Mitsumine shrine~History & Deities

History

It is told that Mitsumine shrine was established in 111, in the 41st year of 12th Emperor Keikō's reign Yamato Takeru, Emperor Keikō's son, was sent to the eastern land to conquer it. On the way to Usui Pass he came through this area and saw the beautiful mountains and rivers of this land, and decided to found the shrine to remember the two deities who created it, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto. After Yamato Takeru's death when Emperor Keikō travelled the eastern land he named this land "Mitsumine", meaning "3 peaks", from the beautiful 3 peaks of this area. These 3 peaks are Mount Shiraiwa, Mount Myoho, and Mount Kumotori. The shrine was named "Mitsumine-gū".

Under the reign of the 42nd Emperor Tenmu, En-no-Ozuno, the founder of Shugendō came to Mitsumine for training and Mitsumine became a place for Shugendō practitioners. In 736, when bad diseases spread accross the country, so the Emperor Shōmu prayed at shrines all around the country so that the epidemic would be stamped out, and the Empress dedicated statues of "Kannon Bosatsu" to sacred mountains. The statue of "Kannon Bosatsu" was dedicated to Mitsumine shrine too, and where this statue was settled became to be the main temple hall of "Misuminesan". In the Heian period, Kōbō Daishi visited to Mitsuminesan an dedicated a statue of Eleven-faced Kannon under the order of Emperor Jun'na. Eventually, buddhist monks became to serve for the Shinto gods too.

Mitsuminesan created prosperity venerated by the samurais of the eastern area. However, in 1352, Nitta Yoshioki, who lost a battle against the first Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Takauji (The battle of Musashino), hid in the Mitsuminesan. This offended Ashikaga Takauji, and he confiscated the land owned by Mitsuminesan. For the next 140 years, Mitsuminesan fell into a decline. In 1503, a Shugendō practitioner, Gekkan Dōman, grieved the ruined shrine and, travelled all over the country to collect funds for over 27 years, and finally he was able to rebuilt it in 1553. Emperor Go-Nara conferred the title "Daigongen" to Mitsuminesan, and Mitsuminesan also became to be the the head temple of the Tendai sect Shuge in the Kanto area.

In the Edo period, Mitsuminesan created prosperity again venerated by the Tokugawa clan. Wolves, those were believed to be divine messengers providing protection against crops from wild animals, eventually became to be believed to provide protection from theft or disastors. It became popular to receive a talisman of wolves and many "Kō"s, a group of worshippers, were formed around the country.

In the Meiji era, due to the separtion of Buddhism from Shinto, the buddhist temple in Mitsuminesan was abolished and Mitsumine became to be a shinto shrine as it is now.

Enshrined deities

The main enshrined deities of Mitsumine shrine are Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto. These 2 deities gave birth to many islands which would be the soil of Japan, and also to the a various gods presiding over nature, the gods of sea, river, water, wind, trees and fields.

When Yamato Takeru, said to be the founder of Mitsumine shrine, came to Mitsumine on the way to the eastern land. He saw the beautiful mountains and rivers of this land, and decided to found a shrine to remember the two deities who created it.

Divine favor

Since Mitsumine shrine enshrines a pair of married couple, it is said that it brings good luck on Couple harmony, Well-being of the family and fulfillment of love.

Wolves enshrined as "Gokenzoku-sama" is said to bring good luck on Rich harvest, Preventing fire, Preventing robbery and Preventing various calamities.

Branch shrines

Keidaisha

There are 24 branch shrines on the right side of the honden.

Soreisha (祖霊社)

Deity: The ancestral spirits, since the founding of the shrine

Kunitokotachi shrine (国常立神社)

Deities: Kuninotokotachi-no-mikoto, Ninigi-no-mikoto, Kanyamatoiwarehiko-no-mikoto

Yamatotakeru shrine (日本武神社)

Deity: Yamato Takeru

Ise Jingū (伊勢神宮)

Deities: Amaterasu-sumeōkami, Toyouke-no-ōkami

Tsukuyomi shrine (月讀神社)

Deity: Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto

Sarutahiko shrine (猿田彦神社)

Deities: Sarutahiko-no-mikoto, Amenouzume-no-mikoto

Sai shrine (塞神社)

Deities: Yachimatahiko-no-kami, Yachimatahime-no-kami, Kunado-no-kami

Hifuse shrine (鎮火神社)

Deities: Homusubi-no-mikoto, Mizuhayame-no-mikoto, Haniyamahime-no-mikoto

Itsukushima shrine (厳島神社)

Deity: Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

Kizuki shrine (杵築神社)

Deities: Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto, Kotoshironushi-no-mikoto

Kotohira shrine (琴平神社)

Deities: Ōmononushi-no-mikoto, Emperor Sutoku

Yafune shrine (屋船神社)

Deity: Yafunetoyoukehime-no-mikoto

Inari shrine (稲荷神社)

Deity: Ukanomitama-no-mikoto

Sengen shrine (浅間神社)

Deity: Konohanasakuyahime-no-mikoto

Sugawara shrine (菅原神社)

Deity: Sugawara no Michizane

Suwa shrine (諏訪神社)

Deity: Takeminakata-no-mikoto

Kanasana shrine (金鑚神社)

Deities: Amaterasu-sumeōkami, Susanō-no-kami

Awa shrine (安房神社)

Deity: Amenofutodama-no-mikoto

Mī shrine (御井神社)

Deity: Mizuhayame-no-mikoto

Haraedo shrine (祓戸神社)

Deities: Seoritsuhime-no-mikoto, Hayākitsuhime-no-mikoto, Ibukidonushi-no-mikoto, Hayasasurahime-no-mikoto

Tōshōgū (東照宮)

Deity: Togugawa Ieyasu

Kasuga shrine (春日神社)

Deities: Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto, Amenokoyane-no-mikoto, Iwainushi-no-mikoto, Himegami

Hachimangū (八幡宮)

Deities: Hondawake-no-mikoto, Okinagatarashihime-no-mikoto, Himegami

Chichibu shrine (秩父神社)

Deities: Yagokorōmoikane-no-mikoto, Chichibuhiko-no-kami

Ōyamatsumi shrine (大山祇神社)

Deity: Ōyamatsumi-no-mikoto

There is one branch shrine at the far most end of the shrine.

Okariya shrine (御仮屋神社)

Deity: Ōkuchi-no-magami

Keigaisha

Some other branch shrines are outside the shrine.

Hikawa shrine (氷川神社)

Deities: Susanō-no-mikoto, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto, Inadahime-no-mikoto

Location: Mitsumine, Chichibu city

Yakushi shrine (薬師神社)

Deities: Ōnamuchi-no-kami, Sukunabikona-no-kami

Location: Mitsumine, Chichibu city

Seijogū (清浄宮)

Deity: Unknown

Location: Mitsumine, Chichibu city

Kamadomihashira shrine (竃三柱神社)

Deities: Homusubi-no-kami, Okutsuhiko-no-kami, Okutsuhime-no-kami, Sukunabikona-no-kami

Location: 696 Ōtake, Chichibu city

Events

These are some annual events.

Saitan-sai, Gantan-kigan-sai

January 1st

Setsubun-tsuina-sai

February 3rd

Shunki-taisai (Spring festival)

April 8th

Okumiya-yamabiraki-sai

May 3rd

Ōharae

June 30th

Okumiya-yamajimai-sai

October 9th

Tōki-taisai (Winter festival)

December 2nd

Ōtoshi-no-matsuri

December 31st