Itatehyōzu Shrine
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| Itatehyōzu Shrine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shinto |
| Deity | all the deities of its province |
| Type | Sōja shrine |
| Location | |
  Shown within Hyōgo Prefecture  Itatehyōzu Shrine (Japan) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°50′2.4″N 134°41′47.8″E / 34.834000°N 134.696611°E |
 Glossary of Shinto | |
Itatehyozu Shrine (Japanese: 板手兵主神社, Itatehyōzu Jinja) is a Shinto shrine in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan.[1] It is located just outside of Himeji Castle.[2] It is renowned for its Single Mountain Rite held every 60 years and Three Mountains Rite held every 20 years. The shrine's rituals are related to rituals at Iwa Shrine a famous nearby shrine.[1] It is a Sōja shrine and enshrines all the gods of Harima Province.[3] It is a Beppyo shrine, or a shrine that is particularly notable in a certain way with a significant history to it.[4]
It is a Sōja shrine. It enshrines all the kami of the shrines in Harima Province. Whenever a new governor of Harima Province was appointed he would be sent to the shrine to worship all the gods of the province.[5]
Ichinomiya and Soja are not the same thing but were sometimes combined.[6] In this case the Iwa Shrine is the Province's Ichinomiya,[7] and uniquely their rituals are highly intertwined.[1]
Rituals
[edit]The Itatehyozu Shrine follows a distinct cycle for its two principal rites. The Single Mountain Rite is performed once every sixty years, while the Three Mountains Rite takes place every twenty years.[1]
This is the reverse of the rites at Iwa Shrine in which the three mountains rite is every sixty years and the single mountain rite is every twenty years.[1]
It is said this similarity happened because the Iwa deity was invited to Itatehyōzu Shrine in ancient times through Kanjō.[1]
Three Mountains Rite
[edit]Every twenty years, the Three Mountains Rite takes place at Itatehyōzu Shrine. This is to worship the three mountains. Iwa Shrine in Shisō, Hyōgo also holds these rites, but it does so every sixty years instead.[1]
At Itatehyōzu Shrine, there is a week-long event. A bamboo and cloth mountain is built. It is fifteen meters high. It is placed at the shrine's entrance. A small shrine is put on top of this. Food offerings are made. These offerings include mochi.[1]
Single Mountain Rite
[edit]The Single Mountain Rite is a festival at Itatehyōzu Shrine. It happens every sixty years. The shrine is in Ichinomiya Town, Shisō County, Hyōgo Prefecture. The festival honors Mt. Miya. This mountain is said to be the tomb of Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto.[1]
One month before the festival, a new shrine is placed on the mountain top. A white flag is raised. The festival includes worshipping three mountains from afar. These are Mt. Takahata, Mt. Hanasaki, and Mt. Shirakura. A sacred palanquin is also carried to the river valley.[1]
| Shrine | Single Mountain | Three Mountains |
|---|---|---|
| Itatehyōzu Shrine | 20 | 60 |
| Iwa Shrine | 60 | 20 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Hitotsuyama Shinji | 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム". 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Harima no Kuni Sōsha Shrine to Himeji Castle". Harima no Kuni Sōsha Shrine to Himeji Castle. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Harima-no-Kuni Sosha Shrine | Reception Halls | Himeji Convention Guide". www.himeji-kanko.jp. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "別表神社とは？御朱印めぐりに参考になる「別表神社一覧」とマップ | 開運戦隊ゴシュインジャー". jinja-gosyuin.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ Bocking, Brian (2016). A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Routledge. ISBN 978-1138979079.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Shinto
- ^ Shibuya, Nobuhiro (2015). Shokoku jinja Ichinomiya Ninomiya San'nomiya (in Japanese). Yamakawa shuppansha. ISBN 978-4634150867.