Chi no ibi

Chi no ibi [ちのいび] is a kami from Kawara Prefecture who is believed to have the power to bring a good harvest and bestow blessings on rice farmers. Its name literally means 'spirit of the fields' in the Kawara dialect; in standard Kantonese it is called iwa no kami. It is also known as goraibi [spirit of farming/agriculture] or noshiibi [spirit of the peasantry]. In many communities through Kawara, it is common to see farmers praying before stone statues of the spirit before harvesttime. In some areas, chi no ibi is believed to be a singular entity, while in other areas it is thought to be multiple working as one.
According to agricultural calendars, farmers observe spiritual ceremonies in honour of chi no ibi in the late summer and autumn. They may pray for rain showers, protection of their crops from blights and pests, or for their good health. Generally celebrations involve dancing, eating rice-based dishes, visiting temples or shrines, and lighting large bonfires.
In Kawara Prefecture it was superstitiously believed that rice planting could only be carried out by women, therefore statues and depictions of chi no ibi usually portray the spirit as a young lady dressed in traditional clothes, holding a sheaf of rice plants.