Shikaumi shrine~History & Deities

History

When the Shikaumi shrine was established is unclear. However, it is told that in ancient times, there were three shrines, Uwatsugū, Nakatsugū and Okitsugū, those enshrined Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami, Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami and Sokotsunakatsumi-no-kami in each of it.

When Empress Jingū was about to go on her conquest to Silla (Sankan-seibatsu), it is said that she came to the island of Shikanoshima to obtain the cooperation of Azumi-no-isora, who is considered to be the ancestor of the Azumi clan, and she was able to successfully return from her conquest by the grace of Azumi-no-isora. The Azumi clan was a warrior clan of sea people, who were centered around Shikanoshima, and worshipped the Three Watatsumi gods as their ancestral god.

Sometime between the 2nd century and the 4th century, the Azumi clan relocated the Uwatsugū to Katsuyama, in the southern part of the island that is closer to mainland, and enshrined Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami and Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami together. This became the current day Shikaumi shrine. Since then, the Azumi clans served for the shrine from age to age.

In 859, the god rank of Shōgoi-no-jō, senior fifth rank upper grade, was also awarded to the gods of Shikaumi, and was listed as Myōjin-taisha in the Engi-shiki list of gods in 927. In the Mongol invasion in 927, Shikanoshima became a battle ground, and Shikaumi shrine is drawn in the "Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba", a set of illustrated handscrolls showing images of battle in the invasion.

In the past, Shikaumi shrine was a grand shrine with 375 masshas, however, it fell into decline in the war-torn era after the Nanboku-chō period. The shrine was retrieved by the Ōuchi clan, that ruled the area at the time, and when Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered Kyūshū, a territory of 50 koku was presented to the shrine. Since then, the shrine was under the protection of warrior families such as the Kobayakawa and Kuroda. In the Edo period, Kuroda Nagamasa, the first head of Fukuoka domain, rebuilt the shrine buildings.

In 1872, Shikaumi shrine was listed as a Sonsha, a village shrine, in the modern system of ranked Shinto shrines, and in 1926, it was promoted to the rank of Kanpei-shōsha, Government shrine, 3rd rank.

Enshrined deities

Main enshrined deities

The main enshrined dieties of Shikaumi shrine are the Three Watatsumi gods, Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami, Sokotsuwatatsumi-no-kami and Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami.

When Izanagi-no-mikoto returned from Yomi, he had a Misogi to wash off the impurity of Yomi. He dived in the river, and when he purified himself at the bottom of the river, Sokotsuwatatsumi-no-kami were appeared, when he purified himself at the middle of the river, Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami were appeared, and at the last, when he purified himself at the surface of the river, Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami were appeared.

In the honden, Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami is enshrined in the saden, Sokotsuwatatsumi-no-kami is enshrined in the chūden, and Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami is enshrined in the uden.

Associated deities

As associated deities, Empress Jingū is enshrined in the saden, Tamayoribime-no-mikoto is enshrined in the chūden, and Emperror Ōjin is enshrined in the uden.

Divine favor

Since ancient times, the Three Watatsumi gods had been worshipped as the presiding god of the seas, those protects marine traffic and brings products of the sea. It is believed the gods have divine favors of safety on the sea and traffic safety.

The Three Watatsumi gods are also believed to be gods those purify all kinds of impurity and misfortunes, and are believed to have divine favors of regeneration and warding off evil.

Moreover, the Three Watatsumi gods ruling the sea, are also said to control life and death by having powers to control the tide. They are also believed to have divine favors of curing illness, health and longevity, well-being of the family and protection for children.

Branch shrines

Keidaisha

There are 2 masshas beside the approach of the shrine.

In'yaku shrine (印鑰社)

Deities: Amemoiwakusufune-no-kami, Kunado-no-kami, Kagutsuchi-no-kami

A massha for the three dieties, originally enshrined at the air base in Gannosu.

Yamanokami shrine (山之神社)

Deity: Ōyamaysumi-no-kami

There is 1 sessha to the left to the honden.

Imamiya shrine (今宮神社)

Deities: Utsushihikanasaku-no-kami, the Three Sumiyoshi gods, Amenokoyane-no-mikoto

There are 8 masshas behind the honden.

Kumashirō-inari shrine (熊四郎稲荷社)

Deity: Ukanomitama-no-kami

Akiba shrine (秋葉社)

Deity: Kagutsuchi-no-kami

Isosaki shrine (磯崎社)

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

Kō shrine (荒神社)

Deities: Okitsuhiko-no-kami, Okitsuhime-no-kami, Homusubi-no-kami

Matsunō shrine (松尾社)

Deity: Ōyamakui-no-kami

Gion shrine (祇園社)

Deity: Susanō-no-mikoto

Daijingū (大神宮)

Deities: Amaterasu-sumeōkami, Toyouke-no-ōkami

Sōsha (惣社)

Deity: myriads of gods

A massha for the gods enshrined in the 375 masshas those existed in past times.

Keigaisha

Some other branch shrines are outside the shrine.

Ōtake shrine (大嶽神社)

Deity: Shinatsuhiko-no-kami, Shinatsuhime-no-kami, Ōhama-no-sukune-no-mikoto, Ukemochi-no-kami

Location: 3-14-10 Ōtake, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Otake shrine (小嶽神社)

Deity: Obama-no-sukune-no-mikoto

Location: 4-4-1 Ōtake, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Hiro Tenjin shrine (弘天神社)

Deity: Izanagi-no-mikoto, Izanami-no-mikoto

Location: Hiro, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Okitsugū (沖津宮)

Deity: Uwatsuwatatsumi-no-kami, Amenominakanushi-no-kami

Location: Katsuma, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Nakatsugū (仲津宮)

Deity: Nakatsuwatatsumi-no-kami

Location: 1787 Katsuma, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka city

Events

These are some annual events.

Saitan-sai

January 1st

Hosha-sai

A Sunday near January 15th

Yamahome-tanemaki-gyoryō-sai

April 15th

Tanabata-sai

August 6th and 7th

Otokoyama-sai

October 1st

Goshinkō-sai

The day before Kunichi-sai (Once every two years)

Kunichi-sai

The second Monday of October

Yamahome-karisunadori-no-matsuri

November 15th

Ōharae-shiki and Joya-sai

December 31st