Hie Shrine
Encyclopedia
The is a Shinto shrine in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo
, Japan
. Its June 15 Sannō Matsuri
is one of the three great Japanese festivals
of Edo
(the forerunner of Tokyo
). Other names for the shrine include Hiyoshi Sannō-sha, Hiyoshi Sannō Daigongen-sha, Edo Sannō Daigongen, Kōjimachi Sannō, Sannō-sha, and Sannō-sama.
The main god of the shrine is Ōyamakui-no-kami.
established it in 1478. Another theory identifies the Hie with the Sannō Shrine mentioned in a 1362 record of the Kumano Nachi Taisha
.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
relocated it to the grounds of Edo Castle
, and in 1604 his son Tokugawa Hidetada
moved it out, so the people of Edo
could worship there. The shaden was lost to the Great Fire of Meireki
of 1657, and in 1659 Tokugawa Ietsuna
rebuilt it at its present location. The shrine stands southwest of the castle, in the ura kimon direction according to onmyōdō
.
From 1871 through 1946, the Hie Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The shaden was lost again to the bombing of Tokyo in World War II
. The present structure dates from 1958.
The Hie Shrine possesses one National Treasure
, a sword
. It also holds 14 Important Cultural Assets, 13 swords and one naginata
. The shrine is also one of the most popular for Japanese families to visit during the Shichigosan coming-of-age festival.
Tameike-Sannō Station
on the Tokyo Metro Ginza
and Namboku Lines
, Kokkai-gijidō-mae Station
on the Marunouchi and Chiyoda Lines, and Akasaka-mitsuke Station
on the Ginza
and Marunouchi Lines are the closest stops to the shrine.
Chiyoda, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards in central Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Chiyoda ward. As of October 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 45,543 and a population density of 3,912 people per km², making it by far the least populated of the special wards...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Its June 15 Sannō Matsuri
Sannō Matsuri
or the Sannō Festival, is one of the three great Shinto festivals of Tokyo, along with the Sanja Matsuri and Kanda Matsuri, and is a celebration of the city's rulers and divine protectors. It takes place in mid-June of even-numbered years, alternating with the Kanda Matsuri which takes place in the...
is one of the three great Japanese festivals
Japanese festivals
Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs....
of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
(the forerunner of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
). Other names for the shrine include Hiyoshi Sannō-sha, Hiyoshi Sannō Daigongen-sha, Edo Sannō Daigongen, Kōjimachi Sannō, Sannō-sha, and Sannō-sama.
The main god of the shrine is Ōyamakui-no-kami.
History
The date of establishment of the Hie Shrine is uncertain. According to one theory, Ōta DōkanOta Dokan
, also known as Ōta Sukenaga or Ōta Dōkan Sukenaga, was a Japanese samurai warrior-poet, military tactician and Buddhist monk. Ōta Sukenaga took the tonsure as a Buddhist priest in 1478, and he also adopted the Buddhist name, Dōkan, by which is known today...
established it in 1478. Another theory identifies the Hie with the Sannō Shrine mentioned in a 1362 record of the Kumano Nachi Taisha
Kumano Nachi Taisha
is a Shinto shrine part of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. The Kumano Kodō route connects it to other sites under the same classification, all of which are in Nachikatuura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan...
.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
relocated it to the grounds of Edo Castle
Edo Castle
, also known as , is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. It is located in Chiyoda in Tokyo, then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate here. It was the residence of the shogun and location of the shogunate, and also...
, and in 1604 his son Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
moved it out, so the people of Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
could worship there. The shaden was lost to the Great Fire of Meireki
Great Fire of Meireki
The , also known as the Furisode Fire, destroyed 60-70% of the Japanese capital city of Edo on March 2, 1657, this is the third year of the Meireki Imperial era...
of 1657, and in 1659 Tokugawa Ietsuna
Tokugawa Ietsuna
was the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan who was in office from 1651 to 1680. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Early Life :...
rebuilt it at its present location. The shrine stands southwest of the castle, in the ura kimon direction according to onmyōdō
Onmyodo
is a traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology, a mixture of natural science and occultism. It is based on the Chinese philosophies of Wu Xing and Yin and yang, introduced into Japan at the turn of the 6th century, and accepted as a practical system of divination...
.
From 1871 through 1946, the Hie Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The shaden was lost again to the bombing of Tokyo in World War II
Bombing of Tokyo in World War II
The bombing of Tokyo, often referred to as a "firebombing", was conducted by the United States Army Air Forces during the Pacific campaigns of World War II. The U.S. mounted a small-scale raid on Tokyo in April 1942, with large morale effects...
. The present structure dates from 1958.
The Hie Shrine possesses one National Treasure
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
, a sword
Tachi
The is one type of traditional Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan.-History and description:With a few exceptions katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other if signed, by the location of the signature on the tang...
. It also holds 14 Important Cultural Assets, 13 swords and one naginata
Naginata
The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...
. The shrine is also one of the most popular for Japanese families to visit during the Shichigosan coming-of-age festival.
Tameike-Sannō Station
Tameike-Sanno Station
is a subway station in the Tokyo Metro network. It is located in the wards of Chiyoda and Minato .-History:The station opened on September 30, 1997 as the southern terminus of the Namboku Line...
on the Tokyo Metro Ginza
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
The is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
and Namboku Lines
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. Its name literally means South-North Line. The line runs between Meguro in Shinagawa and Akabane-Iwabuchi in Kita...
, Kokkai-gijidō-mae Station
Kokkai-gijido-mae Station
is a Tokyo Metro station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, located adjacent to the National Diet Building.The Chiyoda Line platforms are 37.9 m underground, making this station the deepest in the Tokyo Metro network...
on the Marunouchi and Chiyoda Lines, and Akasaka-mitsuke Station
Akasaka-mitsuke Station
is a Tokyo Metro station located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.-Lines:The station is also connected by underground passageways to , which is served by the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, and it is possible to transfer between the two stations without...
on the Ginza
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
The is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
and Marunouchi Lines are the closest stops to the shrine.