Mishima Taisha Shrine

It is located in Omiya-cho, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This place is the center of Mishima-shuku on the Tokaido road, and was the location of the provincial capital of Izu Province in ancient times. It is still a key transportation point that serves as the entrance to the Izu Peninsula. In the Engishiki, a list of deities, Izu Mishima Shrine is listed as the first of the 46 shrines in Kamo County, Izu Province. At the time, it was enshrined in Shirahama, Izu, alongside Ikonahime-no-mikoto Shrine, which is considered to be the queen deity. It was later enshrined at its current location, which was the provincial capital of Izu Province, and became the place where the provincial governor performed his rituals. It was awarded the divine ranks of Jugoi (Ju Fifth Rank Upper) in 850 (Kasho 3), Juyo Shigoi (Ju Fourth Rank Upper) in 859 (Jogan 1), Shoshii (Ju Fourth Rank Lower) in 864, and Jusanmi (Ju Third Rank) in 868. Furthermore, since Minamoto no Yoritomo relied on the divine power when he raised his army, he donated land to the shrine even after the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, and treated it specially along with Izu-Hakone Nisho Gongen. The deities enshrined are Oyamazumi-no-Kami, Kotoshironushi-no-Kami, and three others. The annual festival is held on August 16th, and includes events such as a procession to raise the flag of Yoritomo. The special Shinto rice field festival on January 7th is an intangible cultural property of Shizuoka Prefecture. The shrine treasures include a plum lacquerware box donated by Hojo Masako, a national treasure, an old copy of the Nihon Shoki (Mishima edition), and a sword inscribed with the name Munetada (a national important cultural property), as well as many other ancient documents and swords. The ancestor of the Yatabe clan, a shrine family, is said to be Izu Kuni no Miyatsuko Yatabe no Sukune, who, like Ochi no Sukune, the shrine family of Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima Island in Iyo Province (now Kagawa Prefecture), was also a descendant of the Mononobe clan, and the connection between the two shrines can be seen.

[Kazushi Sano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

静岡県三島市大宮町に鎮座。当地は東海道三島宿の中心であるとともに、古くは伊豆国の国府の所在地であり、現在も伊豆半島方面への入口となる交通の要衝である。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』神名帳では伊豆国賀茂(かも)郡四十六座の筆頭に「伊豆三島神社」がみえ、当時は伊豆白浜の地に妃神とされる伊古奈比咩命(いこなひめのみこと)神社と並んで鎮座していたものが、のちに伊豆国の国府であった現在地に勧請(かんじょう)され、国司の祭祀(さいし)するところとなったのであろう。850年（嘉祥3）従(じゅ)五位上、859年（貞観1）従四位上、864年正四位下、868年従三位(さんみ)の神階が授けられている。また源頼朝(よりとも)は挙兵にあたってことに神威を仰いだことから、鎌倉に開府ののちにも社領を寄せ、伊豆箱根二所権現(にしょごんげん)とともに特遇した。祭神は大山祇神(おおやまづみのかみ)、事代主(ことしろぬし)神ほか三座。例祭は8月16日で、頼朝公旗上げ行列などの催しがある。1月7日の特殊神事田祭りは静岡県無形文化財。国宝北条政子(まさこ)奉納梅蒔絵(うめまきえ)手箱、『日本書紀』古写本（三島本）、宗忠(むねただ)銘太刀(たち)（国重要文化財）のほか多数の古文書、刀剣等を社宝として蔵する。社家の矢田部氏の祖は伊豆国造(くにのみやつこ)矢田部宿禰(やたべのすくね)とされ、伊予国（香川県）大三島(おおみしま)の大山祇神社社家の越智(おち)宿禰と同じく物部(もののべ)氏系であることなど両社の由縁がうかがわれる。

［佐野和史］

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