Sada Jinja Shrine（佐太神社）

Sada Jinja Shrine（佐太神社）is located in Matsue city, Shimane Pref. A deity called Sada-no-ookami（佐太大神） is enshrined in the central building among the three main buildings for the deities to live in.

The shrine's official chronicle tells that the deity is the same as Sarutahiko（Refer to my previous article: Tsubaki Ookami Yashiro Shrine). In Japan's mythology, Sarutahiko guided a grandson-Ninigi of the heavenly deity "Amaterasu" when he was coming down from the heaven to the land of Japan. With this regard, Sarutahiko is seen as a great guide. However, the shrine's head priest admits that the Sada-no-ookami is a mysterious being; no clues to know who the deity really is and no clear evidences that the deity is really Sarutahiko.

On September 24 and 25 every year (August in Lunar year), the shrine holds a festival to replace mats in the shrine's buildings with new ones（Goza-kae Shinji：御座替神事）. The head priest says that the mat replacement means "refreshing the divine life or revitalizing the soul". After the festival, a traditional shinto dance called "Sada Shin-nou"（佐太神能） is performed. The performance is one of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritages.

In the middle ages, it was thought that the a tomb of Izanami, the great mother of Japanese deities, was moved to the shrine. Therefore, it is said that the whole Japanese deities visit the shrine to see their mother in October every year (Luna year). The shrine holds a religious festival called "Kami-ari sai"（神在祭） for welcoming the deities who visit the shrine from October 20 to 25 every year. On October 25, on the other hand, the shrine holds a festival for the deities' farewell called "Kamu-sara-de sai festival"（カムサラデ祭）.

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