Was it treated specially by the government in the past? Shiogama Shrine and Shinahiko Shrine in Ichinomiya, Mutsu Province [Miyagi Prefecture]

When it comes to first shrine visits of the New Year for Miyagi residents, Osaki Hachiman Shrine and Toshogu Shrine City , Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma City , and Shiogama Shrine in Shiogama City. However, did you know that Shiogama Shrine in Shiogama City has been known as a prestigious and historic shrine since ancient times?

This time, we will unravel the history of Shiogama Shrine and Shibahiko Shrine!

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Two shrines located within the same grounds

It's a strange place with two huge shrines coexisting on a huge site, but originally only Shiogama Shrine was enshrined here. During the Meiji period, Shiwahiko Shrine was moved to the grounds, and now the two shrines are officially called "Shiwahiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine" and are a single corporation

Shiogama Shrine

Shiogama Shrine is a shrine located in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is the head shrine of all Shiogama (Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama) shrines across the country.

the Ichinomiya of Mutsu Province , and was the shrine with the highest status in Mutsu Province, which is the area that currently includes Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori, and parts of Akita.

Currently, the shrine ranking system has been abolished, with the idea that "all shrines are on an equal footing," but because of the shrine's size, it would be inconvenient to treat it the same as regular shrines, so it is treated as a special shrine (listed in the appendix to the shrine regulations).

The main deity is Shiotsuchioji-no-Kami, who is enshrined in a separate shrine , with Takemikazuchi-no-Kami enshrined in the left shrine and Futsunushi-no-Kami enshrined in the right shrine.

The grounds of Shiogama Shrine are a little strangely laid out; as you pass through the gate, the left and right shrines are directly in front of you, and the auxiliary shrine where the main deity is enshrined is on the right as you enter.

This is thought to be because the current shrine building was constructed by the Date clan in 1704, and the accompanying deities of the left and right shrines are the guardian deities of the Date clan, and it was constructed facing the direction of Sendai Castle so that the chief priest, the lord of the Date clan, could worship them from afar from the castle at any time

Takemikazuchi-no-Kami and Futsunushi-no-Kami are considered to be military gods of the Imperial Court who were sent to pacify the Tohoku region, and Shiotsuchioji-no-Kami is said to have come to Shiogama to guide the two

Even after Takemikazuchi-no-Kami and Futsunushi-no-Kami left, Shiotsuchi-no-O-Kami remained in the area and is said to have taught people how to fish and make salt.

It is probably because of this legend that Shiotsutsuno Ojin is considered the main deity

Shiwahiko Shrine

Shibahiko, who is said to have descended to the banks of the Nanakita River (also known as the Kanmuri River) that flows through Sendai City .

For this reason, it is said that it was originally located on the left bank of the Nanakita River in Iwakiri Village, Miyagi County (present-day Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City)

According to a legend written in 1695, the origin of Shiwahiko-no-kami is said to be Shiotsutsuno-o-jinja, the main deity of Shiogama Shrine, and it is also said to be the same entity as Shiwahime Shrine in Kurihara County, but there are various theories and the facts are unclear

He is said to be the god of agriculture, industrialization, and national development

the Engishiki Shinmeicho, a list of shrines across the country compiled in 927, it is listed as one of only 225 Myojin Taisha shrines out of 2,861 shrines

However, it later fell into decline and was enshrined at Gozu Tenno Shrine (now Yasaka Shrine) in Iwakiri Village. When it was designated as a National Shrine during the Meiji period, it was relocated to the grounds of Shiogama Shrine due to the divine connection that Shibahiko-no-kami originated from Shiotsutsuno-o-jinja

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Shiogama Shrine received exceptional treatment from the government

the "Kōninshiki," compiled in 820. The "Chizaishiki" section of this the shrine received 10,000 tsubo of "Engishiki" compiled in 927 also records that the shrine

Besides Shiogama Shrine, there were only three other shrines that received religious fees from the state

• Mishima Shrine, Izu Province: 2,000 bundles
• Gassan Omonoki Shrine in Dewa Province: 2,000 bundles
• Awaji Province Yamato Daikokutama Shrine: 800 bundles

It is clear that only Shiogama Shrine was given special treatment

the Engishiki Jinmei-cho a list of shrines across the country compiled in the same year , and it was treated as a Shiki-gesha (outside of the Shiki) that already existed at the time but was not listed in the Jinmei-cho.

Despite paying such a large amount of ritual fees, it is not listed on the list...the reason for this remains a mystery to this day

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Shiogama Cherry Blossoms, designated as a national natural monument

Shiogama Shrine is home to the Shiogama cherry tree, which is also the shrine's sacred crest, and the 31 cherry trees within the shrine grounds have been designated a national natural monument under the name "Shiogama Shrine's Shiogama Cherry Trees."

Shiogama Sakura is a large-flowered double-flowered cherry tree, and based on written records, it is believed to have already been established as a cherry tree variety during the Heian period

In 1940, the famous cherry tree was designated a national natural monument, but due to its age it eventually died. As a result, the designation was lifted, but just before it died it was grafted and raised by the Shiogama Cherry Blossom Preservation Society. 54 seedlings were later planted within the temple grounds, and 31 of these were re-designated as national natural monuments in 1987

This is a historic cherry tree that has been passed down to the present day thanks to the efforts of local residents

Link: Cultural Heritage Online <Shiogama Cherry Blossoms at Shiogama Shrine>

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Okama Shrine, from which the name Shiogama is derived

About 100 meters south of the torii gate at the entrance to the east approach (back approach) of Shiogama Shrine, in the shopping district in the center of Shiogama City, is Okama Shrine,

Generally, shrines that are closely related to the main deity, such as shrines that worship the queen or child deity of the main deity, or shrines established on the former site of the main deity, are , and the next-level shrines are called sub-shrines sub-shrines within the grounds or sub-shrines within the grounds , and those outside the grounds are called auxiliary shrines outside the grounds or sub-shrines outside the

Okama Shrine has four hearths enshrined there, and it is said that were used when Shiotsuchi Ookami, the main deity of Shiogama Shrine, taught people how to boil seawater to make salt

It is not a shrine dedicated to the main deity's consort or child deity, nor is it the former site of the main shrine, but a shrine where the tools used by the main deity are enshrined ...I guess it is because of this relationship that it is treated as a branch shrine.

"Shiogama" comes from this where Shiodome Oji-no-kami baked salt."

Okama Shrine <Information>

• Name: Okama Shrine (a sub-shrine outside the grounds of Shiogama Shrine)
• Address: 6-1 Honmachi, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, 985-0052
• Phone number: 022-367-1611
• Official URL: http://www.shiogamajinja.jp/

Google Map

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summary

Even famous shrines often experience periods of decline during their long history, but there is no record of this happening at Shiogama Shrine.It can be said that the shrine has always been revered by the rulers of the time and loved by the local people

Perhaps the reason why faith in him has continued is that he is the god who controls salt, which for meals in any era, whether in wartime or peacetime

If you have a chance to visit Shiogama City, please stop by and pray

Shiwahiko Shrine and Shiogama Shrine <Information>

• Name: Shiwahiko Shrine Shiogama Shrine Office
• Address: 1-1 Ichinomoriyama, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, 985-0074
• Phone number: 022-367-1611
• Official URL: http://www.shiogamajinja.jp/

Google Map

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