Kashīgū~History & Deities

History

The establishment of Kashīgū is said to be in 724. The first appearance in documents is in the Man'yōshū, Kashībyō was mentioned in the waka composed by Dazai-no-sochi Ōtomo no Tabito in 728.

In 199, Emperor Chūai reached Chikushi, on the expedition to the west to conquer the Kumaso people, and built a temporary palace, Kashī-no-miya. However, Emperor Chūai lost battle against the Kumaso and fled back to Kashī, dying here the next year. It is said his death was because he went against the oracular message by the Sumiyoshi gods saying "Conquer the wealthy country of Silla, instead of the poor land of Kumaso. If you worship us, three gods, Silla and Kumaso would be prostrated.". Empress Jingū, who came to Kashī with the Emperor, later went on a conquest to Silla (Sankan-seibatsu) and when she returned here, she built a shrine to enshrine Emperor Chūai. It is said that this shrine is the origin of Kashīgū.

Later, in 723, the construction of a shrine to enshrine Empress Jingū started, following an oracular message from the empress herself, and the next year, in 724, it was combined with Emperor Chūai's shrine to form Kashībyō. As known from the name "byō", it was treated as a mausoleum ("reibyō"), instead of a regular shrine, until the 10th century. Therefore it is not listed in the list of shrines of Engi-shiki, but a Byōji was put in charge, instead of a Jingūji, a chief priest. Also had special treatment from the Imperial Court, having sent envoys in occasions such as enthronement, disasters and foreign invasions. At the end of the 10th century, a Jingūji was put in charge, and became to be treated as a shrine.

In the Sengoku period, in 1586, the Tachibana castle located on the top of Mount Tachibana behind Kashīgū was attacked by the Shimazu clan, and Kashīgū was destroyed too. And after Toyotomi Hideyoshi suppressed Kyūshū, the land owned by the shrine was confiscated, making the shrine to fall into a decline.

Although, after Kobayakawa Takakage occupied Tachibana castle, and became the fudal lord of Chikuzen province, Kashīgū was rebuilt. And in the Edo period, it still recieved reverence from the Kuroda clan, the head of Fukuoka domain. The shrine buildings were destroyed again by fire in 1637, and was rebuilt by Kuroda Tadayuki, the second head of Fukuoka domain. The shrine buildings were once again rebuilt by Kuroda Narikiyo, the 10th head of Fukuoka domain, in 1801, and the the main shrine building, that exists now was built by him.

In the Meiji era, the shrine name officially became "Kashīgū", and was listed as a Chokusaisha, a shrine an imperial envoy, Chokushi, performs rituals once in ten years.

Enshrined deities

Main enshrined deities

The main enshrined deities of Kashīgū are Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū.

Emperor Chūai is Yamato Takeru's second child and the 14th Emperor. In the 8th year of his reign, he reached Kashī-no-miya with Empress Jingū, on his way to the west to conquer the Kumaso people. However, he went against the oracular message by the Sumiyoshi gods saying "Conquer the wealthy country of Silla, instead of the poor land of Kumaso. If you worship us, three gods, Silla and Kumaso would be prostrated.", and as a result, he lost battle and passed away in Kashī.

Empress Jingū followed his Emperor Chūai's will, and conquered Kumaso, and also sailed across the sea to Silla, accomplish the conquest to Silla. Empress Jingū went on her conquest pregnant with Emperor Chūai's child, and gave birth to Homutawake-no-mikoto, who would be Emperor Ōjin, after she returned to Chikushi.

Associated deities

Kashīgū also enshrines Emperor Ōjin and Sumiyoshi-no-ōkami.

Emperor Ōjin is the 15th Emperor and Emperor Chūai's child, worshipped as the Hachiman god.

Sumiyoshi-no-ōkami is worshipped as a god of the sea and the god of purification, believed to have lead and protected Empress Jingū while sailing to Silla.

Divine favor

Since the Kashīgū enshrines a pair of married couple, Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū, it is said that it brings good luck on Couple harmony.

Emperor Chūai, who travelled to Kashī-no-miya in Chikushi and worked hard on domestic and foreign policies is said to have divine favors for peace of the State and world peace, and also, for fortunes of a family.

Empress Jingū, who accomplished her conquest to Silla while she was pregnant and safely gave birth to Emperor Ōjin after returning, is also called Shōmo-daimyōjin and said to have divine favors for pregnancy and easy delivery, and also, for improvement in performing arts and civil engineering and flood prevention.

Associated deities, Emperor Ōjin is said to ward off evil and bring in good fortune and bring Long-lasting good luck in battle, national prosperity, success and victory. Sumiyoshi-no-ōkami is believed to be a god of safety of sea traffic, having devine favors for purification, warding off calamities and bringing luck and traffic safety.

Branch shrines

Keidaisha

There are 2 sesshas inside the shrine.

Takeuchi shrine (武内神社)

Deity: Takeuchi-no-Sukune-no-mikoto

A sessha for Takeuchi-no-Sukune-no-mikoto, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū

Makio shrine (巻尾神社)

Deity: Nakatomi-no-Ikatsu-no-mikoto

A sessha for Nakatomi-no-Ikatsu-no-mikoto, one of the five great vassals serving Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū

There are 5 masshas inside the shrine.

Inari shrine (稲荷神社)

Deity: Ukemocho-no-ōkami

Keiseki shrine (鶏石神社)

Deity: Unknown

Kuchise shrine (朽瀬神社)

Deity: Hata-no-Yashiro-no-Sukune

Hayatsuji shrine (早辻神社)

Deity: Ōtomo no Takemochi

Benzaitensha (辨財天社)

Deity: Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto

Keigaisha

Some other masshas are outside the shrine.

Hirano shrine (平野神社)

Deity: Ōsazaki-no-sumeramikoto

Location: 4-3 Kashī, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

In'yaku shrine (印鑰神社)

Deity: Soga-no-Ishikawa-no-Sukune

Location: 3-24-25 Kashī, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Kōbe shrine (高倍神社)

Deity: Ōkashiwadeki-no-Sukune-ujitsura-no-mikoto

Location: 3-6 Kashī, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Hamao shrine (濱男神社)

Deity: Unknown

Location: 1-4-4 Kashī-ekimae, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Told to be a place to worship Mishima shrine from distance

Mishima shrine (御島神社)

Deity: Watatsumi-no-kami

Location: 3 Kashīhama, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Events

These are some annual events.

Saitan-sai

January 1st

Setsubun-sai

February 3rd

Kigen-sai

February 11th

Kinen-sai

February 17th

Kogū-sai

March 6th

Shunki-ujiko-taisai (Autumn festival)

A Sunday near April 17th

Nagoshi-no-Ōharae-shiki

June 30th

Shūki-ujiko-taisai (Autumn festival)

A Sunday near October 17th

Rei-sai (Annual festival)

October 29th

Daijō-sai

November 14th

Nīname-sai

November 23rd

Kogū-sai

December 6th

Tenchō-sai

December 23rd

Ōharae-shiki and Joya-sai

December 31st