Itsukushima Shrine

Located in Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. In ancient times, it was also written as Itsukishima Shrine and called Itsukushima Daimyojin. It enshrines Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto, Tagorihime-no-mikoto, and Tagitsuhime-no-mikoto. In ancient times, Miyajima itself, with a circumference of about 31 kilometers, was considered a god and a sacred island where people were not allowed to live. This is why the shrine was built at the point where the sea water ebbs and flows. Houses have been built on Miyajima since the Middle Ages, but the custom of not cultivating land or burying the dead is still observed today. The date of its founding is unknown, but according to the shrine's legend, it began during the reign of Empress Suiko when Saeki Kuramoto, a resident of Saeki County, received a divine revelation and built and enshrined a shrine. In July of 811 (Kōnin 2), it was ranked as a Myōjinsha (famous shrine), and was designated as a shrine to which offerings were made in all four seasons. In 859 (Tenan 3), it was promoted from Shogoi (fifth rank) to Jūshii (junior fourth rank), and in 867 (Jogan 9), it was promoted to Jūshii (junior fourth rank), and was designated as a Myōjin Taisha (famous shrine) under the Engi system. After that, it was further revered by both the court and the common people, and was designated Ichinomiya (the Ichinomiya) of Aki Province (the western half of Hiroshima Prefecture). After Taira no Kiyomori emerged, his clan especially revered the shrine, and in March 1174 (Joan 4), Emperor Goshirakawa visited the shrine together with Kenshunmon-in Taira Shigeko, and in 1178 (Jisho 2), after Emperor Takakura's Empress Kenreimon-in Taira Tokuko became pregnant, Kiyomori made monthly visits to the shrine in hopes of giving birth to a prince. The following year, the Imperial Court tried to have the shrine added to the list of 22 shrines, but this was not achieved. After the downfall of the Taira clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo also revered the shrine, donating land and repair fees, and the Kamakura shogunate also protected it thereafter. Many of the buildings were destroyed by fire during the Kamakura period, but during the Muromachi period, the Ouchi and Mori clans made an effort to maintain it, and in particular, Mori Motonari, under orders from Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki in 1572 (Genki 3), rebuilt the main worship hall, corridors, guest shrine, and other structures in the same manner as in the past. Mori Terumoto also donated land for the shrine, and in 1587 (Tensho 15) under orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi, built the Daikyodo (Senjokaku). During the Edo period, the Tokugawa Shoguns and the Asano clan, lords of Hiroshima, made an effort to maintain it as well. In 1871 (Meiji 4), it was designated a Nationally-Paid Medium-Sized Shrine, and in 1911 (Meiji 44), it was designated a Kanpei-Middle-Sized Shrine.

In addition to the main shrine (main hall, offering hall, worship hall, purification hall), there are also auxiliary shrines (main hall, offering hall, worship hall, purification hall) and corridors which enshrine Amenooshihomimi-no-mikoto, Amenohohi-no-mikoto, Amatsuhikone-no-mikoto, Itsutsuhikone-no-mikoto, and Kumanokusuhi-no-mikoto. These buildings are national treasures and give a good idea of ​​the scale of the shrine at the time of its construction by Taira no Kiyomori.

In addition, there are many other nationally designated important cultural properties, such as a large torii gate (rebuilt in 1875), a five-story pagoda, and a Noh stage. The shrine also houses many national treasures, such as one Heike sutra, 30 scrolls of the Lotus Sutra, a painted folding fan, as well as armor and swords. In 1996, the group of buildings of Itsukushima Shrine, the sea in front of it, and the forest behind it were registered as a World Heritage Site (World Cultural Heritage). In addition to the annual festival on June 17th, there are many other lavish festivals, such as the Peach Blossom Festival on April 15th, the Kangen Festival centered on the 17th of the 6th month of the lunar calendar, the Tamatori Festival on the 18th of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, and the Fire-extinguishing Festival on December 31st. Bugaku and Noh theater are also held throughout the year. In addition, the "Oshima Tour," which involves circumnavigating the island and visiting its subordinate shrines, is a solemn ritual.

[Junichi Kamata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

広島県廿日市(はつかいち)市宮島(みやじま)町に鎮座。古くは伊都伎嶋(いつきしま)神社とも記し、また厳島大明神(だいみょうじん)とも称した。市杵島姫命(いちきしまひめのみこと)、田心姫命(たごりひめのみこと)、湍津姫命(たぎつひめのみこと)を祀(まつ)る。古代には周囲約31キロメートルの宮島そのものが神とされ、人も住むことを許されない神聖な島とされた。社殿が海水のさしひき（干満）する所に建てられているのもそのためである。宮島には中世以降人家が建てられたが、耕作をしない、死者を埋葬しない風習は現在も守られている。創建年代は不詳であるが、社伝では、推古(すいこ)天皇のとき、佐伯郡の住人佐伯鞍職(さへきくらもと)が神託を受け、社殿をつくり祀ったことに始まるという。811年（弘仁2）7月名神(みょうじん)社に列し、四時(しじ)の幣帛(へいはく)を奉る社とされ、859年（天安3）正五位下より従(じゅ)四位下に、さらに867年（貞観9）従四位上に叙され、延喜(えんぎ)の制で名神大社とされた。その後、さらに朝野の厚い崇敬を受けて、安芸(あき)国（広島県西半部）一宮(いちのみや)とされた。平清盛(きよもり)が出てからはその一門がことに崇敬し、1174年（承安4）3月には後白河(ごしらかわ)法皇が建春門院平滋子(しげこ)とともに御幸し、1178年（治承2）高倉(たかくら)天皇の中宮建礼門院平徳子(とくこ)懐妊ののちは、清盛は皇子出産を願って月参をした。翌年、朝廷で二十二社の列に加えられようとしたが、これは果たされなかった。平家滅亡のあと、源頼朝(よりとも)も崇敬して社領を寄進し、修造料を寄せ、以降鎌倉幕府も保護した。鎌倉時代に火災により多くの建物を焼失したが、室町時代に大内氏、毛利(もうり)氏が維持に努め、ことに毛利元就(もとなり)は1572年（元亀3）将軍足利義昭(あしかがよしあき)の命を受けて、本社拝殿、回廊、客(まろうど)神社以下を古例のままに造営した。また毛利輝元(てるもと)も社領を寄進、さらに1587年（天正15）豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の命を受けて大経堂（千畳閣）を造営した。江戸時代にも徳川将軍や広島藩主浅野氏がよくその維持に努めた。1871年（明治4）国幣中社、さらに1911年（明治44）官幣中社とされた。

　本社（本殿、幣殿(へいでん)、拝殿、祓殿(はらいでん)）のほか、天忍穂耳命(あめのおしほみみのみこと)、天穂日命(あめのほひのみこと)、天津彦根命(あまつひこねのみこと)、活津彦根命(いくつひこねのみこと)、熊野櫲樟日命(くまのくすひのみこと)を祀る摂社客神社（本殿、幣殿、拝殿、祓殿）、回廊は国宝建造物で、平清盛造営当時の規模をよく伝えている。

　そのほか、大鳥居（1875再建）、五重塔、能舞台など多くの国指定重要文化財がある。また社宝には、平家納経1具、法華経(ほけきょう)30巻、彩絵檜扇(ひおうぎ)などの国宝や、鎧(よろい)、太刀(たち)など、国指定重要文化財を多く蔵している。1996年（平成8）には、厳島神社の建造物群と前面の海、背後の森林とが、世界遺産の文化遺産として登録された（世界文化遺産）。例祭は6月17日のほか、4月15日の桃花(とうか)祭、陰暦6月17日中心の管絃(かんげん)祭、陰暦7月18日の玉取(たまとり)祭、12月31日の鎮火祭など豪華な祭礼が多く、舞楽(ぶがく)、能楽が年中行事のなかで行われる。また、島を一周し、末社を巡る「御島巡り」は、厳粛な祭事である。

［鎌田純一］

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