Shrine Maidens quietly craft evil warding arrows. The final rush of production for January begins at the Hachimanguu Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312020024/

December 3, 2013

'Mikoshi' (shrine maidens) silently continue their work of creating evil-warding arrows=Hachimanguu Temple

At the Hachimanguu Temple (Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City), the production of evil warding arrows, a lucky amulet for New Years, enters it's final rush. Using bamboo and the feathers of waterfowl within Japan, 245,000 arrows of various sizes are being produced until Mid-December.

As the mikoshi quietly continued their work, the banging of kabura whistles and the sound of decorative bells being attached to the arrows could be heard echoing through the silent temple.

To celebrate the occasion of Minomoto no Yoriyoshi using the arrows of Hachimanguu Temple to end the Zenkunen War, Kyōtō's Iwashimizu-Kachimanguu Shrine sent over their bow(s) and arrow(s) as an offering.


Original text:
巫女が黙々と破魔矢作り　正月控えて鶴岡八幡宮で追い込み／鎌倉
2013年12月3日

黙々と破魔矢作りの作業を続ける巫女たち＝鶴岡八幡宮

鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で正月の縁起物の破魔矢作りが追い込みに入っている。国産の竹や水鳥の羽根を使用し、今月中旬までに、大小合わせて２４万５千本を製作する。

巫女（みこ）らは、「コンコン」と矢の先端に鏑（かぶら）を付ける音や飾りの鈴の音が静かに響く中、黙々と作業を続けていた。

同八幡宮の破魔矢は源頼義が前九年の役を平定した際に、京都の石清水八幡宮から授かった弓矢を奉納したことにちなむという。