埼玉県江南町における神社の祭りと住民参加

都市でも農村でも，コミュニティの喪失が著しい．かつて，神社は祭事を通してコミュニティの形成，維持に中心的な役割を担っていた．なかでも，夏祭りと秋祭りは氏子総出で，コミュニティを確認する機会の一つともなっていた．本研究は，埼玉県江南町における神社の祭事がどのように変化し，現在祭りとそれに対する住民の参加状況がどのようになっているかを明らかにするものである．その結果，以下の点が明らかになった．1．江南町には旧村社に相当する13の神社があり，さらに境内社が合祀されている．2．祭りや講は，かつてさかんであったが，第二次大戦後と高度経済成長期を中心に衰退した．3．しかし，復活したものもあり，保存会により児童への継承がはかられているものもある．講もかつてほどではなくなったが，継続されている．4．祭りが盛り上がり，住民が多く参加するか否かは，総代長をはじめとする役員と，氏子の積極性が深い関わりをもつ．5．比較的盛大な祭りが行われている事例をみると，1)氏子総代長の主導力によるもの，2)総代長を中心とする役員の努力によるもの，3)総代長をはじめとする役員の努力に，新旧の氏子が呼応して盛り上がりを見せているもの，という3タイプのあることが明らかになった．

This paper will explain the festivals of the Shinto shrines and the commitment to the festivals by the inhabitants in Kounan Town. Since about 1960, communities have been disappearing, not only in the urbanized regions of Japan, but also in the rural regions. However, communities are important to secure the safety of neighboring areas and to support mutual aid at the time of unexpected accidents, etc. In former days there were various festivals to honor the tutelary gods and they were affective events to establish and maintain communities. Kounan Town is located in the northern part of Saitama Prefecture and borders on Kumagaya City. This town is covered with rich forests, rice paddies and farms. It is a rural region from of old and agriculture has been extensively carried out, mainly the growing of rice and barley, as well as mulberry for sericulture. But since about 1960 the urbanized areas have been spreading due to the construction of ready-built houses, apartment buildings, factories, large stores, etc. As a result, the original inhabitants and the newcomers, who have moved from Kumagaya City and the surrounding areas, are now living together in this town. Kounan Town is separated into thirteen districts, which were separate villages from the Edo era until 1889, and there are thirteen Shinto shrines, one shrine located in each district. Moreover, there are several small subordinate shrines situated in each shrine precinct. Formerly many festivals were held at the shrines. On the festival days parishioners were treated to dumplings made of rice and bean jam at the shrines At some of the shrines the ritual lion dance was performed, and portable shrines were carried and festival floats pulled, one after the other, through the area. When night came movies, variety shows and dramas were staged in the grounds of the shrines. The parishioners of the shrines were also active in religious associations. They visited the head shrines in turns, combining this with recreation. Some festivals in this town have been revived of late. There are three types of summer festivals. The first type is a festival that has flourished due to the leadership of the head parish representative. The second type is a festival that has developed due to the efforts of parish representatives. These two festivals are supported by the original inhabitants. The third type is a festival that has been revived by the efforts of the parish representatives, and the active participation of the original inhabitants and the newcomers. Of course, this festival is supported by both the old and new inhabitants.

論説