Udo Shrine

It is located in Udo, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. It is in a cave facing the Hyuga Nada Sea. It enshrines Hikonagisatakeugayafukiaezu-no-mikoto, Amaterasu Omikami, Amenooshihomimi-no-mikoto, Hikohono-ninigi-no-mikoto, Hikohohodemi-no-mikoto, and Kamuyamatoirehiko-no-mikoto (Emperor Jimmu). According to the shrine's legend, it was founded during the reign of Emperor Sujin. In the year 782 (Enryaku 1) during the reign of Emperor Kanmu, Kokibo Kaikyu, a Tendai monk, became the first head priest by imperial order, rebuilt the shrine buildings, built a temple, and was granted the imperial title of Udoyama Daigongen Ahirasan Niogokokuji. This temple, originally a Tendai sect, later became a Shingon sect, and is said to have flourished as a major training center for Ryobu Shinto, with 18 temple buildings in addition to the main shrine in the cave. Most of the buildings were lost due to the great fire of 1827 (Bunsei 10) and the separation of Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji era, but traces of it remain in the shrine buildings, Tamabashi Bridge, and Haccho Sakamoto approach. With the Meiji Restoration, it was renamed Udo Shrine, and in 1874 (Meiji 7), it was renamed Udo Jingu. Formerly a Kanpei Taisha (Great Shrine with Imperial Support). The annual festival is held on February 1st. On the third Saturday of July, a procession to Aburatsu Port is held, drawing a lot of people. On the fourth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, fully decorated fishing boats make their first visit of the year, and on the first day of the rabbit in February, farmers and fishing boats gather from land and sea to make their first visit of the year.

[Ishu Ochiai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

宮崎県日南(にちなん)市鵜戸に鎮座。日向灘(ひゅうがなだ)に面する洞窟(どうくつ)の中にある。日子波瀲武鵜葺草葺不合命(ひこなぎさたけうがやふきあえずのみこと)、天照大御神(あまてらすおおみかみ)、天忍穂耳尊(あめのおしほみみのみこと)、彦火瓊瓊杵尊(ひこほのににぎのみこと)、彦火火出見尊(ひこほほでみのみこと)、神日本磐余彦尊(かむやまといわれひこのみこと)（神武(じんむ)天皇）を祀(まつ)る。社伝によると、当社の創祀(そうし)は崇神(すじん)天皇の代という。桓武(かんむ)天皇の代の782年（延暦1）に、天台僧といわれる光喜坊快久(こうきぼうかいきゅう)が勅命により初代の別当となり、社殿を再興するとともに、寺院を建立、鵜戸山大権現吾平山仁王護国寺(だいごんげんあひらさんにおうごこくじ)の勅号を賜ったという。天台宗であったこの寺はのちに真言宗となり、洞内本宮のほか寺坊18を数え、両部神道の一大道場として栄えたといわれる。1827年（文政10）の大火や明治の神仏分離などのため堂坊のほとんどが失われ、社殿、玉橋、八丁坂本参道におもかげが残る。明治維新と同時に鵜戸神社、1874年（明治7）に鵜戸神宮と改称した。旧官幣大社。例祭は2月1日。7月第3土曜日には油津(あぶらつ)港までの神幸がありにぎわう。旧暦正月4日には満艦飾の初詣(はつもうで)漁船の参拝があり、2月初卯(う)の日には農家の人や漁船が陸と海から集まって参拝をする。

［落合偉洲］

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