaining act of faith for the Okinawans, dependent on nature and God or transcendent power, which can be grasped in terms of humanity's universality. In other words, ‘Ugan’ is a form of human fundamental hope for a rich life. As such, the first ‘Hatsuugan’ held in the new year has the most important meaning among the ‘Ugan’ held throughout the year. For folkloric events, natural environment or production activity were important to make a decision of practical space and time, but in modern times, they have been greatly influenced by national intervention. As the Solar Calendar was enforced in Okinawa, practical time of folkloric events was reorganized according to the national holiday system, which was connected to rise and decline of folk custom. ‘Hatsumoude’ and ‘Hatsuugan’ of Okinawa were confusing in concept and there is a possibility that ‘Hatsuugan’ would decline.