The nature worship such as himorogi and iwakura-shinko (large rock worship) is a part of the Koshinto and includes not only trees but also any symbolic object which is located at a border between environments and is treated as an object of worship because of gratitude, fear, and reverence towards gods, life, and nature. 神籬・磐座信仰(いわくらしんこう)という自然崇拝も古神道の一部であり、神や命や自然に対する感謝や畏怖・畏敬から、環境が変わる場所にある象徴的なものを、木に限らず神体とした。 |