Ikuta Shrine

Located in Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The deity enshrined is Wakahirume-no-Mikoto. According to the shrine's legend, when Empress Jingu returned in triumph from an expedition, Wakahirume-no-Mikoto offered to enshrine her in Ikuta Nagao-no-Kuni, and Unagami-no-Isachi enshrined her. During the reign of Emperor Heizei, in 806 (Daido 1), 44 households in Settsu were granted the title of divine steward. It is said that the name Kobe today comes from the name of the Ikuta Shrine. In 868 (Jogan 10), the shrine was awarded the rank of junior first rank, and is listed as a Myojin Taisha in the Engishiki. The shrine's grounds, Ikuta no Mori, were featured in poems in the Heian period's "Shui Wakashu" and in the Kamakura period's "Juntoku-in Hyakushu" and "Fuboku Wakashu," and have been touted by literati and artists since ancient times. It also became famous as the site of the ancient battle of the Genpei War in 1184 (Genryaku 1). Since then, it has been revered by samurai, feudal lords, and local residents, and in 1896 (Meiji 29) it was ranked as a Kanpei Chusha (medium-rank shrine). The annual festival is held on April 15th. Special rituals include the Sugimori Shinto ritual, in which cedar twigs are piled up as a mound of misfortune instead of kadomatsu in the New Year, and the Sento Festival on July 15th. Shrine treasures include imperial letters from Emperor Goyozei and Emperor Gosai, and one scroll of the Wadamisaki Jinko Emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Jinko of Wadamisaki).

[Yoshii Sadatoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

兵庫県神戸市中央区下山手通に鎮座。祭神は稚日女尊(わかひるめのみこと)。社伝によると神功(じんぐう)皇后が外征より凱旋(がいせん)したとき、稚日女尊の「吾(われ)を活田長峡国(いくたながおのくに)に祀(まつ)れ」との神誨(しんかい)により、海上五十狭茅(うながみのいさち)が祀ったのが起源とされている。平城(へいぜい)天皇の御代、806年（大同1）には摂津44戸をもって神封とされた。今日、当地を神戸(こうべ)と称するのはこの生田社の神戸(かんべ)によるものといわれている。868年（貞観10）従(じゅ)一位を授けられ、『延喜式(えんぎしき)』には名神(みょうじん)大社に列せられている。社地「生田の森」は平安時代には『拾遺和歌集』、鎌倉時代には『順徳(じゅんとく)院百首』『夫木(ふぼく)和歌集』などに歌い込まれて古来文人墨客に喧伝(けんでん)され、また1184年（元暦1）源平合戦の古戦場として名高くなった。以来武家、藩主、また当地住民の崇敬を受け、1896年（明治29）官幣中社に列格した。例祭は4月15日。正月に門松のかわりに杉の小枝を厄塚として盛る杉盛神事、7月15日の千灯祭などの特殊神事がある。社宝に後陽成(ごようぜい)天皇および後西(ごさい)天皇の宸翰(しんかん)、和田岬神幸絵巻1巻などがある。

［吉井貞俊］

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