March 9th, 2020
History
It is said that in the 4th century, at Okinoshima, which is located 60km off the coast of Kyūshū, and in the key point between Japan and the continent, ritual ceremonies were held to pray for a safe navigation and successful trade. In this time ritual ceremonies were held outside and in the 7th century a similar ceremonies were began to be held at Mitake-san, where Mitake shrine is now, and in Tashima on mainland, where the Munakata Taisha Hetsugū is now.
In the Kojiki, composed in the early 8th century, and the Nihon-Shoki it is documented that the Munakata clan is worshipping the three Munakata goddesses in 3 shrines, Hetsugū, Nakatsugū and Okitsugū. By the 16th century a shrine was built at the foot of the mountain which would be the Nakatsugū and Mitake shrine became the rear shrine of Nakatsugū.
The remains of an ancient ceremonial place where ritual ceremonies took place between the 7th century and the 9th century, similar to what was found at Okinoshima, have been found near Mitake shrine.
Enshrined deities
The enshrined dieties of the Mitake shrine are Amaterasu-ōmikami and Tagitsuhime-no-kami-no-aratama.
Amaterasu-ōmikami is seen as the goddess of the sun and well known as the enshrined diety of Ise Grand shrine. She is the ruler of the heavens, and also said to be the Imperial ancestor.
Tagitsuhime-no-kami is one of the three Munakata goddesses. In the ukei of Amaterasu-ōmikami and Susanō-no-mikoto, when Amaterasu-ōmikami chewed Susanō-no-mikoto's sword and breathed out, the three Munakata goddesses were born from her breath. The three goddesses descended to Munakata, under Amaterasu-ōmikami's oracle.
Divine spirits have two characters, one is a "Nigitama" which is the gentle and kind personality, and the other is a "Aratama" which is the violent and furious personality. Most of the time, both characters are enshrined together. But in some shrines, one of the two characters is enshrined alone. In Mitake shrine the Aratama of Tagitsuhime-no-kami is enshrined.
Divine favor
The three Munakata goddesses were worshipped to provide protection for a Safe navigation. Also, since the three Munakata goddesses descended under the oracle to protect the Imperial family, the three goddesses are believed to bring national prosperity.
As the god of the sun, Amaterasu-ōmikami has been worshipped to bring good harvest. Also Amaterasu-ōmikami is worshipped as the supreme deity of Shinto, she is said to bring all kinds of good luck.
