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User:Nihonjoe/Sakurai Shrine (Itoshima)

Coordinates: 33°37′41.9″N 130°11′31.3″E / 33.628306°N 130.192028°E / 33.628306; 130.192028
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Sakurai Shrine
桜井神社
櫻井神社
The main gate (rōmon) of Sakurai Shrine
Religion
AffiliationShinto
Location
Location4227 Shima Sakurai, Itoshima-shi, Fukuoka-ken, Japan
Nihonjoe/Sakurai Shrine (Itoshima) is located in Fukuoka Prefecture
Nihonjoe/Sakurai Shrine (Itoshima)
Location within Fukuoka Prefecture.
Geographic coordinates33°37′41.9″N 130°11′31.3″E / 33.628306°N 130.192028°E / 33.628306; 130.192028
Architecture
StyleNagare-zukuri
FounderKuroda Tadayuki
Date established1632
Website
Official website
Glossary of Shinto

Sakurai Shrine (桜井神社 or 櫻井神社, Sakurai-jinja) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Itoshima in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The main hall, rōmon, and worship hall are designated Important Cultural Properties in Japan. The stone bridge, main hall, rōmon, and worship hall are all Important Tangible Cultural Properties of Fukuoka Prefecture. The "floating" torii and meoto-iwa at Futamigaura are collectively considered one of the most scenic spots in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The shrine was founded in 1632 by Kuroda Tadayuki, the second daimyō of the Fukuoka Domain in Chikuzen Province. It houses child shrines of the Kotaijingu and Toyouke Daijingu at Ise Shrine. Historical names used for the shrine (or parts of it) include Yodohime Daimyōjin and Iwato-miya.

History

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According to tradition at the shrine, during a thunderstorm in 1610, a lightning strike caused a cave to open up behind where the current main hall is located.[1][2] A divine spirit appeared and performed several miracles. When Kuroda Tadayuki, the second daimyō of the Fukuoka Domain in Chikuzen Province, heard of these occurrences, he sent some retainers to investigate and confirm the stories. He established Sakurai Daijingu in 1625, followed by Sakurai Shrine in 1632.[1][2][3][4]

Historically, the shrine (or parts of it) has also been called Yodohime Daimyōjin (与止姫大明神) and Iwato-miya (岩戸宮).[1][5] In 1869, the eight deities of Sakurai Village (now part of Itoshima) were enshrined there, and its official name was changed to Sakurai Shrine.[1][5]

Official designations

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The main hall was designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県指定有形文化財, Fukuoka-ken Shitei Yūkei Bunkazai) on 9 April 1977.[1] The main gate and worship hall received the same designation on 25 July 1977.[6] The stone bridge was designated on 5 February 2003.[6] The main hall, worship hall, and main gate, as well as seven historical plaques and one map, were designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan on 25 September 2023.[7][8][9]

The white torii and the "married rocks" at Futamigaura were collectively designated one of the most scenic spots in Fukuoka Prefecture on 3 February 1968.[10]

Grounds and architecture

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Stone bridge

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Stone bridge

A stone bridge on the eastern side of Sakurai Shrine gives access to the grounds.[11] It is a taiko-style, single-arch footbridge with four tuff piers supporting two tuff beams that split the span into three sections.[11] The four pillars are secured in pairs toward the bottom of the pillars with additional tuff beams running in the same direction as the top beams.[11]

The arching balustrade has a total length of 7.25 metres (23.8 ft) and the bridge has a span of 3.25 metres (10.7 ft).[11] The bridge was built in the mid-17th Century and is one of the oldest in Fukuoka Prefecture. The bridge has been well preserved and still features its original appearance and structural materials.[11]

Main shrine

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Main hall

The main gate (rōmon, shown at the top of the article) and the honden (main hall) use the same irimoya-zukuri style of roof with copper shingle roofing (both formerly had tiled roofs made of cypress bark).[1][3] The haiden (worship hall), rōmon, and honden were all constructed at around the same time.[1][5]

In the main hall, only a ridgepole remains from the original 1632 construction materials. A number of repairs have been made over the years, including replacing the inome gegyo (猪目懸魚, lit. boar's-eye gable pendant").[1] Many of the colorful painting decorations on the inside of the shrine are done in the Azuchi–Momoyama style, and were restored in 1991-1992 as part of an Imperial conservation effort.[1]

The worship hall was built with a sloped roof in the kirizuma-zukuri (切妻造, lit. "gabled roof") style.[1] Historical drawings exist from when it was built, but only the foundation stones have not been replaced. Despite being rebuilt (and reroofed in copper instead of tile around 1931), it retains most of its original appearance.[1][5]

The architecture of the Sakurai Shrine is representative of the nagare-zukuri style of shrines built in the Muromachi period.[3][4] The main hall uses curves to minimize the uneven structure of the building.[3] They both have intricate and colorful carvings and woodwork used as elements throughout. Along with the haiden, they are designated important cultural properties of Fukuoka Prefecture.[1][4]

Sakurai Daijingu

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Entrance stairs and torii to Sakurai Daijingu.

At the southwest side of the grounds, directly behind and up a flight of stairs from the side of the main hall, is the iwato-gũ (岩戸宮, lit. "cave entrance shrine")[12] known as Sakurai Daijingu (櫻井大神宮).[4] The torii at the base of the stairs was donated to Ise Shrine in 2013 and moved to its current location in 2015.[5][13]

The main hall, worship hall, and middle hall of Sakurai Daijungu are built in the shinmei-zukuri style, with thatched roofs. They house child shrines of the Kotaijingu and Toyouke Daijingu at Ise Shrine.[4] Amaterasu and Toyouke-hime are enshrined there.[14]

Additional facilities

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The grounds host an emaden (絵馬殿) for hanging ema and a kagura-den for ritual dances.[8][15] There are additional, smaller shrines located throughout the grounds of the main shrine.

  • Sakurai Sarutahiko Shrine (櫻井猿田彦神社, Sakurai Sarutahiko-jinja)[12]
  • Sai-no-kami (塞の神)[12]
  • Hasshinden / Suga Shrine (八神殿・須賀神社, Hasshinden / Suga-jinja)[12]
  • Hiko / Kusunoki Shrine (日子・楠神社, Hiko / Kusunoki-jinja)[12]
  • Kasuga Shrine (春日神社, Kasuga-jinja)[12]
  • Hachiman-gū (八幡宮)[12]
  • Kotohira Shrine (金比羅神社, Kotohira-jinja)[12]
  • Futamigaura Remote Worship (二見ヶ浦遥拝所, Futamigaura Yōhaisho) – Allows for remote worship at Futamigaura[12]
  • The kagura-den, or ritual dance facility
    The kagura-den, or ritual dance facility
  • Sakurai Sarutahiko Shrine
    Sakurai Sarutahiko Shrine
  • Hasshinden Suga Shrine
    Hasshinden Suga Shrine
  • Hinoko Kusu Shrine (right) and Kasuga Shrine (left)
    Hinoko Kusu Shrine (right) and Kasuga Shrine (left)
  • Hachimangū
    Hachimangū

Futamigaura

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Futamigaura torii and meoto-iwa.

The Chikuzen Futamigaura (筑前二見ヶ浦), or Sakurai Futamigaura (桜井二見ヶ浦), torii is located at a beach near the shrine, about a three-minute drive (3 kilometres (1.9 mi)) to the seashore and within the boundaries of Genkai Quasi-National Park.[4][16] The torii is painted white rather than the traditional vermilion, and appears to be floating in the ocean when the tide is in.[17]

Directly out from the torii are the meoto-iwa (夫婦岩, lit. "married rocks"), connected by a 30 metres (98 ft) shimenawa that weighs about 1 tonne (1,000 kg).[16][17] The rocks are 11.2 metres (37 ft) and 11.8 metres (39 ft) tall, about 150 metres (490 ft) from the shore, and used to be called the "Entrance to the Dragon Palace" (竜宮の入口, Ryūgū no Iriguchi).[16][10] Izanagi and Izanami are enshrined at the meoto-iwa.[18]

The shimenawa is replaced each spring during the Ōshimenawakake Festival (大注連縄掛祭 or 大しめ縄掛祭, Ōshimenawa Kakesai, lit. "Great Ritual Straw Rope Hanging Festival").[16][19] The torii and meoto-iwa are popular as a background for photos, especially at sunset and especially during the summer solstice.[16][10] This spot is considered one of the most scenic in Fukuoka Prefecture since 1968.[10]

Worship and festivals

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Sakurai Shrine is considered a center of faith for the area of the former Chikuzen Province.[4]

Dieties enshrined

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Main
  • Kamunaohi-no-kami (神直日神) (god of disasters)[2]
  • Ōnaohi-no-kami (大直日神) (god of warding off disasters)[2]
  • Yasomagatsuhi-no-kami (八十枉津日神) (god of warding off disasters)[2]
Secondary
  • Shimaoka Daimyōjin (島岡大明神) (the spirit of Kuroda Tadayuki, who founded the shrine)[2]
  • Yatokoro Ubusuna Ōkami (八所産土大神) (the eight deities enshrined in various places in Sakurai Village prior to being enshrined here)[2]
Sakurai Daijingu
Meoto-iwa

Festivals

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There are a number of festivals held at the shrine. They are listed chronologically.

  • Tsukinami no Matsuri (月次祭) – monthly on the 1st and the 15th[20]
  • New Years Day (元旦・新年祭, Gantan / Shinnensai) – 1 January at midnight[20]
  • New Year Cave Opening (正月岩戸開き, Shougatsu Iwato Hiraki) – 1-3 January[20]
  • Beginning of Spring Festival (初春祭, Hatsuharu Matsuri) – 10 January[20]
  • Daijingūsai (大神宮祭) – 3 April[20]
  • Ōshimenawakake Festival (大注連縄掛祭 or 大しめ縄掛祭, Ōshimenawa Kakesai, lit. "Great Ritual Straw Rope Hanging Festival") – April or May[16][19]
  • Sendojiosai (千度潮井祭) – 18 July[20]
  • Nagoshisai (夏越祭) – 30 July[20]
  • Niiname-no-Matsuri – 18 October[20]
  • Shichi-Go-San – 16 November[20]

Access

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Sakurai Shrine is located at 4227 Shima Sakurai in Itoshima, Fukuoka, Japan, about 22 minutes from the Maebaru Interchange on the Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway. The Sakurai bus stop is about 12-15 minutes walk from the shrine. By train, there are two stations that have bus service to the Sakurai stop. From the JR Kyushu Kyūdai-Gakkentoshi Station in Fukuoka, take the Nishinoura Line (西の浦線, Nishinoura Sen) bus, and from the JR Kyushu Chikuzen-Maebaru Station in Itoshima, take the Nogita Line (野北線, Nogita Sen) bus operated by Itoshima Community Bus (糸島市コミュニティバス, Itoshima-shi Komyuniti Basu).[4][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 櫻井神社 [Sakurai Shrine] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Prefecture. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 櫻井神社 of sakuraijinja [Sakurai Shrine of Sakurai-jinja] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d 桜井神社本殿 [Sakurai Shrine Main Hall] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Prefecture Tourist Association. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h 櫻井神社 [Sakurai Shrine] (in Japanese). Itoshima City. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Explanatory signs on the grounds of the shrine (sign). Sakurai Shrine: Itoshima City.
  6. ^ a b 有形文化財一覧 [List of Tangible Cultural Properties] (in Japanese). Itoshima City. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b 櫻井神社 2023年、重要文化財指定へ [Sakurai Shrine to be designated an Important Cultural Property in 2023] (in Japanese). Itoshima City Tourism Association. 2023. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b 重要文化財（建造物）の指定について [Designation of Important Cultural Properties (Structures)] (PDF) (in Japanese). 19 June 2023. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  9. ^ 国宝 新指定の部 [Newly Designated National Treasures] (PDF) (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d 桜井二見ヶ浦 [Sakurai Futamigaoka] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Prefecture. 3 February 1968. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e 櫻井神社石橋 [Sakurai Shrine Stone Bridge] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Prefecture. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i 境内のご案内 [Information about the grounds] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  13. ^ 鳥居達也 (21 March 2015). (福岡) 伊勢神宮の鳥居を移築　糸島の桜井大神宮 [(Fukuoka) Torii relocated from Ise Grand Shrine: Sakurai Shrine in Itoshima] (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b c 櫻井大神宮 [Sakurai Daijingu] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  15. ^ 櫻井神社 能奉納祭 [Sakurai Shrine Noh Dedication Festival] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Now. 9 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f 桜井二見ヶ浦 [Sakurai Futamigaura] (in Japanese). Fukuoka Prefecture Tourist Association. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b Kim (7 September 2023). "5 Floating Torii Destinations in Japan". Japan Travel. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  18. ^ a b c 桜井二見ヶ浦 [Sakurai Futamigaura] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b 大しめ縄掛祭 [Great Shimenawa Hanging Festival] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i 祭事のご案内 [Festival Information] (in Japanese). 櫻井神社. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
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