Kotohira Shrine

Located in Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Prefecture. Commonly known as "Konpira-san of Sanuki." The main deity is Omononushi-no-Okami, and Emperor Sutoku is also enshrined there. The date of its founding is unknown. In 1001 (Choho 3), Emperor Ichijo ordered Fujiwara Saneaki to renovate the shrine, but since ancient times, it has been called Zozu-san Konpira Daigongen, a syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. Konpira is a Chinese translation of the Sanskrit word Kumbhira, which means a deified water god of the crocodile that lives in the Ganges River in India, and was associated with the deity of the main shrine and worshipped. When Emperor Sutoku was exiled to this province after the Hogen Rebellion (1156), he stayed at the shrine to pray, and after his death in 1165 (Eiman 1), the shrine was enshrined there. In 1243 (Kangen 1), Emperor Gosaga ordered a ritual to be held at the shrine, and the shrine has been highly revered by both the court and the public ever since. In the Edo period, as shipping routes developed nationwide, the shrine attracted the faith of sailors and was enshrined throughout the country, and Konpira sects were established in various places. The Edo Shogunate donated 330 koku of red seal land, and the successive lords of Takamatsu domain also well protected the shrine. Since the Middle Ages, Konko-in Temple had been in charge of the shrine as its betto, but after 1670 (Kanbun 10), Shinto priests were removed from the mountain and it was ruled by monks only. After the Meiji Restoration, Shinto and Buddhism were separated and the shrine became a national shrine. The annual Kotohira Festival held from October 9th to 11th is a grand festival known as "Touninsama." There are many special rituals, such as the Grand Sanro Ceremony at the main shrine on January, May, and September 5th to 7th, and the Cherry Blossom Festival on April 10th. The shrine buildings that stretch across Mount Kotohira (Mount Zozu) are magnificent. There are many nationally important cultural properties, including "Yukozu" by Maruyama Okyo. In 1952 (Showa 27), the Treasure House and the Art Reference Hall were designated museums. Kemari (football) is a prefectural intangible folk cultural property.

[Junichi Kamata]

"Konpira Common People's Belief Materials Collection," 3 volumes (1982, Kotohira Shrine Office)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

香川県仲多度(なかたど)郡琴平(ことひら)町に鎮座。一般に「讃岐(さぬき)の金毘羅(こんぴら)さん」とよばれる。大物主(おおものぬし)大神を主神とし、崇徳(すとく)天皇を合祀(ごうし)する。創建年代不詳。1001年（長保3）一条(いちじょう)天皇は藤原実秋(さねあき)に勅し、社殿を修造したが、古くより神仏習合して象頭山(ぞうずさん)金毘羅大権現(だいごんげん)と称した。金毘羅とはサンスクリット語のクンピーラKumbhiraの漢訳語で、インドのガンジス川にすむ鰐(わに)を神格化した水神を意味し、これを本社の神と結び付け信仰したのである。崇徳天皇は保元(ほうげん)の乱（1156）ののち当国に配流(はいる)されたとき、当社に参籠(さんろう)して祈願したこともあり、崩御後1165年（永万1）に合祀された。1243年（寛元1）後嵯峨(ごさが)天皇が勅命をもって祭儀を修して以後、朝野の厚い崇敬を受けた。江戸時代には全国的な航路の発展とともに、航海者の信仰を集めて、全国に勧請(かんじょう)され、また金毘羅講が各地におこった。江戸幕府は朱印領330石を寄せ、代々の高松藩主もよく保護した。中世以来、別当職として金光(こんこう)院があたっていたが、1670年（寛文10）以降神職は山内より除き、僧侶(そうりょ)のみで支配した。明治維新後、神仏分離して国幣中社。例祭10月9～11日の金刀比羅祭は「お頭人(とうにん)様」とよばれる大祭。1月、5月、9月の5～7日の本宮にての参籠大神事、4月10日の桜花祭など特殊神事が多い。琴平山（象頭山）一帯にわたる社殿は壮麗。円山応挙(まるやまおうきょ)筆『遊虎(ゆうこ)図』など多くの国の重要文化財がある。1952年（昭和27）宝物館、学芸参考館は博物館に指定された。蹴鞠(けまり)は県無形民俗文化財。

［鎌田純一］

『『金毘羅庶民信仰資料集』全3巻（1982・金刀比羅宮社務所）』

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