A Study on Kagura Hikyoku at the Enthronement Ceremony and the Vicennial Renewal of the Ise Grand Shrines in Modern Japan

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K12602
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Kogakkan University (2019-2023); Japan Women's University (2018)
• Principal Investigator: Urita Michiko 皇學館大学, 現代日本社会学部, 准教授 (20812712)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 神楽秘曲 / 神宮式年遷宮 / 大礼 / レジリエンス / 社会生態学 / 長期継承

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Focusing on the modern era, which was a critical period for the survival of the kagura secret song-the most elaborate and sacred music of the imperial court-this study investigated cases of performances during the imperial succession ceremonies and the Shikinen Sengu at Ise Grand Shrine to understand its long-term preservation. Through my fieldwork and research on historical manuscripts, I clarified that the inheritance strategies of those involved in the transmission and performance played a crucial role.
Furthermore, by applying the theory of socio-ecological resilience, I could elucidate the origins and characteristics of the strategies for preserving the kagura secret song in the modern era, providing a certain direction for understanding its thousand-year-long continuity.

Free Research Field

民族音楽学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、その探究方法にある。20年に１度の神宮式年遷宮、及び御代一度限りの大礼の両方の実地調査を遂行し、関係者に傾聴式聞き取りも行なった。神楽秘曲に関する諸資料の精査と、社会人類学的アプローチを組み合わせた調査により、神楽秘曲の長期継承の鍵となる、近代の継承戦略を明らかにし、現行祭祀の奏楽と本義の継承も確定できた。両祭祀に対する関心の高い国際社会において、神楽秘曲のインパクトは大きい。