Kattamine Shrine in Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture: the center of the "swan faith" in the southern part of the prefecture

located between National Route 4 and the Tohoku Expressway, near the border with Shiroishi City.Karita-mine Shrine (Shiratori Daimyōjin)there is a shrine called

three shrines in Zao Town thatKarita-mineIt is one ofthe swan worship traditionis also the center of

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Is there a sacred object that keeps moving between the mountaintop and the hot spring town at the foot of the mountain? Kattamine Shrine in Miyagi Zao [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/34453

The Zao Mountain Range, part of the Ou Mountain Range, straddles Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. Did you know that on the Miyagi side of the Zao Mountain Range, there is a shrine whose deity repeatedly moves between summer and winter? Kattamine Shrine, located at the summit of Mt. Katta and Togatta Onsen, is a shrine located in the hot spring town of Togatta Onsen, at the eastern foot of Mt. Katta, on the Miyagi side of the Zao Mountain Range. Kattamine Shrine is paired with the "Kattamine Shrine" of the same name at the summit of Mt. Katta, with the mountaintop side called "Okumiya" and the Togatta Onsen side called "Satomiya." Incidentally, there is another shrine in Zao Town called Kattamine Shrine (also known as Shiratori Daimyojin), but this one has a slightly different origin...

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The origins of Kattamine Shrine (Shiratori Daimyojin)

The name of Kattamine Shrine first appeared during the Nara period (around the early 700s), when there is a record that "the Imperial Court bestowed Kobe on the god of Kattamine."

At that time, Kattamine Shrine was said to have been located on the summit of Mt. Aoso, located in the eastern part of the Zao mountain range, but there are various theories about its origins

1. a sacred mountainKattadake,It was built on the summit of Aosoyama, which offers a panoramic view of
2. Mount Aoma itself is called Mount Ogatta, and Mount Ogatta itself is considered a sacred mountain, with a shrine built on its summit

According to theory 1,Mount Kattawas a dangerous active volcano that frequently exhibited divine power through eruptions, and it was also believed that setting foot in the sacred area of ​​Mount Katta was blasphemous. Therefore, the shrine wasKattabuilt on the summit of

According to theory 2, at the time, Aoyama itselfOkaritayamawas called

The Swan Legend of Yamato Takeru, handed down in Katta and Shibata counties, and the Swan Shrine in Nishinomiya

around the 4th century, even before the founding of Karita-mine ShrineYamato Takeruvisited this area

In ancient times, Prince Yamato Takeru visited this land on an expedition. During his expedition, he stayed at the mansion of a wealthy man in the area, and became intimate with the man's daughter, who attended to him, and they had a son. Eventually, Prince Yamato Takeru left his wife and son behind and returned to the capital. The son born to Prince Yamato Takeru and the daughter was extraordinary even at a young age.
The villagers feared that he would surely become strong enough to conquer this land when he grew up, so they plotted to throw the boy into the river.
However, the boy transformed into a white swan and flew away to the west.
After that, disasters began to befall the village.
The villagers feared that they had been punished by the gods, and built a shrine at the foot of the mountain to the west from which the white swan had flown, and begged for forgiveness. After that, peace returned to the village.
This region retains many place names related to the legend of the white swan, such as "Uchikata," where the daughter of a wealthy man lived; "Kodomogawa," where a boy was thrown away; and "Nishinomiya," where a shrine was built to enshrine the boy who was transformed into a white swan.

May 24, 2008 Zao Town Board of Education

appears in this legendThe Shiratori Shrine in Nishinomiya, is said to be the origin of the Shiratori legend that has been passed down in this area for a long time. In fact, there is a place name called Nishinomiya to the west of the current Karita-mine Shrine, and it seems that the shrine was moved from there to its current location in the 1500s.

It is enshrined together with the Shiratori Shrine in Nishinomiya, which enshrines Yamato Takeru

In 801, during the Heian period the Shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramarowas campaigning against the Emishi, he prayed for victory at the aforementioned Shiratori Shrine in Nishinomiya, anditIwagumore.is said that he subsequently won against the armies of Aterui and

Later, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro merged the Karita-mine Shrine on the summit of Aomayama Mountain with the Shiratori Shrine in Nishinomiya. This can be seen from the current Karita-mine Shrine, where"Mine Shrine"on the main hall"Shiratori Daimyojin"can be found on the gate and a plaque reading

As time passed, in December 869, Karitamine-no-kami was awarded the rank of Junior Fourth Rank

a list compiled in 927 of shrines throughout Japan at the time,"Engishiki Jinmyocho,", it can be seen that in"Myojin Taisha,"title given to deities who have been considered to have particularly remarkable spiritual power since ancient times, and that it attracted the faith of many people as the guardian shrine of Katta County.

Although it fell into ruin with the downfall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, it was enshrined as the guardian deity of the Katakura clan during the Warring States period

During the late Heian period,the Oshu Fujiwara clanit was under the patronage ofYoritomorecorded that "rubble was scattered on both sides, and there was no place to put your feet."

In the 1500s, a man named Sato Masanori started a restoration plan, and at that time the shrine was moved from Nishinomiya, which was inconveniently located on an old road, to its current location, which was easier for visitors to reach

After that, the site repeatedly fell into ruin and was rebuilt. In the 1600s, under the rule of the Date clanKatakura Kagetunabecame the lord of Shiroishi Castle, the Katakura family carried out a large-scale reconstruction over two generations, under the first Kagetuna and the second Shigenaga, completely clearing away the old shrine buildings and renovating all the halls.

After that,the guardian shrine of Katta Countyandthe chief guardian deity of the Katakura family, vassals of the Date familyit received protection for a long period of time as

At the end of the Edo period, when the Tohoku forces were defeated in the Boshin War and the Katakura family left Shiroishi and settled in Hokkaido to develop the area, they enshrined a divided spirit of Yamato Takeru from Karita-mine Shrine in a local shrine in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, which"Karita Shrine"and worshipped as the guardian deity of the pioneers.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Are there many areas in Hokkaido that have ties to Miyagi? The migration of Sendai feudal lords and the history of Hokkaido's development [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/26656

As the title suggests, did you know that Miyagi Prefecture and Hokkaido actually have a deep connection? This article explores this relationship, dating back to the Boshin War and the history of Hokkaido's development during the Meiji period! Following the defeat in the Boshin War, the Sendai Domain's kokudaka (rice yield) was reduced from 620,000 koku to 280,000 koku. The Sendai Domain participated in the Boshin War as a central player in the Oshu-Uetsu Alliance, and after its defeat, its kokudaka was reduced from 620,000 koku to 280,000 koku in the postwar settlement. This, of course, had a ripple effect on its vassals. For example, there was the Watari-Date clan, who ruled the area around Watari Town in Miyagi Prefecture. They were a distinguished family whose founder was Date Masazane, a senior vassal of Date Masamune...

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Kattamine Shrine today

Great Torii Gate

The large torii gate at the entrance to Kattamine Shrine

Zuishinmon

Zuishinmon Gate is a designated cultural property of Zao Town. It has a plaque bearing the name "Mine Shrine" hanging on it

worship hall

Like the Zuishinmon Gate, the worship hall is a designated cultural property of Zao Town. It bears a plaque reading "Shiratori Daimyojin."

with the Date family crest,"Maru no uchi ni tate mitsu hiki crest" (three vertical lines within a circle)is decorated

Main shrine

in 1718Murayasu, the fifth head of the Shiraishi Katakura family. It is registered as a designated cultural property of Miyagi Prefecture.

Shiratori Monuments

are located behind the main shrine buildingThe Shiratori ancient stone monuments.

All the stone monuments are carved with images of birds that appear to be swans."Swan Burial Ground"suggests that the remains of swans may be buried there. (The term "burial ground" refers to a cemetery or graveyard.)

The oldest stone monument is inscribed with the date 1673 (Kanbun 13)

summary

Although there are slight differences in the descriptions in both the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, they bothhave died in the Ise region and transformed into a white swanthat enshrines Yamato Takeru, who isa swan worship tradition.

of the Zao mountain range has its roots in Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticismthe mountain worshipwhere these two elements are fused together,Karita-mine ShrineWouldn't you say that

If you have the opportunity to visit the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, be sure to visit this shrine

Kattamine Shrine (Shiratori Daimyojin) <Information>

• Name: Kattamine Shrine (Shiratori Daimyojin)
• Address: 1 Miyababa, Zao-cho, Katta-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, 989-0701
• Phone number: 0224-32-2615
• Official URL:Miyagi Prefecture Shrine Association – Karita-mine Shrine (Shiratori Daimyojin)

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Aoiwa

Traveling around the Tohoku region, I enjoy drinking delicious sake and exploring the local history, traditions, and customs. I write articles based on my interests. I'm currently interested in folk performing arts, local toys, and folk beliefs