Young Prince - Nyakuoji

One of the twelve Kumano shrines enshrined in the Kumano Sanzan (the three Kumano shrines of Hongu, Shingu, and Nachi) in Kii Province, which flourished from the mid-Heian period through the Middle Ages. It is also called Nyakuichioji Gongen, Wakamiyaoji, Nyakunyoichioji, and Wakamiya. Although the three mountains have different origins, the Honji Suijaku theory, which represents the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, began to develop around the mid-Heian period, and the "Kumano Sansho Gongen" and "Honji Buddhas" were enshrined, with Ketsumiko-no-kami (originally Amida Nyorai) at Hongu, Hayatama-no-Okami (originally Yakushi Nyorai) at Shingu, and Musubi-no-kami (originally Senju Kannon) at Nachi. By the late Heian period, the "Gosho-oji" centered on Waka-oji (originally Eleven-Headed Kannon) and the "Shisho-miya" including 10,000 attendants were established as the Kumano Jyuunisho Gongen. Waka-oji is ranked second only to Sansho Gongen, and is the first of the five shrines, enshrined at the fourth shrine in Hongu and Shingu, and at the fifth shrine in Nachi. In addition, Waka-oji or Wakaichi-oji were placed at each shrine along the Kumano Kaido, the pilgrimage route from Kyoto to Kumano, from Kubotsu (present-day Chuo Ward, Osaka City) to the Kumano Sanzan, and by the late Middle Ages they had come to be collectively known as the Kumano Ninety-Nine Shrines (Kumano Shrines).

Wakaoji Shrine, located in Wakaoji-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, is commonly referred to as Wakaoji. According to the shrine's legend, it was enshrined from Kumano Nachi in 1160 (the first year of the Eiraku era), and was also written as Wakaoji due to the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. It became the guardian deity of Zenrin-ji Temple (commonly known as Eikando), and was revered by the court and people alike against the backdrop of the rise of Kumano faith. In the early modern period, it was called Shotozan Wakaoji Jojoin, and played an active role as one of the temples of the Honzan school (Tendai-based) Shugendo sect centered around Shogoin. It became a shrine when Shinto and Buddhism were separated in the early Meiji period.

[Osamu Toyoshima]

"A Study of the 99 Oji of Kumano" by Nishida Nagao (included in "Historical Research on Shrines", 1966, Hanawa Shobo)" ▽ "New Edition of "Kumano Shugen" by Miyake Jun (1996, Yoshikawa Kobunkan) " ▽ "Forgotten History and Religion - A Study of the Henro and Oji of the Kii Peninsula (Part 1)" by Toyoshima Osamu (included in "Otani Gakuho" Vol. 85, No. 2)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安中期から中世を通して繁栄した紀伊国の熊野三山（本宮(ほんぐう)、新宮(しんぐう)、那智(なち)の熊野三社）に祀(まつ)られた熊野十二所権現(くまのじゅうにしょごんげん)の一つ。若一王子権現(にゃくいちおうじごんげん)、若宮王子(わかみやおうじ)、若女一王子(にゃくにょいちおうじ)、若宮などとも称する。三山ともにその発祥を異にするが、平安中期頃から神仏習合を表す本地垂迹(ほんじすいじゃく)説が展開し、本宮は家津御子神(けつみこのかみ)（本地は阿弥陀如来(あみだにょらい)）、新宮は速玉大神(はやたまのおおかみ)（本地は薬師如来）、那智は牟須美神(むすびのかみ)（本地は千手観音(せんじゅかんのん)）の「熊野三所権現」と本地仏が祀られた。また平安後期までには若王子（本地は十一面観音）を中心とする「五所王子(ごしょおうじ)」と一万眷属(けんぞく)を含む「四所宮(ししょみや)」の熊野十二所権現が成立。若王子は三所権現に次ぐ位置を占め、五所王子の第一に置かれて、本宮・新宮では第四殿、那智では第五殿に祀られる。このほか京都から熊野への参詣路である熊野街道のうち、窪津(くぼつ)（現、大阪市中央区）から熊野三山までの各拝所に若王子または若一王子が配され、中世後期までには熊野九十九王子（熊野王子）と総称されるようになった。

　また京都市左京区若王子町に鎮座する若王子神社は、一般に若王子といわれる。社伝では、1160年（永暦元）に熊野那智から勧請(かんじょう)し、神仏習合によって若王子とも表記されたという。禅林寺(ぜんりんじ)（通称、永観堂(えいかんどう)）の鎮守神となり、熊野信仰の隆盛を背景にして朝野の尊崇を受けた。近世には
正東山(しょうとうさん)若王子乗々院(じょうじょういん)と号し、聖護院(しょうごいん)を中心とする本山(ほんざん)派（天台系）修験教団の院家(いんげ)の一つとして活躍。明治初年の神仏分離で神社となった。

［豊島　修］

『西田長男著「熊野九十九王子考」（『神社の歴史的研究』所収・1966・塙書房）』▽『宮家準著『熊野修験』新装版（1996・吉川弘文館）』▽『豊島修著「忘れられた歴史と宗教――紀伊半島の辺路と王子研究（其の一）」（『大谷学報』85巻2号所収）』

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