A study on the rice planting rituals in the Nara prefecture

We can see rice planting rituals in many places in the Nara Prefecture. In this study, I have tried to search for the meaning of rice planting rituals in the Nara Prefecture on the basis of the farming calendar and the circumstances of the rice growing. For the purpose of the study, I first divided the Nara Prefecture into three agricultural areas: basin, hilltop, and mountainous region. Secondly, I compared rice planting rituals in each area. As a result, I found rice planting rituals performed in hilltop and mountainous region. And rice planting rituals tend to be performed with the worship of ＂Koujin＂ by not all the member of the village but the family. Then I considered the meaning of rice planting rituals on the basis of the farming calendar and the circumstances of the rice growing in each area. And I came to the conclusion that rice planting rituals reflected the following differences. The basin area tends to pray for enough water for irrigation. On the other hand, the hilltop area tends not to pray for enough water but rather that high enough water temperature