Hikosan Shrine

It is located on Mount Hiko in Soeda-cho, Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture. It enshrines Masayaakachikachihayahiamenooshihomimi-no-mikoto as its chief deity. It is also known as Hikosan Gongen. Ame-nooshihomimi-no-mikoto is the son of Amaterasu Omikami, and is called Hikosan because he descended to Mount Hiko. It is said that when Emperor Jimmu set out on his eastern expedition, Amenomurakumo-no-mikoto was dispatched to perform a ritual to appease Ame-nooshihomimi-no-mikoto, and a shrine was built on the summit of Mount Hiko in the 41st year of the reign of Emperor Sujin. In the Nara period, En no Gyoja came to the mountain and established a Shugendo training center, and eventually Hiko-san Shugendo was formed. After Emperor Saga designated it as an imperial shrine for the protection of the country and the safety of the people, it flourished as an imperial shrine for successive imperial courts, and its shrine temple was named Ryosen-ji. It is said that when Toyotomi Hideyoshi traveled to Kyushu, he confiscated the shrine's land out of fear of the rise of Hiko-san Gongen. Emperor Reigen also added the character "Hide" (Ei) to Hiko-san, changing the name to Hiko-san. Formerly a Kanpei-chusha (medium-sized shrine). The offering hall and copper torii gate, along with the Shugendo boards stored at the shrine, are designated as Important Cultural Properties by the national government. Other items on display include Emperor Reigen's calligraphy, a Buddhist scripture case, and a letter from Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The annual festival is held on September 28th. Special Shinto ceremonies include the Onda Festival on March 15th and the Shinko Festival on April 14th and 15th.

[Masahiko Ninomiya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福岡県田川郡添田(そえだ)町英彦山に鎮座。主神として正哉吾勝々速日天忍穂耳尊(まさやあかちかちはやひあめのおしほみみのみこと)を祀(まつ)る。一名を彦山権現(ひこさんごんげん)ともいう。天忍穂耳尊は天照大御神(あまてらすおおみかみ)の御子で、英彦山に降臨されたことから、日子山(ひこさん)と称する。神武(じんむ)天皇東征に際し、天村雲命(あめのむらくものみこと)を派遣して天忍穂耳尊を鎮祭し、崇神(すじん)天皇41年、英彦山頂に社殿が創建されたと伝える。奈良時代に至り役行者(えんのぎょうじゃ)が来山して修験道(しゅげんどう)の道場をおこし、やがて彦山修験道が形成された。嵯峨(さが)天皇が護国安民の勅願所と定めてより、歴朝の勅願所として隆昌(りゅうしょう)を極め、その神宮寺は霊仙寺(りょうせんじ)と号した。豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉は九州下向に際して彦山権現の隆盛を恐れ、その社領を没収したという。また霊元(れいげん)天皇は彦山に「英」の字を加え、英彦山と改称せしめた。旧官幣中社。奉幣殿(ほうへいでん)、銅(かね)の鳥居は社蔵の修験板笈(いたおい)とともに国指定重要文化財。ほかに霊元天皇宸筆(しんぴつ)、経筒(きょうづつ)、豊臣秀吉書状などがある。例祭日は9月28日。特殊神事として3月15日の御田祭(おんだまつり)、4月14、15日の神幸祭がある。

［二宮正彦］

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