Hirota Shrine
Encyclopedia
is a Shinto
shrine
in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture
, Japan
. Nishinomiya literally means "shrine of the west," and the town is in fact named after Hirota Shrine.
, between Kurakuenguchi Station and Kōyōen Station
. It is near the Nishinomiya City bus stop "Taisha Machi".
, a historical epic chronicle, was established by the Empress Jingū in the 3rd century. According to legend, Amaterasu
, Goddess of the Sun, and arguably the most important kami
in Shinto, speaks and declares that she and the other gods of Japan must be enshrined in Hirota, Nagata
, Ikuta
, and Sumiyoshi
. The Empress Consort did as commanded, and then achieved her political ambitions.
The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period
. In 965, Emperor Murakami
ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō
added three more shrines to Murakami's list — including Hirota.
According to the English-language brochure available at the shrine, in the 11th century, under Emperor Shirakawa
, Hirota Shrine was designated as "one of the twenty-two honorable shrines
in the nation" and given the title "Hirota Grand Shrine". Today it is the only grand shrine in Hyōgo. Other may use the term "taisha" (grand shrine), but they are without the Imperial distinction that sets Hirota Shrine apart.
From 1871 through 1946, Matsunoo-taisha was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The shrine is also famous for its kobanomitsuba tsutsuji, azaleas with three small leaves.
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine
Jinja (Shinto)
A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house one or more Shinto kami....
in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, 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...
. Nishinomiya literally means "shrine of the west," and the town is in fact named after Hirota Shrine.
Location
Hirota Shrine is near the Hankyū Kōyō LineHankyū Kōyō Line
The is a railway line of Hankyu Railway in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The line starts from Shukugawa Station and finishes at Kōyōen Station both in the city of Nishinomiya. It stretches 2.2 km.- Stations :All stations are within Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture....
, between Kurakuenguchi Station and Kōyōen Station
Koyoen Station
is a railway station in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the Kōyō Line operated by the Hankyu Railway. Kōyōen Station has access to Mount Kabutoyama and the Tsumagari cake shop nearby....
. It is near the Nishinomiya City bus stop "Taisha Machi".
History
Hirota Shrine is one of three shrines which, according to Nihon ShokiNihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
, a historical epic chronicle, was established by the Empress Jingū in the 3rd century. According to legend, Amaterasu
Amaterasu
, or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who...
, Goddess of the Sun, and arguably the most important kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
in Shinto, speaks and declares that she and the other gods of Japan must be enshrined in Hirota, Nagata
Nagata Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in Nagata Ward, Kobe, Japan. At Nagata, Kotoshironushi-no-Okami is enshrined.The shrine is associated with Amaterasu, who is said to have told Empress Jingū that a shrine was wanted at Nagata.-History:...
, Ikuta
Ikuta Shrine
' is a Shinto shrine in the Chūō Ward of Kobe, Japan, and is possibly among the oldest shrines in the country.According to Nihon Shoki, it was founded by the Empress Jingū at the beginning of the 3rd century AD to enshrine the kami Wakahirume, and was used as the base for a festival welcoming...
, and Sumiyoshi
Sumiyoshi Taisha
, also known as Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in Sumiyoshi ward in the city of Osaka, Japan. It is the main shrine of all the Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan...
. The Empress Consort did as commanded, and then achieved her political ambitions.
The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. In 965, Emperor Murakami
Emperor Murakami
was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967.-Traditional narrative:...
ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō
Emperor Ichijo
was the 66th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Ichijō's reign spanned the years from 986 to 1011.-Traditional narrative:Before he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Kanehito-shinnō....
added three more shrines to Murakami's list — including Hirota.
According to the English-language brochure available at the shrine, in the 11th century, under Emperor Shirakawa
Emperor Shirakawa
was the 72nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Shirakawa's reign lasted from 1073 to 1087.-Genealogy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Sadahito-shinnō ....
, Hirota Shrine was designated as "one of the twenty-two honorable shrines
Nijunisha
The of Japan is one ranking system for Shinto shrines. The system was established during the Heian period. The shrines listed below receive special offerings from the Imperial Court...
in the nation" and given the title "Hirota Grand Shrine". Today it is the only grand shrine in Hyōgo. Other may use the term "taisha" (grand shrine), but they are without the Imperial distinction that sets Hirota Shrine apart.
From 1871 through 1946, Matsunoo-taisha was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The shrine is also famous for its kobanomitsuba tsutsuji, azaleas with three small leaves.
Events
From the brochure "Hirota Shinto shrine (jinja)" available from the shrine.- January 1: Sai-tan-sai
- January 3: Gen-shi-sai
- January 1-3: Kai-un-sai
- January 18-19: Yaku-yoke-sai
- February 11: Ki-gen-sai
- February 17: Ki-nen-sai (Taisai)
- March 16: Rei-sai (Taisai)
- April 16: Haru matsuri (Spring festival)
- Late May: Hirota Ohtaue (Rice planting festival)
- June 30: Nagoshi no oohara eshiki
- July 16: Natsu matsuri (Summer festival)
- Late September: Neki-ho-sai
- October 16: Aki matsuri (Autumn festival)
- November 3: Mei-ji-sai
- November 23: Nii-name-sai (Taisai)
- December 23: Ten-chou-sai
- First day of each month: Tsuki hajime sai, Hatsu hokou-sai
- Sixteenth day of each month: Tsuki-name-sai
- Every morning: Asa-mi-ke-sai, Yuu-mi-ke-sai
See also
- List of Shinto shrines
- Twenty-Two Shrines
- Modern system of ranked Shinto ShrinesModern system of ranked Shinto ShrinesThe The The (sometimes called simply , was an organizational aspect of the establishment of Japanese State Shinto. This system classified Shinto shrines as either official government shrines or "other" shrines...