Aizuwakamatsu City [Fukushima Prefecture] is adjacent to ancient ruins and also home to the Arahaba Shrine, which is associated with Minamoto no Yoshiie

This series explores the mystery of the enigmatic ancient god "Arahabaki"... This time, we introduce the Arahabaki Shrine located in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

Who is the ancient god "Arahabaki"?

"Arahabaki"is a deity that was worshipped mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto regions of Japan. It is believed to have existed since ancient times, butit does not appear in Japanese mythology (Kojiki and Nihon Shoki).

Therefore, it is thought to be a deity originating from the local beliefs of ancient Japan, from the Tohoku region to the Kanto region. However, because it is so ancient and, as mentioned above, not mentioned in any documents, its true identity and origin remain unknown to this day

From the Middle Ages onward, the name appears in shrine histories and records using various spellings such as "荒脚巾," "荒覇吐," "荒吐," and "荒波々幾." However, it is highly likely that these are kanji characters that were assigned later, and it is considered most appropriate to refer to it using the katakana spelling "ARHABAKI."

There are various theories regarding "what kind of god it is." Some of them are listed below

• The legend of the god of feet and travel
• Snake God Theory
• The theory of the guardian deity
• The Emishi God Theory
• The theory that he is the ancestral deity of ironmaking
• The theory of sexual deities related to the ancient Ainu language

Details of each theory are explained in the following article

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Arahagihaba Shrine in Tagajo | Was it the guardian deity of the Tagajo government office, created to repel the Emishi (indigenous people of northern Japan)? [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/54636

The mysterious ancient god "Arahabaki"... This enigmatic deity is said to have been worshipped mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, but even today, the most famous shrine bearing its name is the "Arahabaki Shrine" located in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture. This article delves into the mystery of the ancient god "Arahabaki" and the Arahabaki Shrine in Tagajo. Who is the ancient god "Arahabaki"? "Arahabaki" is a god believed to have existed since ancient times, worshipped mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, but it does not appear in the Japanese myths (Kojiki and Nihon Shoki). Therefore, it is not found in the Tohoku and Kanto regions...

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There are two Arahaba Shrines in Aizuwakamatsu City

There are two shrines in Aizuwakamatsu City that bear the name "Arahaba-ki," and each has characteristics that differ from other Arahaba-ki shrines in other regions.

Arahabaki Shrine (Kitamachi)

Located near the Ban'etsu Expressway's Aizu-Wakamatsu Interchange, in Machikita-machi, Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, is the Arahabaki Shrine, which is probably the only shrine in the Tohoku region to use the character "鎺 (habaki)"

A small shrine, like a tiny island floating in a sea of ​​green in a peaceful rural landscape. Its location is very similar to that of Arahagihaba Shrine in Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

Arahaba Shrine in Iwadeyama | Has it been enshrined for 2,000 years? A shrine dedicated to the mysterious ancient god Arahaba, whose name is even inscribed in the place name [Miyagi Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/43132

Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Here lies a shrine dedicated to the mysterious ancient god "Arahabaki," said to have resided there for 2,000 years. The Arahabaki Shrine (Iwadeyama, Osaki City) is remarkable for its address: 164 Arahabaki, Shimoichikuri, Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture… The name "Arahabaki" is even inscribed in the place name. This article delves into the mysteries of the Arahabaki Shrine in Iwadeyama and the enigmatic ancient god "Arahabaki." Who is the ancient god "Arahabaki"? "Arahabaki" is a god believed to have existed since ancient times, primarily in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, and is associated with Japanese mythology (...

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Upon closer inspection, I saw a stone marker inscribed with "Arahagi Shrine." It appears to have been donated during the Taisho era

There were several stone pillars and stone lanterns, but there were no traces that could lead to any clues..

The plaque above the torii gate also bears the characters "Araha."

A habakiis a metal fitting at the base of the blade of a Japanese sword that secures the blade to the scabbard, preventing the blade from directly touching the scabbard.

The use of kanji characters related to metalworking, blacksmithing, and iron production in the phrase "metal fittings of a Japanese sword" suggests the possibility of a "theory of the ancestral deity of iron production."

According to the website of Akio Ishida, director of the Aizu Domain School Nisshinkan, titled "History of Aizu from an Archaeological Perspective - An Overview of Aizu History,"the "Yashiki Ruins"has been excavated near the nearby Aizu Apio. Pit dwellings and pottery from the middle and late Yayoi period have been unearthed, suggesting the existence of a large settlement surrounded by a ditch covering an area of ​​one square cho (approximately 109 meters).

Furthermore, the Yadama archaeological site , believed to date from the Nara to Heian periods, has been discovered in the vicinity of Takano-cho, located approximately 500m to 1km north of Arahagi Shrine

This means that this area has been inhabited by many people since ancient times, and it is quite possible that the ancient god "Arahabaki" was worshipped here

Arahabaki Shrine (Minato-machi)

Another Arahabaki Shrine exists in the Akai district of Minato-machi, a port town located a little distance from the city center of Aizuwakamatsu, on the shores of Lake Inawashiro

This is a shrine that uses the relatively common"荒脚巾 (Arahabaki)," and the grounds are filled with a large number of stone monuments, stone pillars, and stone lanterns, giving it a lively impression.

The stone pillar at the entrance, which appears to be quite old, bears the inscription "Komine Shrine."

There are so many stone monuments, stone pillars, and stone lanterns... Perhaps several nearby shrines were consolidated and enshrined here

There are three torii gates before you reach the main shrine, and all of them have a plaque that reads "Arahagihaba Shrine."

However, unlike other "Arahagihaba" shrines, there were no offerings here that"feet,". The shrine grounds were neatly maintained, suggesting that it is cherished as a local shrine.

The plaque above the main shrine"Arahagihagi-no-miya." I don't think it has any deep meaning, but it was the first time I'd seen that name.

There is a small shrine next to the main hall. It might be the shrine of Komine Shrine that was at the entrance

There were many other stone shrines as well

The shrine on the far right housed two Inari deities

Although we couldn't find anything on-site that could provide clues to its origins or history, we were able to find a description of the origin of Arahagihaba Shrine in the section on "Minato-machi Akai" in the book "Origins of Place Names" published by the Aizuwakamatsu City Board of Education, which can be viewed in the Aizuwakamatsu City Digital Archive

At the top of the village, where the road curves sharply, stands the Arahabaki Shrine. It is the village's guardian shrine. The enshrined deity is Kanayamahiko-no-mikoto, and it is said that in the past, the shrine had a massive hall and corridors, and was even permitted to cultivate rice fields

The origin of the shrine's name is said to be that when Minamoto no Yoshiie was on his eastern campaign, he stopped here to rest. On his way here, he had taken off his shin guards to cross a deep valley, but when he was about to depart, he accidentally left one of the shin guards behind. So he enshrined the shin guards in the shrine, and changed the shrine's name to "Arahagihagi Shrine" (Wild Shinobu Shrine). Within the shrine grounds, there are two shrines, Inari Shrine and Yamagami Shrine, enshrined together

Source: Aizuwakamatsu City Board of Education Publication [Origin of Place Names]

If this legend is true, it would mean there is no connection to the "Arahabaki god"... however, numerous Paleolithicsiteshave been excavated around the "Aizu Recreation Park" in Akai Sasayamahara, Minato-machi, similar to the area around the "Arahabaki Shrine" in Kita-machi. So, although the estimated ages of the sites may differ, it seems there is evidence that people have lived there since ancient times.

Given the nature of the Arahaba Shrine, it's possible that the shrine's origin story is a later addition, perhaps inspired by Minamoto no Yoshiie..

Incidentally, the name of this"Akai"district is"no matter where you dug a well in the village, you would find red water that was not suitable for drinking."Whether or not this is related, the roads in the district are still stained bright red.

It's probably due to the soil being rich in iron or something like that, but it makes me wonder if people in the past considered this area sacred, as "a land where red water flows out of a supernatural force" ...?

summary

Similar to Goshogawara City in Aomori Prefecture, the Arahaba Shrine in Aizuwakamatsu City has seen the discovery of ancient ruins in the surrounding area

Given that it's a flat area with water nearby, making it ideal for life, it's easy to imagine that people have lived there since ancient times... but it's hard not to imagine a connection to "Arahabaki," an ancient god

It would be exciting if artifacts suggesting a connection were found among the unearthed items at the site, but it seems there have been no such discoveries so far

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