Yoshimizu Shrine

Located in Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture. Emperor Godaigo, Kusunoki Masashige, and Hoin Soshin (Shinpei) are enshrined here. Originally the Kissui-in temple, a monk's quarters at Kinpusen-ji Temple, Emperor Go-Daigo traveled to Yoshino in December 1336 (Eigen 1, Kenmu 3) and used the temple as his temporary palace (angu). After Emperor Go-Daigo's death, Emperor Go-Murakami carved a statue of the former emperor, enshrined it at Kissui-in temple, and prayed for his good fortune. During the Edo period, Motoori Norinaga visited the site and wrote about the statue (Sugegasa Nikki), and it is currently enshrined as the object of worship at Yoshino Shrine. The temple was abandoned in the early Meiji period and renamed Yoshimizu Shrine in 1875 (Meiji 8). The former monks' quarters are a single-story gabled roof structure with a cypress bark roof and are a national important cultural property. Minamoto no Yoshitsune once stayed here for a short time in November 1185 (Bun'ei 1) (Azuma Kagami), and there is currently a room said to be the throne room of Emperor Go-Daigo as well as a room where Yoshitsune lived in hiding. The annual festival is held on September 27th. The treasures include many valuable items such as the Imperial Message written on paper (written by Emperor Godaigo, a National Important Cultural Property), the Various Dreadnought Bellybands said to have been used by Minamoto no Yoshitsune (National Important Cultural Property), ancient documents related to Emperor Godaigo, weapons, and musical instruments.

[Takafusa Hiraizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良県吉野郡吉野町に鎮座。後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇、楠木正成(くすのきまさしげ)、宗信(そうしん)（真遍）法印を合祀(ごうし)する。もと金峯山寺(きんぷせんじ)の僧坊吉水院で、1336年（延元1・建武3）12月後醍醐天皇は吉野へ行幸（「天野山金剛寺古記写」）、ここを行宮(あんぐう)とした。後醍醐天皇没後、後村上(ごむらかみ)天皇は先帝の像を刻み、吉水院へ奉安し追福を祈ったという。江戸期になり本居宣長(もとおりのりなが)はこの地を訪れ、この像について記している（『菅笠(すげがさ)日記』）が、現在は吉野神宮の御神体として祀(まつ)られている。明治初年に廃寺となり、1875年（明治8）に吉水神社と改称した。元僧坊は単層入母屋(いりもや)造・檜皮葺(ひわだぶ)きで国の重要文化財。当地には1185年（文治1）11月に源義経(よしつね)が一時滞在したことがあり（『吾妻鏡(あづまかがみ)』）、現に後醍醐天皇玉座と伝える間とともに、義経潜居の間がある。例祭は9月27日。宝物には、御消息(ごしょうそく)紙本墨書（後醍醐天皇宸筆(しんぴつ)、国重文）、伝源義経所用色々威(いろいろおどし)腹巻（国重文）をはじめ後醍醐天皇関係の古文書、武具、楽器など貴重なものが多い。

［平泉隆房］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例