[Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture] Was it given special treatment by the government more than 1,000 years ago? Shiogama Shrine and Shibahiko Shrine in Ichinomiya, Mutsu Province

When it comes to New Year's visit for the people of Miyagi Prefecture, Osaki Hachimangu Shrine and Sendai Toshogu Shrine in Sendai City , Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma City and Shiogama Shrine in Shiogama City are famous, but among these, Shiogama Shrine in Shiogama City is Did you know that it has been famous as a prestigious and historic shrine since ancient times?

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

Two shrines in the same precincts

It is a strange place where two huge shrines live together on a huge site, but originally only Shiogama Shrine was enshrined here. During the Meiji period, Shibahiko Shrine was moved to the shrine grounds and is now a single corporation with the official name ``Shibahiko Shrine/Shigama Shrine.''

Shiogama Shrine

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

It is said to have been the highest-ranking shrine in Mutsu Province, or parts of present-day Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Aomori, and Akita .

Currently, the shrine rank system has been abolished as ``all shrines are on an equal footing'', but since it would be inconvenient to treat the shrines the same as general shrines due to their size, Beppon Shrines (Shrines) are given special treatment . (as it is listed in the attached table of the regulations).

is Shiotsuchiojinokami, who is enshrined in the annex shrine, Takemikazuchinokami in the left shrine , and Futsunushi no kami in the right shrine. is enshrined here.

The precincts of Shiogama Shrine have a somewhat strange structure; the Sagu Shrine and Ugu Shrine are in front of you as you pass through the gate, and the Betsugu Shrine, where the main deity is enshrined, is on the right as you enter.

The current shrine building was built by the Date family in 1704, and the deities of the left and right shrines are the guardian deities of the Date family, and the main shrine, the lord of the Date family, was built in Sendai so that he could worship from a distance from the castle at any time. It is thought that this is because it was built facing the direction of the castle.

It is said that Takemotsuchi no Kami and Tsunetsu no Nushi no Kami were the war gods of the imperial court sent to pacify the Tohoku region, and Shiotsuchiojin no Kami is said to have come to Shiogama as their guide. Masu.

that even after the Takemitsuchi and Tsunetsunushi deities left, Shiotsuchi Oo-no-kami remained in this area and taught the people fishing and salt-making methods .

Based on this legend, Shiotsucho Oojin is considered to be the main deity.

Shibahiko Shrine

is a shrine dedicated to the god Shibahiko, who is said to have descended on the banks of the Nanakita River (also known as the Kanagawa River), which 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 District (currently Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City).

According to Engi, written in 1695, the origin of Shibahiko-no-kami is said to be Shiotsucho-o-no-kami, the main deity enshrined at Shiogama Shrine, and it is also said to be the same as Shibahime Shrine in Kurihara District, but there are various theories and facts. is not certain.

It is said to be the god of protection of agriculture, production, and national land development

It is listed as one of only 225 famous shrines out of 2,861 in ``Engishiki Shinmyocho,'' a list of shrines nationwide compiled in 927

However, after that it declined and was enshrined at Gozu Tenno Shrine (currently Yasaka Shrine) in Iwakiri Village, and in the Meiji period, it was ranked as Kokuhei Chusha Shrine.The origin of Shibahiko no Kami was Shiotsucho Old Man God. It was moved to the precincts of Shiogama Shrine.

Shiogama Shrine, which received exceptional treatment from the government

the ``Konin-shiki,'' which was selected in 820 , and in the ``Shutai-shiki,'' a ritual fee of 10,000 bundles (the bundles were at the time It is recorded that he received 10,000 bundles of ritual fees the ``Shutsei-shiki' ' of the ``Engishiki

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

• Izukuni Mishimasha: 2,000 bundles
• Dewa Province Gassan Daimonokisha: 2,000 bundles
• Awaji Province Yamato Okokutama Shrine: 800 bundles

It is clear that only Shiogama Shrine received exceptional treatment.

, Shiogama Shrine was not listed among the 2,861 shrines (called Shikinai-sha) listed in the ``Engishiki Shinmyocho,'' a list of shrines nationwide compiled in the same year; It was treated as a Shikigesha company that had no description.

Despite paying such a large amount of ritual fees, they are not listed on the list...The reason remains a mystery to this day.

Shiogama cherry tree, designated as a national natural monument

At Shiogama Shrine, there is a Shiogama cherry tree, which is also the shrine's emblem, and the 31 cherry trees within the shrine grounds are designated as a national natural monument under the name ``Shigama Shrine's Shiogama Cherry Blossoms''

Shiogama-zakura is a large-flowered double-flowered cherry tree, and it is thought that it was already established as a cherry blossom variety in the Heian period, based on written records.

In 1940, it was designated as a national natural monument as a famous cherry tree since ancient times, but due to its age, it withered and died. As a result, the designation as a natural monument was canceled, but 54 saplings were grafted just before they withered and raised by the Shiogama Cherry Blossom Preservation Society within the precincts, of which 31 were designated as a national natural monument in 1987. It was redesignated as an object.

This is a historic cherry tree that has been preserved to this day through the efforts of local residents.

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

Okama Shrine, the origin of the name of Shiogama

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

In general, shrines that are closely related to a shrine, such as shrines that enshrine the mother god or miko god of the head shrine's enshrined deity, or shrines that were built on the site of the head office's former site, are said to be sekisha , and shrines that succeed them are called sekisha Furthermore, those within the precincts of the main shrine are called precinct setshas and precincts end shrines , and those outside the precincts precinct outer sesshas and precinct outer end shrines

a four-burner stove enshrined at Okama Shrine it is said that this stove was used when Shiodo Oojin, the main deity of Shiogama Shrine, taught people how to make salt by boiling seawater

Although it is not a shrine that enshrines Mikogami, the consort deity of the main enshrined deity, and is not the site of the head office, it a shrine where the tools used by the main enshrined deity are enshrined ...I guess because of that relationship, it is treated as a subsidiary shrine.

Shiogama' is derived from this ` `Kamado where Old Old Man God grilled salt''

Okama Shrine＜Information＞

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

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summary

Even famous shrines go through periods of decline at least once in their long history, but Shiogama Shrine has no such record. It can be said that it is a shrine that has always been revered by the rulers of the era and loved by the residents.

Perhaps the reason why people's faith in this god has never died out is because it is the who controls salt, 's meals in any era, whether it's during war or peace

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

Shibahiko Shrine/Shigama Shrine＜Information＞

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

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