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[[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.]]
[[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)''
*''Other Names'': ぎれーかねー ''(giree kanee)''
*''Japanese'': ニライカナイ ''(nirai kanai)''
*''Japanese'': ニライカナイ ''(nirai kanai)''<ref>Some sources suggest that the term ''nirai kanai'' is derived from or related to 根の屋・金屋 (Standard Japanese: ''ne no ya, kanaya''), meaning very roughly a house at the root, source, or origin, a golden house. Sakima Toshikatsu 崎間敏勝, ''Shurijô to Sanshin'' 首里城と三絃, Yonabaru, Okinawa: Ryûkyû bunka rekishi kenkyûjo (2009), 168.</ref>
''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.
''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.