Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine

It is located in Ichinomiya, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture. In ancient times, it was also called Nukisaki Myojin and Nukisaki Shrine. The deities enshrined are Futsunushi no Kami, who plays an active role in the Kuniyuzuri myth, and Himeokami, who is said to be the god of sericulture and weaving. According to the shrine's tradition, it was founded in March of the first year of Emperor Ankan's reign. The first appearance of the shrine in historical documents is in the "Shinsho Kakuchokufusho," a letter dated 806, which states that two households in Kobe were assigned to it. In 839 (Jowa 6), it was ranked as Junior Fifth Rank, and then promoted to Junior Second Rank in 916 (Engi 16). Under the Engi system, it was worshipped as Myojin Taisha, later as the Ichinomiya of Kozuke Province, and was ranked as a Kokuhei Chusha under the Meiji government system. The annual festival is held on March 15th. There are also many special rituals such as the Ikuyumi-ya-ikutachi Ritual (January 7th), Tsutsugayu Ritual (January 15th), Mitobirakisai (March 14th and December 12th), and Shikaura Ritual (December 8th). For example, the Shikinen Sengu is carried out every 12 years from the Year of the Monkey to the Year of the Rooster. The main hall, worship hall, and tower gate are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

[Motegi Sadazumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

群馬県富岡市一ノ宮に鎮座。古くは抜鉾(ぬきさき)明神、貫前神社とも称す。祭神は、国譲(くにゆずり)神話に活躍する経津主神(ふつぬしのかみ)と、養蚕機織(ようさんはたおり)の神といわれる比売大神(ひめおおかみ)である。社伝によれば、安閑(あんかん)天皇元年3月の創祀(そうし)という。史料上の初見は『新抄格勅符抄』大同(だいどう)元年（806）の牒(ちょう)に神戸(かんべ)2戸をあてられたことがみえる。839年（承和6）には従(じゅ)五位下、その後累進して916年（延喜16）には従二位となる。延喜(えんぎ)の制で名神(みょうじん)大社、のち上野(こうずけ)国一宮として信仰を集め、明治の官制では国幣中社に列せられた。例祭は3月15日。そのほか生弓矢生太刀(いくゆみやいくたち)神事（1月7日）、筒粥(つつがゆ)神事（1月15日）、御戸開祭(みとびらきさい)（3月14日、12月12日）、鹿占(しかうら)神事（12月8日）などの特殊神事が多い。12年ごとの申(さる)年から酉(とり)年にかけて式年遷宮を行うのを例としている。本殿、拝殿、楼門は国の重要文化財である。

［茂木貞純］

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