<Articles>Strange Phenomena at Shrines and Konro no Miura during the Heian Period : Changes in the Relationship between Humans and Deities in the 11th Century

From the first half of the 11th century onward the number of appeals by shrines regarding the occurrence of unusual happenings (strange phenomena) and the divination carried out at the imperial court in response mushroomed. This article examines the causes and historical significance of this sudden increase. After providing an overview of the konro no miura (a divination carried out in a palace corridor by officials of the Department of Worship [Jingikan] and Yin-Yang Bureau [Onmyoryo]) which was considered the most important type of court divination when divining strange phenomena at shrines, I first examine the changes in the topics of divination by era and make clear through primary sources that there was a sudden increase in appeals by shrines about strange phenomena and a corresponding increase in the number of cases of konro no miura from the second quarter of the 11th century. Then, why was there a sudden rise in divinations due to strange phenomena at shrines? The increase in the number of konro no miura divinations began in the first half of the 11th century, as the sense of the arrival of the final stage of history, the turbulent last age in which aristocrats lived, grew more profound, aristocrats began to respond more sensitively to strange phenomena at shrines that prophesized on the curses of the deities who might cause catastrophic results in their futures, and as the shrines were able to strengthen themselves by these appeals, this brought about the popularity of these divinations. As the divinations became popular, the aristocrats became increasingly sensitive to any breach in rites for native deities who could issue curses, and in order to avoid pollution, they attempted to strengthen taboos in regard to sources of pollution. These began with the emperor, who was involved in rites for native deities on a regular basis, and those around him in the first half of the 11th century; their frequency increased and extent grew, spreading throughout aristocratic society. From the latter half of the 11th century, in the pardons carried out in the emperor's name, there was often a move to eliminate pardons for those related to the appeals of the shrines, but since clemency for those punished as result of appeals by the shrines meant obstructing the realization of divine will, this was a serious act betraying divine wishes, and in this sense it roots were the same .as those of the strengthening of taboos on pollution. Pardons for those who faced punishment as a result of the appeals of the shrines by the emperor whose existence was profoundly linked to rites for native deities through the offering rituals was a violation of the deities intent by the emperor and showed an absence of proper respect for the deities. Being an act that might invite the curses of the deities, these pardons had to avoided. Strange phenomena at shrines were also portends for humans of the possible occurrence of curses by the deities and signified an omen warning them to prepare measures to deal with catastrophe. The curses of deities were never unforeseen, and through these omens providing advance warning, people could seek measures to avoid the curses that were attempts to respond to the actions of such people. From the popularity of divinations due to strange phenomena, one can clearly see a change in the character of deities, i.e. the appearance of medieval deities who would respond to appeals. The period from the first half of the 11th century to the middle of the century that saw the increase in divination due to strange phenomena at shrines was the turning point in the appearance of deities that could be characterized as medieval.