[Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture] A mysterious forest with a 1,000-year history and the belief in Hachiman to ward off evil | Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine

Located in Tome City, northern Miyagi Prefecture.Kaminuma Hachiman Shrineis a venerable shrine filled with tranquility and has a thousand-year history.

Its tranquil and mysterious precincts are truly a place worthy of being called a power spot.

This time, we will deeply explore the charm of Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine and introduce it to you.

History of Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine

Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine is a shrine where Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son Yoshiie founded Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine in Kyoto in the mid-Heian period.

The shrine's origins date back to the time when they set up camp here twice during the wars of the previous nine years, and in gratitude for their victories, chose this area, donated the precincts, enshrined the ``Hachiman no kami principal image,'' enshrined armor, and founded the shrine.

In ancient timesYumiya HachimanIn modern times, it is worshiped as Hachiman to ward off evil spirits, and is worshiped by many people as a god of safe childbirth and child rearing due to the belief in the god of mother and child.

The grounds of Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine

The vast grounds have been carefully maintained by the chief priest, creating a divine space befitting a divine precinct that exudes tranquility and mystery.

Sacred tree Ubagusugi

The two large trees, the male cedar and the female cedar, that stand on the left side of the shrine, separating the corridor connecting the shrine and the shrine, are the primary objects of worship at Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine.

Because the tree is old, the branches and treetops are starting to show signs of withering, but with the help of the town,“Ubagusugi Protection Association”Thanks to our fundraising efforts, we were able to receive treatment and successfully restore the tree's vigor.

Otorii

When you visit Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine, the first thing that catches your eye is the magnificent torii gate that stands at the entrance to the shrine grounds.

This large iron torii gate is 12m high, has a width of 7.7m, and has a 16m long cap at the top, and was erected in 1991 to commemorate the shrine's 950th anniversary. For construction, many donations were received not only from parishioners but also from outside the town.

The shape is"Myojin Torii"It is known as one of the largest in the Tohoku region.

Old tree forest (Tome City Nakata Town Cultural Property)

The entire area of ​​the precincts, which stretches over approximately 30,000 square meters, has been designated as a wildlife protection area, and is home to large, ancient trees such as pines, cedars, and firs that are hundreds of years old.

Each of these ancient giant trees has been considered a sacred tree since ancient times, forming a sacred forest. A sacred area like this is extremely rare in the prefecture, and its existence gives off a solemn and refreshing atmosphere.

On October 31, 1985, it was designated as a Nakata Town cultural property along with "Ubasugi".

Annual event

Kamo style Hoin Kagura

``Kamo-ryu Hoin Kagura'' originated in the northern part of the Sendai territory, but while Toeizan Gakushu Shugaku was staying at Kaminuma Village Myokaku-in, both Yoshinao and Jikai created various new styles of Kagura. It has been developed and taught.

This kagura is"Nagare Kagura"It was once widespread in southern Iwate Prefecture and northern Miyagi Prefecture, but it almost disappeared in the Edo period and is now located in Nakata-cho, Tome City.“Kamonuma Kamo-ryu Hoin Kagura”and“Hidakami-ryu Asabu Hoin Kagura”It has been passed down only to two groups.

Houin Kagura has many extremely complex styles based on the magic of Shugen Yamabushi, such as the foot stamping pattern and hand seal, which are the basis of Hoin Kagura, and requires rigorous training. The basic dance form is called Kagura procedure, and Kagura books with special names were handed down and handed down orally. On March 28, 1985, Nakata Town (currently Nakata Town, Tome City) was designated as a cultural property. it was done.

According to the chief priest, there is a shortage of people to take on the role, so they are recruiting widely. It doesn't matter if you live nearby as long as you can practice, so if you are interested, why not consider joining?

INFORMATION

• Address: 51 Hachimanyama, Kaminuma, Nakata-cho, Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture
• phone:0220-34-6747
• URL: Kaminuma Hachiman Shrine official panoramic site

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