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Created page with "right|thumb|300px|[[Miruku coming ashore from ''nirai kanai'' during a festival, bringing ''yugafu'' (good fortune), as represented in a museum display..."
[[File:Miruku.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Miruku]] coming ashore from ''nirai kanai'' during a festival, bringing ''[[yugafu]]'' (good fortune), as represented in a museum display at the [[National Museum of Japanese History]]. Also seen here are a ''[[shisa]]'' (lion) and ''[[hari]]'' (dragon boat), welcoming the deity.]]
*''Other Names'': ぎれーかねー ''(giree kanee)''
*''Japanese'': ニライカナイ ''(nirai kanai)''
''Nirai kanai'' is a legendary paradise prominent in [[Ryukyuan religion|Ryukyuan folk beliefs]]. It is believed to exist across the eastern sea, beyond the sea or beyond the horizon, and is associated with creation myths, sometimes being identified as a creator deity itself. Gods, especially [[Miruku]] (Maitreya Buddha), are believed to come over the sea from ''nirai kanai'' to Ryûkyû, bringing good fortune, and good harvests. As a result, any and all ships arriving from beyond the horizon are associated with this place, and with the arrival of good fortune.
Local festivals throughout the islands often take place on the beach, and involve welcoming gods (esp. Miruku) to the village, with [[harisen|dragon boat]] races, tall decorative pikes or spears festooned with streamers and banners, and music & dances. Similar ritual elements are seen in paintings depicting the welcoming back (or sending off) of [[tribute]] ships bound for (or returning from) China.
{{stub}}
==References==
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42520-storytopic-121.html Nirai kanai]," ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
[[Category:Deities]]
*''Other Names'': ぎれーかねー ''(giree kanee)''
*''Japanese'': ニライカナイ ''(nirai kanai)''
''Nirai kanai'' is a legendary paradise prominent in [[Ryukyuan religion|Ryukyuan folk beliefs]]. It is believed to exist across the eastern sea, beyond the sea or beyond the horizon, and is associated with creation myths, sometimes being identified as a creator deity itself. Gods, especially [[Miruku]] (Maitreya Buddha), are believed to come over the sea from ''nirai kanai'' to Ryûkyû, bringing good fortune, and good harvests. As a result, any and all ships arriving from beyond the horizon are associated with this place, and with the arrival of good fortune.
Local festivals throughout the islands often take place on the beach, and involve welcoming gods (esp. Miruku) to the village, with [[harisen|dragon boat]] races, tall decorative pikes or spears festooned with streamers and banners, and music & dances. Similar ritual elements are seen in paintings depicting the welcoming back (or sending off) of [[tribute]] ships bound for (or returning from) China.
{{stub}}
==References==
*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42520-storytopic-121.html Nirai kanai]," ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Mythology]]
[[Category:Deities]]