Karamatsu Shrine | The goddess who protects women's lives, offering blessings for matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth: "Sakai no Karamatsu-sama" [Daisen City, Akita Prefecture]

Karamatsu Shrine, located in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, is known as the "Guardian Deity of Women 's Life" because it is believed to bring good fortune in matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth, and is considered a deity that protects women throughout their lives

Locally, it is affectionately known as "Sakai no Karamatsu-sama" (Sakai's Karamatsu-sama)

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What is Karamatsu Shrine?

Karamatsu Shrineis a historic shrine founded in 982 (Tengen 5), and is said to have been revered by the Onodera and Satake clans. In the late Heian period, it became the syncretic Shinto-Buddhist "Karamatsu-san Koun-ji Temple," and a seated statue of Fuku Kensaku Kannon, created by Jocho, is enshrined there.

During the Edo period, it was counted as the 18th temple of the 33 Kannon pilgrimage sites in the six districts of Akita Prefecture, but it was divided into two shrines, Atago Shrine and Karamatsu Shrine, when Shinto and Buddhism were separated

The name Karamatsu Shrine originates from the name Karamatsu-no-miya , and according to legend, it is said to be based on the story that Ikui-no-muraji built the shrine to commemorate Empress Jingu's conquest of the Three Kingdoms (Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo) and her "conquest of Korea (Karakuni) ."

current, "Karamatsu Shrine." It is said that during the conquest of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Ikui no Muraji presented a maternity belt to Empress Jingu while she was pregnant, and was later bestowed upon her. This belt was then passed down to the Akita Mononobe clan and became a sacred treasure.

When the future Emperor Ojin was born, this belly band became the sacred object of Karamatsu Shrine and came to be enshrined as the guardian deity of childbearing and safe childbirth

For the above reasons, Karamatsu Shrine in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture is a historic shrine that is constantly visited by worshippers from all over the country

The deities currently enshrined are

• Kagutsuchi no Mikoto
• Okinagatarashihime-no-Mikoto
• Toyoukehime-no-Mikoto
• Takamimusubi no Mikoto
• Kamimusubi no Mikoto

It is said that..

On this day, I had stayed overnight in Omagari, Daisen City, the previous day. While there, I asked a local about nearby attractions, and they recommended, "Since you're here, why not visit Karamatsu Shrine?" That's how I ended up here

I casually dropped by this shrine, but I never imagined it would be such a fantastical and mysterious place. This time, I'd like to introduce you to Karamatsu Shrine, which I visited on a whim

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The 160m long approach to Karamatsu Shrine lined with old cedar trees

The approach to Karamatsu Shrine can be accessed from the residential area of ​​Kyowa in Daisen City

The cedar trees along the approach to the shrine are approximately 100 to 350 years old and are said to have been planted by the lord of the Satake domain in 1679

If you go straight along the approach, you will see the torii gate

If you go further, you will reach the worship hall, and along the way you will see the torii gate of Karamatsuyama Tenhi Shrine

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A remnant of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism? Karamatsuyama Tenhi Shrine

Adjacent to Karamatsu ShrineKaramatsusan Amatsuhinomiya,a shrine dedicated to deities associated with the Mononobe family, located within the gardens of the Mononobe family's residence.

When Satake Yoshitomo relocated Karamatsu Shrine, Karamatsuyama Kounji Temple was appointed as the administrator and the shrine was moved to its current location. Later, it was designated as the family shrine and became the enshrined deity within the residence of the Akita Mononobe clan

Its quiet appearance in the middle of the pond is truly mystical. The current shrine building was rebuilt in 1914 in the Hōmen Shinmei style, and is said to be a reproduction of one that was once built in Yamato. The stone walls were made from approximately 100,000 pieces of natural stone donated by religious groups and worshippers, and the garden was completed in 1932

Behind the shrine are three "Hugging Stones " : the "Hugging Stone for Men " (left in the photo) for granting children, the "Jeweled Spear Stone " (center in the photo) for matchmaking and safe childbirth , and the "Woman Stone " (right in the photo) for being blessed with children . Visitors can pray directly to the deities. When praying, men should proceed clockwise and touch the Jeweled Spear Stone while making a wish, and women should proceed counterclockwise and touch the Hugging Stone for Men and the Jeweled Spear Stone, repeating this procedure three times.

Leaving Karamatsuyama Tenhigu Shrine behind, we head to Karamatsu Shrine's main hall

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The Karamatsu Shrine worship hall, a unique structure that cannot be found anywhere else

Unlike other shrines, the worship hall of Karamatsu Shrine is situated in a lower depression, and the approach to the shrine descends. Furthermore, the worship hall and the main sanctuary are built as a single building, which I believe is quite rare for a shrine nationwide. While I was praying, I was fortunate enough to meet the Shinto priest

The priest said, "It's okay to look inside the worship hall." I thanked him and decided to take him up on his offer, but I was shocked to see what was happening inside

To begin with, the only reason I stopped by Karamatsu Shrine was"on the recommendation of a local."Now that I'm writing this article, I understand the story behind it, but at the time of my visit, I didn't even know what kind of shrine it was. It was only after going inside that I learned the origins of Karamatsu Shrine.

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The god of matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth, "Karamatsu Shrine of the Boundary"

Look at this bell. It's truly a "bell-like" bell. It must be over 2 meters in size

These bells were donated by people who were blessed with children after prayers, and some of the oldest ones seem to have been donated during the Edo period. In more recent times, bells with handmade bell cords have also been donated

Various bells and bell ropes have been donated from all over the country, showing that Karamatsu Shrine is a shrine with deep faith as a place to pray for children

I was stunned and thought, "What is this?", so I bowed and left Karamatsu Shrine

Why not visit Karamatsu Shrine in Kyowa, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, where you can be enveloped in a sacred atmosphere and fully enjoy the beauty of nature?

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