Takara Shrine

It is located in Mii-cho, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Takara Tamadare no Mikoto is the main deity, and Hachiman and Sumiyoshi no Okami are enshrined in the side shrine. Takara Tamadare no Mikoto is said to be the god of the land of Tsukushi, who has resided in Mount Kora since ancient times and bestows miraculous blessings on all people. According to the shrine's legend, the shrine was founded in the first year of the reign of Emperor Richu. In February 673 (the second year of Emperor Tenmu), Mino Satomaro, the son of the shrine's chief priest, Mononobe Michimaro, received a divine oracle, which led to the appointment of Ryukei, the third son of the O-Hauuri family, as the shrine's priest. His descendants continued for 48 generations until the Edo period, and at its height, he ruled over 1,000 monks as the head priest of the shrine's temple, Miidera. In May 795 (Enryaku 14) during the reign of Emperor Kanmu, he was promoted to Junior Fifth Rank, and thereafter he was promoted several times, and in 897 (Kanpei 9) during the reign of Emperor Uda, he was promoted to Senior First Rank. In the Engishiki, the shrine is listed as Takara Tamatari no Mikoto Shrine, and is listed as a Myojin Taisha. It is the Ichinomiya of Chikugo Province and was formerly a National Shrine. Its annual festival is held from October 9th to 11th. The Kawatari Festival on June 1st and 2nd is an event to pray for good health and long life, and is commonly called the Hekokaki Festival. The current shrine building was built in 1660 (Manji 3) in the Gongen style by Arima Yoritoshi, the lord of Kurume Domain, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property along with the shrine's treasure, 12 volumes of the Heike Monogatari Kakuichibon (Tale of the Heike in Japanese ink on paper). In addition, on the western slope of Mount Takara, there is a ring of stones called Kogoishi (a national historic site).

[Ishu Ochiai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福岡県久留米(くるめ)市御井(みい)町に鎮座。高良玉垂命(たまだれのみこと)を主神とし、相殿(あいどの)に八幡(はちまん)大神、住吉(すみよし)大神を奉斎している。高良玉垂命は、古くより高良山(こうらさん)に鎮まり、奇(く)しき恵みを万民に垂れる筑紫(つくし)の国魂(くにみたま)の神であるという。社伝によれば、当社の創建は、履中(りちゅう)天皇元年という。673年（天武天皇2）2月、神主物部道麿(もののべみちまろ)の子美濃里麿(みのりまろ)に神託があり、それによって大祝(おおはうり)家三男隆慶(りゅうけい)を社僧にしたという。その子孫は江戸時代前まで48世続き、盛時には当社の神宮寺御井寺(みいでら)の座主(ざす)として1000余名の僧徒を支配した。桓武(かんむ)天皇の代の795年（延暦14）5月、従(じゅ)五位下に、以後たびたびの昇叙があり、宇多(うだ)天皇の代の897年（寛平9）には正一位となった。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』神名帳には、「高良玉垂命神社」の名でみえ、名神(みょうじん)大社に列する。筑後(ちくご)国の一宮(いちのみや)。旧国幣大社。例祭は10月9～11日。6月1、2日の川渡祭(かわたりさい)は無病息災と寿命長久を祈願する行事で、俗にへこかき祭といわれる。現社殿は1660年（万治3）久留米藩主有馬頼利(ありまよりとし)の造営になる権現造(ごんげんづくり)で、社宝の紙本墨書平家物語覚一本12冊とともに国の重要文化財に指定されている。なお、高良山西斜面には神籠石(こうごいし)（国史跡）とよばれる環状の列石が連なる。

［落合偉洲］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例