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[Daisen City, Akita Prefecture] What is Koshio Shrine? A detailed introduction to this important cultural property hidden in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture
[Daisen City, Akita Prefecture] What is Koshio Shrine? A detailed introduction to this important cultural property hidden in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture
Koshio Shrine is one of the nationally designated tangible important cultural properties located in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, but in January 2021, it made the news when strong winds caused the torii gate to break at the base and collapse
This article provides detailed information about Koshio Shrine, which was rebuilt with strengthened foundations and completed on July 27, 2021
It is said that Koshio Shrine was built in 1570 at the end of the Muromachi period by Togashi Saemontaro Katsuie, the lord of Kujaku Castle, and commissioned the master craftsman Jinbei from Hida City, Gifu Prefecture
Koshio Shrine was built in the following structural format, with a girder length of 2.545m and beam length of 2.545m
Name of structural type
Content
One-bay shrine with hipped roof
The gabled roof (two roof surfaces arranged in a mountain shape with a ridge at the top) has eaves on all four sides, and there is one pillar space at the front of the main building
Tsumai-ri
Of the four sides of a building, the side that is perpendicular to the ridge is called the gable, and the entrance is located on the gable
One-ken porch
A protruding open space in the center of the front of the shrine building, serving as a space for worshippers to pray
Karahafu style
A type of roof with a gable (the gable side of a hip-and-gable roof) that rises in the center and then inverts at both ends to form a nearly horizontal roof
Shingle roof
Hand-split cedar or sawara boards about 3 to 6 mm thick are stacked vertically at intervals of about 3 cm (fukiashi), and then bamboo nails are hammered into the roof. This method is also called kiba-buki
It is an eclectic building made of cedar, pine, cypress, chestnut, etc., incorporating various styles such as Japanese, Zen (Chinese), and Great Buddha (Indian) styles. It is characterized by its designs that are rarely seen at other shrines, such as the chrysanthemum arabesque on the rainbow beams on the front of the veranda, the wisteria arabesque pattern on the side handles, the sashes that represent a barrier on all four sides including the sash door, large frog legs and spires
While it is decorated with such delicate and elegant carvings, it also has a bold look, with a roughly hewn base made of thick lumber
If you are going to a shrine, this is recommended for people who want to not only pray but also enjoy viewing the architecture
・Disaster prevention drill with the participation of students from Higashi Omagari Elementary School
・Rice planting in the snow, Tenhitsu-yaki baking, mochi-pounding
Door closed
December 8
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Higashi Omagari Elementary School, which was renamed from Second Elementary School in 1991, currently participates in the Koshio Shrine Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day and Koshio-do Firefighter Mochi Festival. Even back when it was Second Elementary School, it was a fun experience for the students to watch the firefighting drills and then go home with the mochi they had made after the mochi-pounding event
Higashi Omagari Elementary School, which has a close relationship with Koshio Shrine through its participation in events, has two legends related to the shrine posted on its website
The first legend is as follows:
Long ago, in the village around Koshio Shrine, a noble-looking old man with a shining white beard was taking a rest on a large stone by the roadside
It was later discovered that the white-haired old man was Ohiko no Mikoto, and the villagers, feeling that this was an awe-inspiring event, built a shrine to worship him, which is said to be the beginning of Koshio Shrine
The second legend is recorded in an ancient document called Koshiodo Engi
In 782, an old man came from the East and smashed a mysterious, shining stone measuring 1 shaku square (30 cm square), revealing a lapis lazuli medicine jar inside
This was the manifestation of the great authority of the Koshio, and so a grass hut was built to enshrine him, which is said to have been the beginning of Koshio Shrine
Koshio Shrine was built in 1570 at the end of the Muromachi period by Togashi Saemontaro Katsuie, the lord of Kujaku Castle, and commissioned the master craftsman Jinbei from Hida City, Gifu Prefecture.It was discovered that the shrine is not only blessed with the blessing of protecting the land as the local guardian deity, but is also a highly valuable architectural structure
If you want to experience the traditional atmosphere, be sure to visit
Old Shio Shrine <Information>
Name: Old Shio Shrine main hall (nationally designated important cultural property)
Address: 30-30 Omagari Koshiosai, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, 014-0031
I'm Sakihime. I'm a web writer born in Akita who loves Japanese sake, so to some delicious Akita sake, snacks that Akita residents secretly enjoy, and tourist spots with beautiful scenery. I hope you'll come to my hometown, Akita, and enjoy "Ozattetanse."
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