Mishima Taisha
Encyclopedia
The is a Shinto shrine in the city of Mishima
in Shizuoka Prefecture
, Japan
. It is the ichinomiya of former Izu Province
. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on August 16, and features yabusame
performances.
of Mishima Taisha is the , an amalgamation of and his consort
Mishima Taisha also has numerous small subsidiary shrines dedicated to various kami within its precincts.
records, the predecessor of the shrine was originally located on Miyakejima
but was transferred later from place to place, including Shimoda
, and Ohito
, before being moved to the present site. In the early Heian period
Engishiki
records, the shrine is referred to as “Izu Mishima Shrine" located in Kamo county
, which is in the southern part of Izu Peninsula
.
After the establishment of Izu Province in the mid-Heian period, with its capital located near modern Numazu
, the shrine was transferred to its present location, and initially was referred to as the “Shingu” (new shrine).
After he was exiled to Izu, Minamoto Yoritomo worshipped at Mishima Taisha for divine assistance in his struggle to overthrow the Heike clan in the Gempei War. After the successful establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate
, he rebuilt the shrine on a large scale, and worship of the Mishima Daimyōjin became popular with the samurai
class. During the Sengoku period
the kami of Mishima Taisha came to be associated with victory in battle, and the shrine was patronized by the Odawara Hōjō
, the Imagawa clan
and the Tokugawa clan
.
During the Edo period
, Mishima Taisha and its associated post town
of Mishima-shuku
prospered as a popular pilgrimage stop on the Tōkaidō
highway between Edo
and Kyoto
. Its torii
gate was depicted in an ukiyoe by Ando Hiroshige. A calendar issued by the shrine was carried home by pilgrims from all over Japan, and was known as the “Mishima Calendar.”
From 1871 through 1946, the Mishima Taisha was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
, a three-bay
nagare-zukuri
style building, has been reconstructed numerous times over the history of the shrine. The current building dates from 1866, having been rebuilt after the shrine was flattened in the Ansei Tōkai Earthquake of 1854. It is registered as a National Important Cultural Property
.
wooden box with maki-e
decoration. The box contains numerous utensils and articles used for women’s cosmetics in the late Heian period and was donated to the shrine by Hōjō Masako
. It is listed as one of the National Treasures of Japan
.
In addition its Honden, Mishima Taisha also has four other items which are registered as National Important Cultural Properties:
In addition, a 1200-year old Osmanthus fragrans tree in the shrine precincts is protected by the national government as a natural monument.
Mishima, Shizuoka
is a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 112,078 and a population density of 1,800 persons per km². The total area is 62.13 km²...
in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, 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...
. It is the ichinomiya of former Izu Province
Izu Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Shizuoka Prefecture. Izu bordered on Sagami and Suruga Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .The mainland portion of Izu Province, comprising the Izu Peninsula is today the eastern portion of Shizuoka Prefecture and the Izu Islands are now part of...
. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on August 16, and features yabusame
Yabusame
is a type of mounted archery in traditional Japanese archery. An archer on a running horse shoots three special "turnip-headed" arrows successively at three wooden targets....
performances.
Enshrined kami
The primary kamiKami
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...
of Mishima Taisha is the , an amalgamation of and his consort
Mishima Taisha also has numerous small subsidiary shrines dedicated to various kami within its precincts.
History
The date of Mishima Taisha’s foundation is unknown. Per shrine tradition and Nara periodNara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
records, the predecessor of the shrine was originally located on Miyakejima
Miyakejima
is an island in the Izu group, southeast of Honshū, Japan, administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, with an area of 55.50 km². The island, 180 km south of Tokyo, is located at 34.5N and 139.34E. As of January 1, 2006, the population of the island is 2884...
but was transferred later from place to place, including Shimoda
Shimoda, Shizuoka
is a city and port in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 25,054 and a population density of 242 persons per square kilometer...
, and Ohito
Ohito, Shizuoka
was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan in central Izu Peninsula.On April 1, 2005 Ōhito was merged with the towns of Nirayama and Izunagaoka, both from Tagata District, to form the new city of Izunokuni....
, before being moved to the present site. In 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...
Engishiki
Engishiki
-History:In 905 Emperor Daigo ordered the compilation of a new set of laws. Fujiwara no Tokihira began the task, but work stalled when he died four years later in 909. His brother Fujiwara no Tadahira continued the work in 912 eventually completing it in 927...
records, the shrine is referred to as “Izu Mishima Shrine" located in Kamo county
Kamo District, Shizuoka
is a district located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.The district name is very ancient, and is mentioned in the Engishiki records. Kamo District was one of the original districts of Izu Province, having been separated from Suruga Province along with Tagata District in the cadastral reform of 680 AD...
, which is in the southern part of Izu Peninsula
Izu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
.
After the establishment of Izu Province in the mid-Heian period, with its capital located near modern Numazu
Numazu, Shizuoka
is a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 205,636 and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².- Geography:...
, the shrine was transferred to its present location, and initially was referred to as the “Shingu” (new shrine).
After he was exiled to Izu, Minamoto Yoritomo worshipped at Mishima Taisha for divine assistance in his struggle to overthrow the Heike clan in the Gempei War. After the successful establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
, he rebuilt the shrine on a large scale, and worship of the Mishima Daimyōjin became popular with the samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class. During the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
the kami of Mishima Taisha came to be associated with victory in battle, and the shrine was patronized by the Odawara Hōjō
Late Hojo clan
The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...
, the Imagawa clan
Imagawa clan
The was a Japanese clan that claimed descent from Emperor Seiwa . It was a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan.-Origins:Ashikaga Kuniuji, grandson of Ashikaga Yoshiuji, established himself in the 13th century at Imagawa and took its name.Imagawa Norikuni received from his cousin the...
and the Tokugawa clan
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
.
During the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, Mishima Taisha and its associated post town
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
of Mishima-shuku
Mishima-shuku
was the eleventh of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō during Edo period Japan. It is located in the present-day city of Mishima, in Shizuoka Prefecture.-History:...
prospered as a popular pilgrimage stop on the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
highway between 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...
and Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Its torii
Torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred...
gate was depicted in an ukiyoe by Ando Hiroshige. A calendar issued by the shrine was carried home by pilgrims from all over Japan, and was known as the “Mishima Calendar.”
From 1871 through 1946, the Mishima Taisha was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
Notable structures
The HondenHonden
The , is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine, intended purely for the use of the enshrined kami, usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a statue. The building is normally in the rear of the shrine and closed to the general public. In front of its usually stands the haiden, or...
, a three-bay
Ken
Ken or KEN may refer to:*Ken meaning "prefecture" in Japanese - see Prefectures of Japan*Ken , 1964 Japanese film*Kèn from Vietnam*Komisja Edukacji Narodowej, Polish National Board of Education...
nagare-zukuri
Nagare-zukuri
The or is a traditional Shinto shrine architectural style characterized by a very asymmetrical gabled roof projecting outwards on one of the non-gabled sides, above the main entrance, to form a portico . This is the feature which gives it its name. It is the most common style among shrines all...
style building, has been reconstructed numerous times over the history of the shrine. The current building dates from 1866, having been rebuilt after the shrine was flattened in the Ansei Tōkai Earthquake of 1854. It is registered as a National Important Cultural Property
Important Cultural Properties of Japan
The term is often shortened into just are items officially already classified as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and judged to be of particular importance to the Japanese people....
.
Cultural properties
Mishima Taisha has a small museum. The most important object is a Japanese lacquerwareJapanese lacquerware
Japanese lacquerware is a broad category of fine and decorative arts, as lacquer has been used in paintings, prints, and on a wide variety of objects from Buddha statues to bento boxes for food.A number of terms are used in Japanese to refer to lacquerware...
wooden box with maki-e
Maki-e
is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder as a decoration using a makizutsu or a kebo brush. The technique was developed mainly in the Heian Period and blossomed in the Edo Period...
decoration. The box contains numerous utensils and articles used for women’s cosmetics in the late Heian period and was donated to the shrine by Hōjō Masako
Hojo Masako
was the eldest child of Hōjō Tokimasa by his wife Hōjō no Maki, the first shikken, or regent, of the Kamakura shogunate. She was the sister of Hōjō Yoshitoki, and was married to Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura period...
. It is listed as one of the National Treasures of Japan
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...
.
In addition its Honden, Mishima Taisha also has four other items which are registered as National Important Cultural Properties:
- Kamakura-period tachiTachiThe 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...
(Japanese sword) donated to the shrine by Emperor MeijiEmperor MeijiThe or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
. - Muromachi periodMuromachi periodThe is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
wakizashiWakizashiThe is one of the traditional Japanese swords worn by the samurai class in feudal Japan.-Description:...
short sword - A copy of the Heart SutraHeart SutraThe Heart Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Its Sanskrit name literally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sūtra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.-Introduction:The Heart Sūtra is a member of the Perfection of...
dated 1203, written by Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomowas the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.-Early life and exile :Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the... - A collection of 592 documents of shrine records from the Heian through Edo periods.
In addition, a 1200-year old Osmanthus fragrans tree in the shrine precincts is protected by the national government as a natural monument.