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영어

A Study on Tsukimi Folk Custom in Japan Tsukimi(月見; Moon-viewing) refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the Harvest moon on August 15th on the lunar calendar. Japanese people were hesitant to view the moon alone and willing to enjoy every changing phase of the moon. They gave specific names to each of the moon phases according to the moon rising time since August 14, a day before the full moon, and tend to pair up the full moon of August with the moon of September 13. Through the moon-viewing, they used to imagine that there lived Wolinjangja(月人壯子), Kagua-hime, Akariyanija and Brothers-Gone-to-the-Moon. Meanwhile, as the people predicted the agricultural abundance through the moon-viewing on the day, this event was a significant seasonal custom of agriculture. The day also represented the traditional holiday for people to pray for an abundant harvest of rice farming. Such proofs can be clearly found in the offerings of dango and taro for the moon goddess. As time elapsed the offerings changed. However, the taro was never missing in an altar beyond time. As an alternate name for the mid-autumn full moon is the Taro-Full-Moon(Imo-Meigetsu; 芋名月), taro is an indispensible staple food among the offerings. It means that this seasonal custom of agriculture originated from the harvest ritual of farm produce. And this day was also the preliminary festival to pray for an abundance of rice farming. Where people finished rice-harvest they expressed gratitude by offering rice. On the other hand, people wished for a bounty of rice where they did not finish rice-harvest. As above mentioned, Tsukimi custom represented not only harvest ritual of farm produce, but also the preliminary festival to wish for an abundance of rice. And on this day the Shintos of Hachiman(八幡) denomination held a memorial worship service for the deceased souls of no family as seen in fish release ceremony. And humans, goblins and animals enjoy together on the day. On the day, village children stole and ate the offered food to the moon goddess in other families and village people enjoyed tug-of-war, sumo and a circle dance. Meanwhile, Gappa as a goblin living in the water was capering over river and mountain. And especially a racoon out of animals transformed itself to deceive humans on the occasion, or tapped its stomach, sing and play under the moon light. Likewise, Tsukimi folk custom of Japan provided people with enjoyment of nature, prediction of agricultural crops, unfolding of mythical imagination and pleasure of dance and play.

일본어

旧曆8月15日を日本では月見という。その名のようにその日の主な民俗行事は、月を迎え鑑賞することである。日本人は一人で見ることを避ける傾向があり、また毎晩変わっていく姿を楽しむ伝統があった。そして15日を基準にして、1日前の14日から月末まで毎晩の月の変化を見ながら其々の名前も付けたりした。それと共に8月の満月を9月13日の月と一緒に見る民俗文化も生じて來た。また月を通してそこに住む人々も考えたりした。一方15日の月は農耕歲時にも大切な日であった。月を見て農事の收穫を豫測し、また月神の供物を見ても分かるように、その日は芋を中心とした畑作物の收穫祭日であった。それだけではない。稻草祭のように、その日は稻作の豊作を祈願する日でもあった。それからこの日は無緣の死靈を慰めるために、八幡系神社を中心に放生會を行う日であった。またその日、子供たちは人の月神の供物を盗んで食べながら楽しみ、村人は綱引き、相撲、圓舞などを楽しんでいた。そして証誠寺の狸囃子傳承のように、狸たちも楽しく遊んでいた日であった。このように日本人は、8月15日を満月を切っ掛けで自然を楽しみ、農作を豫測し、神話的想像力を広げ, 人間と妖怪そして動物たちがいっしょに楽しく過ごす日だと思ったのである