Mizuwakasu Shrine

Also known as Mizuwakasu-no-Mikoto Shrine. It is the Ichinomiya of Oki Province and is located in Okinoshimacho-gun, Oki County, Shimane Prefecture. It is a shrine listed in the Engi Shikinai (a large shrine in the Meiji era) and was formerly a national shrine. Because ancient documents and legends were lost due to fires and wars, there are many unknowns regarding its founding and the deity it enshrines. According to documents from the Kansei era (1789-1801), it was founded during the reign of Emperor Nintoku. Mizuwakasu-no-Mikoto is enshrined here, with Nakakoto-no-Kami and Suzugoze enshrined as co-deities. An entry for September 14, 842, in the Shoku Nihon Koki lists it as a government shrine, and the Oki no Kuni Jinmei-cho lists its rank as Shoshi-no-Jo. At the end of the Edo period, the Japanese scholar Nakanishi Takeo built a Yochokan (a training hall) within the shrine grounds and preached the Sonno Joi (revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians), which led to the later Oki Uprising. The shrine is run by the hereditary Inbe clan. The annual festival is held on May 3rd. The Mizuwakasu Shrine Furyu Festival, which is held every other year on this day, is designated as an intangible folk cultural property of the prefecture, and the main hall is designated as an important cultural property of the nation. There is an ancient tomb in each of the eastern and northern corners of the grounds.

[Takafusa Hiraizumi]

"Mizuwakasu Shrine" (ed. Mizuwakasu Shrine) (2005, Gakuseisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

水若酢命(みずわかすのみこと)神社とも。隠岐(おき)国の一宮(いちのみや)で島根県隠岐郡隠岐の島町郡(こおり)に鎮座する。延喜(えんぎ)式内社（名神大）で旧国幣中社。兵火などにより古文書、縁起が失われたため、創建や祭神には未詳の点が少なくない。寛政(かんせい)年中（1789～1801）の文書によれば、創建は仁徳(にんとく)天皇の時代である。水若酢命を祀(まつ)り、中言神(なかことのかみ)、鈴御前(すずごぜ)を配祀(はいし)する。『続日本後紀(しょくにほんこうき)』承和(じょうわ)9年（842）9月14日条に官社に列した記事がみえ、『隠岐国神名帳』は神階を正四位上と記す。幕末に国学者中西毅男(たけお)が当社内に膺懲館(ようちょうかん)を建て尊王攘夷(じょうい)を唱えたことが、後の隠岐騒動につながっていった。社家は忌部(いんべ)氏の世襲。例祭は5月3日。この日隔年で行われる水若酢神社祭礼風流(ふりゅう)は県の無形民俗文化財に、本殿は国の重要文化財に指定されている。境内の東隅と北隅に古墳が各1基ある。

［平泉隆房］

『水若酢神社編『水若酢神社』（2005・学生社）』

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