A Cultural Anthropological Study of School Folklore

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K01227
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Chubu University
• Principal Investigator: Hirai Meari 中部大学, 国際関係学部, 准教授 (70590438)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 学校のフォークロア / 合格祈願 / 試験祈願 / 受験 / 試験 / 御嶽 / 祭祀儀礼 / 村落祭祀

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the folklore concept of folklore and present a new theoretical-practical model of "school folklore. In this study, fieldwork was conducted on ritual rites and prayers held at schools in Okinawa, and on prayers for success at shrines and temples in Aichi, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Fukui, and Korea.
As a result, contemporary characteristics regarding Japanese and Korean prayers for school success were clarified. In particular, since folk beliefs and auspicious foods related to prayers for success in Japan and Korea, including Okinawa, have not been comprehensively captured from an academic perspective in previous studies, certain results were achieved.

Free Research Field

文化人類学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通して明らかにできた点は主に3つある。まず、①沖縄県宮古島を中心とする「学校の神様」についての実態、次に②現代日本、現代韓国の合格祈願フード、合格祈願スナック、合格祈願グッズの実態、そして③愛知県内の合格祈願に関する実態である。これまで、日韓の合格祈願に関する俗信や縁起食物等は、学術の視点から総合的に捉えられてこなかった点が指摘されている。そのため、本研究を通し現代社会の日常の中に組み込まれている合格祈願の実態を明らかにし、背景にある人々の思惟を考察できた点で、多少なりとも社会的意義があるといえる。