Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto is one of the Three Munakata goddesses, worshipped since ancient times as a god that protects all kinds of 'road's. Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto is said to had descended to the Genkai sea under the oracle of Amaterasu-ōmikami, and is enshrined in the Hetsugū at Munakata Taisha.

Since Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto was seen as the same as Benzaiten, in the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, she is also believed as a god of performing arts.

Name (In the Kojiki)

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto (市寸島比売命)

Sayorihime-no-mikoto (狭依毘売命)

Name (In the Nihon shoki)

Ichikishimahime (市杵嶋姫)

Okitsushimahime (瀛津嶋姫)

Gender

Female god

Mythology

Kojiki

Nihon Shoki

Ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto

Susanō-no-mikoto, before going to Ne-no-katasukuni, thought he would visit Takamagahara to see his sister, Amaterasu-ōmikami, to say farewell. But this caused the mountains and rivers to rage, and the land to tremble, so Amaterasu-ōmikami thought that Susanō-no-mikoto came to invade Takamagahara and met him armed. Susanō-no-mikoto said that they should have an ukei, to clear himself of suspicion.

First, Amaterasu-ōmikami washed Susanō-no-mikoto's Totsuka-no-tsurugi with the water of Ame-no-manai, chewed it and breathed out. From her breath, the three goddesses, Tagirihime-no-mikoto, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Takitsuhime-no-mikoto were born. Then, Susanō-no-mikoto chewed the magatamas, Amaterasu-ōmikami was wearing in her hair, chewed it and breathed out. From his breath, five male gods were born.

Susanō-no-mikoto said that, since gentle goddesses were born from his sword, he won the trial and proved innocent and he was able to enter Takamagahara.

The descent to the Genkai sea

Amaterasu-ōmikami gave Tagirihime-no-mikoto, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Takitsuhime-no-mikoto a shinchoku saying, you three goddesses descend to the Michinaka to provide protection, and be worshipped by the Amemima.

Tagirihime-no-mikoto descended to the island of Okinoshima, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto to the island of Ōshima and Takitsuhime-no-mikoto to Tajima in Munakata, and where they were enshrined became Munakata Taisha.

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Benzaiten

Around the Heian and Kamakura periods, as Shinto and Buddhism became mixed, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto became to be seen as the same as the Buddhist goddess, Benzaiten.

Benzaiten was originally a Hindu goddess, Saraswati. It is said that the similarity of the two goddesses, both being a beautiful goddess related to water, made the two identified. Although Benzaiten was a water god, she was also believed as a god of performing arts. And also, since "zai" is pronounced the same as the kanji "zai (財)", that means treasures, she also became to be believed as the god of economic fortune. Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto became to have the same powers as well.

Numberless Bentenshas, dedicated to Benzaiten, were built around Japan. However, in the separation of Shinto from Buddhism, holding Buddhist rituals in shrines were forbidden, so shrines were no longer able to enshrine Benzaiten. Since Bentenshas were influenced more by Shinto, many of them changed their enshrined deities to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto.

Related shrines

Shrines dedicated to the Three Munakata goddesses

These are some shrines those enshrine the Three Munakata goddesses.

Munakata Taisha

The head shrine of the Three Munakata goddesses. Located in Munakata city, Fukuoka prefecture.

Enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-kami in the Hetsugū, Tagitsuhime-no-kami in the Nakatsugū and Tagorihime-no-kami in Okitsugū.

Itsukushima shrine

Located in Hatsukaichi city, Hiroshima prefecture.

Enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, Tagorihime-no-mikoto and Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto.

Iwashimizu Hachimangū

Located in Yawata city, Kyōto Prefecture.

Enshrines Tagiribime-no-mikoto, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto as Hime-ōkami.

Usa Jingū

Located in Usa city, Ōita prefecture.

Enshrines Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Tagirihime-no-mikoto as Hime-ōkami.

Tajima shrine

Located in Karatsu city, Saga prefecture.

Enshrines Tagorihime-no-mikoto, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto and Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto as the Three Tajima gods.

Enoshima shrine

Located in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture.

Enshrines Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto in the Hetsumiya, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto in Nakatsumiya and Tagirihime-no-mikoto in Okitsumiya as Enoshima-ōkami.

The Three Munakata goddesses are also enshrined in more than 6000 shrines around Japan, such as in Munakata shrines and Itsukushima shrines.

Shrines dedicated to Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

These are some shrines those enshrine Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto.

Matsunō Taisha

Located in Kyōto city, Kyōto prefecture.

Enshrines Ōyamagui-no-kami and Nakatsushimahime-no-mikoto.

Niutsuhime shrine.

Located in Katsuragi town, Ito district, Wakayama prefecture.

Enshrines Niutsuhime-no-ōkami, Takanoko-no-ōkami, Ōgetsuhime-no-ōkami, Ichikishimahime-no-ōkami.

Tenkawa Dai-benzaitensha

Located in Tenkawa village, Yoshino district, Nara prefecture.

Enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto.

Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku shrine

Located in Kamakura city, Kanagawa prefecture.

Enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

Tsubusuma shrine

Located in Nagahama city, Shiga prefecture.

Enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, Ugafuku-jin, Azaihime-no-mikoto and Ryūjin.

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto is also enshrined in Ichikishima shrines around Japan, and also, since Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto was seen as the same as Benzaiten, a number of Benzaitenshas and Bentenshas enshrine Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto.

Related gods

Amaterasu-ōmikami

The Three Munakata goddesses were born in the ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Susanō-no-mikoto

The Three Munakata goddesses were born in the ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto.

Tagirihime-no-mikoto

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto's sister.

Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto

Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto's sister.