Minatogawa Shrine

Located in Tamon-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Formerly a special government-sponsored shrine. The main deity enshrined here is Kusunoki Masashige (Lord Okusu), with the spirits of Masasue, Masatsura (Lord Okusu), his wife, and other members of his family who died in battle enshrined there. Respect for Lord Okusu was evident even during his lifetime, but especially since Tokugawa Mitsukuni erected a tombstone with the inscription "Ah, the Grave of Loyal Retainer Kusuko" in Minatogawa, the place where Lord Okusu was killed in battle, in 1692 (Genroku 5) during the Edo period, the spirit of admiration for the lord spread throughout the country. With the Meiji Restoration, Emperor Meiji issued an imperial decree (the Minatogawa Shrine Founding Decree) in 1868 (Keio 4, the first year of the Meiji era in September), and the current Minatogawa Shrine was established on May 24, 1872. The annual festival is held on July 12. Treasures include a set of danodoshi (layered kimono) bellybands (National Important Cultural Property) said to have been worn by Okuninushi, and a scroll of Lotus Sutra with a colophon written by Okuninushi himself in 1335 (Kenmu 2) (Important Cultural Property).

[Takafusa Hiraizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

兵庫県神戸市中央区多聞通(たもんどおり)に鎮座。旧別格官幣社。楠木正成(くすのきまさしげ)（大楠公(だいなんこう)）を主祭神に、正季(まさすえ)、正行(まさつら)（小楠公）、大楠公夫人以下一族殉難将士の霊を配祀(はいし)する。大楠公に対する尊敬は公の生前中にもみられたが、ことに江戸期の1692年（元禄5）徳川光圀(みつくに)が大楠公討ち死にの地湊川に「嗚呼(ああ)忠臣楠子之墓」と刻んだ墓碑を建てて以来、公を慕う精神は全国に流布した。明治維新なるや、1868年（慶応4、9月改元し明治1）明治天皇は勅令（湊川神社創祀御沙汰書(ごさたしょ)）を出し、72年5月24日鎮祭されたのが現在の湊川神社である。例祭7月12日。宝物に大楠公着用と伝える段縅(だんおどし)腹巻一領（国重要文化財）、1335年（建武2）大楠公自筆の法華経(ほけきょう)奥書一幅（重文）などがある。

［平泉隆房］

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