Matsuo Taisha Shrine

It is located in Arashiyamamiyacho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City. It enshrines two deities, Oyamakui-no-kami and Nakatsushimahime-no-mikoto (Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto). In the Kojiki, Oyamakui-no-kami is described as "a god who has become a whistling hawk, residing on the pine tree in Kadono." The main shrine was founded in the 701st year of Emperor Mommu (the 1st year of the Taiho era) by Hatanoimikitori, but it seems that a deity was worshipped here before the Hata clan. The Hata clan excelled in sericulture and weaving techniques, and contributed to the development of the Yamashiro (Kyoto Prefecture) region. It is a Myojin Taisha in the Engishiki, and was included in the list of the 22 shrines that receive offerings of rain during special festivals, and is included in the list of the top seven shrines that receive offerings. Since Emperor Ichijo, the shrine has received many imperial visits, and in 866 (Jogan 8), it was promoted to Shoichii, and while Kamo was known as the strict god of the east, Matsuo was revered as the fierce spirit of the west. The Matsuo Festival, which is said to have begun during the Jogan era (859-877), was attended by the Yamashiro provincial governor and the Kazuno district governor. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate granted the shrine a red seal of over 900 koku, and the shrine's fortunes flourished. In 1871 (Meiji 4), it was ranked as a Kanpei Taisha. The main shrine is deeply revered as the god of sake brewing, and the Kamiu Festival is held on Kaminou in November to pray for peace during the brewing process, and the Nakanotori Festival is held on Nakanotori in April to give thanks for the completion of the brewing process. The shrine grounds cover an area of ​​about 120,000 tsubo (3,960 ares), including Ikazuchimine behind the shrine and Matsuoyama Mountain, and the entire area has been designated as a scenic area. The current annual festival is held on April 2nd, and on the second Sunday after April 20th, the mikoshi (portable shrine) is carried out as a festival, followed by the Kangosai on the 21st day. The portable shrines of each of the Matsuo Seven Shrines - Omiya Shrine, the four major shrines, Koromode Shrine, Sannomiya Shrine, Munakata Shrine, Ichidani Shrine, and Tsukiyomi Shrine - are decorated with hollyhock vines when they are returned (Tsukiyomi Shrine's is in a karabitsu). This is why the festival is also called the Aoi Festival.

The main hall (a National Important Cultural Property) is a double-flowing structure consisting of a main building three bays in front and four bays on the sides, and a veranda three bays further in front. It was built in 1397 (Oei 4) and rebuilt in 1550 (Tenbun 19). The two seated male god statues and one seated female god statue, which are treasures, are both creations from the Heian period and are designated National Important Cultural Properties. The new Showa garden "Shofuen" created by Shigemori Mirei (1975) is also famous.

[Takahisa Kato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市西京区嵐山(あらしやま)宮町に鎮座。祭神は大山咋神(おおやまくいのかみ)、中津島姫命(なかつしまひめのみこと)（市杵島(いちきしま)姫命）の二柱を祀(まつ)る。大山咋神は『古事記』に「葛野(かどの)の松尾に坐(いま)す鳴鏑(なりかぶら)に成りませる神」とある。本社の創祀(そうし)は文武(もんむ)天皇701年（大宝1）に秦忌寸都理(はたのいみきとり)が社殿を初めて造営したというが、秦氏以前からこの地に奉斎神があったようである。秦氏は養蚕や機織(はたおり)の技術に優れ、山城(やましろ)（京都府）地域の開発に貢献した氏族である。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』の名神(みょうじん)大社で、臨時祭の祈雨の奉幣にあずかり、二十二社奉幣の上七社に加えられている。一条(いちじょう)天皇以後、行幸啓も多く、866年（貞観8）には正一位に累進し、賀茂が東の厳神(げんしん)というのに対して、松尾は西の猛霊(もうれい)とよばれて尊崇された。貞観(じょうがん)年間（859～877）から始まったといわれる松尾祭(まつおさい)には、山城国司、葛野郡司らも参候した。江戸時代には、累代の徳川将軍家から九百余石の朱印を安堵(あんど)され、社運が隆盛となった。1871年（明治4）官幣大社に列した。本社は酒造の神としての信仰が厚く11月上卯(かみのう)日には醸造の平安を祈る上卯祭、4月中酉(なかのとり)日にはその完了を感謝する中酉祭が行われる。社の背後の雷峰(いかずちみね)、松尾山を含む約12万坪（3960アール）が境内で、その全域が風致地区に指定されている。現今の例祭は4月2日で、4月20日以後の第2日曜には神輿(みこし)の出御祭、そののち21日目に還御祭がある。松尾七社とよばれる大宮社、四大神社、衣手(ころもで)社、三宮(さんのみや)社、宗像(むなかた)社、櫟谷(いちだに)社、月読(つきよみ)社の各社の神輿（月読社は唐櫃(からびつ)）の還御には葵(あおい)の蔓(つる)で飾るところから葵祭ともよばれている。

　本殿（国重要文化財）は正面三間、側面四間の身舎と、さらに正面三間の向拝よりなる両流(りょうながれ)造で、1397年（応永4）造営、1550年（天文19）の再建と伝えられている。宝物の男神坐像(ざぞう)二体、女神坐像一体は、いずれも平安時代の作で、国重要文化財に指定されている。重森三玲(しげもりみれい)作（1975）の昭和の新庭園「松風苑(しょうふうえん)」は有名である。

［加藤隆久］

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