Umenomiya Taisha Shrine

It is located in Umezu Fukenogawacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. The four main deities enshrined are Sakatoke no Kami, Owakugo no Kami, Kowakugo no Kami, and Sakatoke no Mikogami, along with Emperor Saga, Emperor Ninmyo, Empress Danrin (Emperor Saga's wife, Tachibana Kachiko), and Tachibana Kiyotomo (Empress Danrin's father). Originally worshipped by Agata Inukai Michiyo (wife of Fujiwara no Fuhito and mother of Empress Komyo), it was later moved to Soraku County, Yamashiro Province (Kyoto Prefecture), and during the reign of Emperor Ninmyo (reigned 833-850), Empress Danrin constructed a shrine building at the current site as the guardian deity of the Tachibana clan. It is listed as a Myojin Taisha in the Engishiki, and was added to the list of 22 shrines dedicated to offerings from the mid-Heian period onwards. It is deeply revered by sake brewers, and is also revered as a god for safe childbirth. Formerly a Kanpei-chusha (medium-sized shrine). Its annual festival is the Cherry Blossom Festival on the third Sunday in April.

[Yoshitaro Hakusan]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

京都市右京区梅津(うめづ)フケノ川町に鎮座。祭神は、酒解神(さかとけのかみ)、大若子神(おおわくごのかみ)、小若子神(こわくごのかみ)、酒解子神(さかとけのみこがみ)の4座を主祭神に、嵯峨(さが)天皇、仁明(にんみょう)天皇、檀林(だんりん)皇后（嵯峨天皇皇后、橘嘉智子(たちばなのかちこ)）、橘清友(きよとも)（檀林皇后の父）をあわせ祀(まつ)っている。初め県犬養三千代(あがたいぬかいのみちよ)（藤原不比等(ふひと)の妻、光明(こうみょう)皇后の母）が奉斎していたのを、のちに山城(やましろ)国（京都府）相楽(そうらく)郡に移し、仁明天皇（在位833～850）の御代に檀林皇后が橘氏の氏神として現社地に社殿を造営したと伝えられる。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』で名神(みょうじん)大社に列し、平安中期以降の二十二社奉幣社の一つにも加えられた。酒造家の信仰が厚く、また安産の神としても尊崇されている。旧官幣中社。例大祭は4月第3日曜日の桜祭。

［白山芳太郎］

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