Hirota Shrine

It is located in Taisha-cho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. The main deity enshrined is Amaterasu Omikami Aramitama, with Sumiyoshi Okami enshrined in the first side hall, Hachiman Okami in the second side hall, Suwatakeminakata no Kami in the third side hall, and Takamimusubi no Mikoto in the fourth side hall. According to the legend of the shrine, when Empress Jingu came to Muko Minato (off the coast of Nishinomiya) on her triumphant return from a foreign campaign, Amaterasu Omikami gave a divine instruction, "My wild spirit should not approach the Imperial Palace. I will let it reside in the land of Hirota." As a result, Hayamahime no Mikoto, the daughter of Yamashironeko, was enshrined as Saigū. In 806 (Daido 1), 41 households were presented with divine seals, and in 868 (Jogan 10), it was awarded the rank of Juichii. It is listed as a Myōjin Taisha in the Shinmeicho (list of Shinto shrines) in the Engishiki (Book of Books of the Imperial Family), and it is revered as one of the 22 shrines in the Kinai region, and it is recorded that imperial messengers often sent offerings to the shrine. He is especially worshipped as a god with miraculous powers in waka poetry, and the Nishinomiya Utaawase poem contest written by Fujiwara no Shunzei is famous. He was originally located in the hills at the foot of Mt. Kabuto, but was moved to his current location in 1724 (the 9th year of the Kyoho era). The annual festival is held on March 16th. Formerly a government-sponsored shrine.

[Takahisa Kato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

兵庫県西宮(にしのみや)市大社町に鎮座。祭神は天照大御神荒魂(あまてらすおおみかみあらみたま)を主神とし、第一脇殿(わきどの)に住吉(すみよし)大神、第二脇殿に八幡(はちまん)大神、第三脇殿に諏訪建御名方(すわたけみなかた)神、第四脇殿に高皇産霊尊(たかみむすびのみこと)を祀(まつ)る。社伝によると、神功(じんぐう)皇后外征より凱旋(がいせん)の際、務古(むこ)の水門(みなと)（西宮沖）にきたとき、天照大御神の神誨(しんかい)「我(わ)が荒魂は皇居に近づくべからず。当(まさ)に御心広田の国に居らしむべし」があり、それにより山背根子(やましろねこ)の娘葉山媛命(はやまひめのみこと)を斎宮(さいくう)として祀ったという。806年（大同1）に神封41戸が献ぜられ、868年（貞観10）に従(じゅ)一位に叙せられた。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』神名帳に名神(みょうじん)大社で記載され、畿内(きない)二十二社の一社として尊崇され、しばしば奉幣勅使のあったことが記されている。とくに和歌に霊験ある神として信仰され、藤原俊成(しゅんぜい)筆の『西宮歌合(うたあわせ)』は有名。もとは甲山山麓(かぶとやまさんろく)の丘陵地にあったが、1724年（享保9）現在地に奉遷された。例祭3月16日。旧官幣大社。

［加藤隆久］

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