Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

It is located in Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City. The deities enshrined are Sumiyoshi no Okami, namely the three deities Sokotsutsu no Okami, Nakatsutsu no Okami, and Uwatsutsu no Okami, and Empress Jingu (Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto). Sumiyoshi no Okami was born from the purification ritual of Izanagi no Mikoto at Awagihara in Tachibana no Odo (Komon) in Hyuga, Tsukushi. Empress Jingu received a divine oracle and dispatched troops to Korea. After returning home, she enshrined the deity at its current location at the first, second, and third main shrines. It is said that the Empress was also enshrined at the fourth main shrine in accordance with her will. In ancient times, it was ranked as one of the Meishin Taisha, Ichinomiya of Settsu Province, and Nijuunisha. The deity enshrined there has been highly revered by the court and people since ancient times as the deity of purification and peace on the sea route, and it was customary for Japanese envoys to pray at this shrine before they departed. There is also a unique belief that the deity appears as a living deity, and he is often depicted as an old man with a white beard. After the Heian period, worship of him as a deity of waka poetry spread widely, and many poets, including Tsumori Kunimoto, served as the chief priests. He is also widely revered by the common people as the deity of agriculture and industry, and as the guardian deity of Osaka City, it is very crowded during New Year's and festivals. Former Kanpei Taisha. In 1946 (Showa 21), the name of the shrine was restored to its old name of Sumiyoshi Taisha from Sumiyoshi Shrine.

The four main buildings, designated as national treasures, are in the Sumiyoshi style, one of the oldest styles of shrine architecture. Until the early Heian period, along with Katori and Kashima shrines, the shrine was relocated every 20 years, just like Ise shrine. There are many historic structures within the shrine grounds, such as the Sorihashi Bridge, the Ishibutai (a national important cultural property), and 400 stone lanterns. The Obunko Library was founded in 1723 (8th year of the Kyoho era) by 20 book dealers from Osaka, Kyoto, and Edo, and even today, Osaka book dealers continue the tradition of offering books and visiting the shrine. The remains of the Shoin-den Hall (where the sacred seal was kept) can be seen to the south of the precincts, which are also the remains of the death of Emperor Gomurakami and the accession of Emperor Chokei to the throne. There are many auxiliary and subordinate shrines, including Nankunsha (Hatsutatsu-san), which has a unique faith among the common people. There are many shrine treasures, including documents, calligraphy, sculptures, and crafts. Among them, the Sumiyoshi Taisha Jindai-ki, which has a colophon from 731 (Tenpyo 3), conveys a unique ancient legend about the origins of the shrine, and has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan along with wooden Bugaku masks and swords.

The annual festival (Sumiyoshi Festival) on July 31st is a representative summer festival with the meaning of purification, and is an intangible cultural property designated by Osaka Prefecture. The rice planting ritual on June 14th passes on valuable performing arts such as the rice planting dance and Sumiyoshi dance, and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property. There are also many other special rituals, such as the Touka ritual (January 4th), the Aouma ritual (January 7th), the Mikechi festival (January 13th), the Matsunae ritual (April 3rd), the Unoha ritual (the first day of the rabbit in May), the Mikoshiarai ritual (July 21st and 22nd), and the Takara no Ichi ritual (October 17th).

[Shogo Tani]

"Sumiyoshi Taisha" by Yasushi Nishimoto (1977, Gakuseisha)" ▽ "History of Sumiyoshi Taisha, Volumes 1, 2 and 3, by Taku Tanaka et al. (1963-94, Sumiyoshi Taisha Support Association)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大阪市住吉区住吉に鎮座。祭神は住吉大神(すみよしのおおかみ)すなわち底筒男命(そこつつのおのみこと)、中(なか)筒男命、表(うわ)筒男命の三柱と、神功皇后(じんぐうこうごう)（息長足姫命(おきながたらしひめのみこと)）。住吉大神は、伊弉諾尊(いざなぎのみこと)の筑紫日向(つくしのひむか)の橘(たちばな)の小戸(おど)（小門）の檍原(あわぎはら)（阿波岐原）での禊(みそぎ)によって生まれた神であるが、神功皇后は、その神託を得て朝鮮に出兵、帰国後、現在地に大神を鎮祭したのが、第一・第二・第三本宮である。やがて皇后も、遺志により第四本宮に祀(まつ)られたと伝える。古くは名神大社、摂津(せっつ)国一宮(いちのみや)、二十二社に列した。祭神は禊祓(みそぎはらえ)の神、海路平安の神として古来朝野の崇敬厚く、遣唐使の出発にはかならず当社に祈願する例であった。また、大神が「現人神(あらひとがみ)」として顕現するという特異な信仰があり、多く白ひげの老翁の姿に描かれる。平安時代以降は和歌の神としての信仰も大いに広まり、津守国基(つもりのくにもと)をはじめ神主(かんぬし)にも歌人が輩出した。農業、産業の神として広く庶民の崇敬も盛んで、大阪市の鎮守として、正月や祭礼には非常ににぎわう。旧官幣大社。1946年（昭和21）社号を住吉神社から住吉大社という古称に復した。

　国宝の本殿四棟は住吉造で、神社建築の最古の様式の一つである。平安初期までは、香取(かとり)・鹿島(かしま)神宮とともに、伊勢(いせ)神宮と同様20年に一度遷宮が行われた。境内には、反橋(そりはし)、石舞台（国の重要文化財）、石灯籠(いしどうろう)（400基）など由緒あるものが少なくない。御文庫(おぶんこ)は、1723年（享保8）大坂、京都、江戸の書肆(しょし)20人が発起・創建したもので、いまも大阪の書籍商では献本・参拝の伝統を伝える。境外南方に正印殿（神印を納めた所）の跡があるが、後村上(ごむらかみ)天皇崩御、長慶(ちょうけい)天皇践祚(せんそ)の遺跡でもある。摂社、末社も多く、楠珺(なんくん)社（初辰(はつたつ)さん）をはじめ独特の庶民信仰をもつものも多い。文書、書跡、彫刻、工芸など社宝は多い。なかでも731年（天平3）の奥書のある『住吉大社神代記』は、当社の由来について独自の古伝を伝えており、木造舞楽面、太刀(たち)などとともに国の重要文化財に指定されている。

　7月31日の例祭（住吉祭）は、祓の意味を込めた代表的な夏祭で、大阪府指定無形文化財。6月14日の御田植神事は田植踊、住吉踊など貴重な芸能を伝承し、重要無形民俗文化財に指定される。そのほか踏歌(とうか)神事（1月4日）、白馬(あおうま)神事（1月7日）、御結鎮(みけち)祭（1月13日）、松苗神事（4月3日）、卯之葉(うのは)神事（5月初の卯の日）、御輿洗(みこしあらい)神事（7月21、22日）、宝之市(たからのいち)神事（10月17日）など特殊神事も豊富である。

［谷　省吾］

『西本泰著『住吉大社』（1977・学生社）』▽『田中卓他著『住吉大社史　上中下』（1963～94・住吉大社奉賛会）』

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