Wakasahiko Shrine

Located in Ryuzen, Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. Formerly a national shrine. One of the "Two Wakasahiko Shrines (Meishindai)" listed in the "Engishiki Jinmyocho" (Divine Names Book of the Engishiki), it is the upper shrine and enshrines Amatsuhikohohodemi-no-Mikoto. The lower shrine is called Wakasahime Shrine and enshrines Toyotamahime. The two shrines together are sometimes called Wakasahiko Shrine. According to the shrine's history ("Wakasa no Kuni Chinju Jyukyu Engi"), it was founded in 715 (Reiki 1), and its name appears in the "Rikkokushi" and other works. In the early Kamakura period, it was the most important shrine in the area as the Ichinomiya of Wakasa Province, and continued to attract reverence from the court and public. The annual festival is held on October 10th at the Kamisha Shrine and March 10th at the Shimosha Shrine. The treasures include the "Genealogy of the Wakasa Province Guardian Twelve Shrines" and the "Imperial Sword Order" established in 1303 (Kagen 1), both of which are important cultural properties of the country. In addition, a water-sending ritual is held here when water is drawn for Todaiji Temple in Nara.

[Takafusa Hiraizumi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福井県小浜(おばま)市竜前(りゅうぜん)に鎮座。旧国幣中社。『延喜式神名(えんぎしきじんみょう)帳』に載る「若狭比古(ひこ)神社二座（名神大）」の一座で、上(かみ)社にあたり、天津彦火火出見尊(あまつひこほほでみのみこと)を祀(まつ)る。下(しも)社は若狭姫神社と称し、豊玉(とよたま)姫を祀る。両社あわせて若狭彦神社と称することもある。社伝（『若狭国鎮守十二宮縁起(えんぎ)』）によれば、715年（霊亀1）の創建で、以後『六国史(りっこくし)』等にその名がみえる。鎌倉初期には若狭国一宮(いちのみや)として当地の有力社であり、以後も朝野の崇敬を集めた。例祭は上社が10月10日、下社は3月10日である。宝物には「若狭国鎮守十二宮社務代々系図」や1303年（嘉元1）成立の「詔刀(のりと)次第」があり、ともに国の重要文化財。なお奈良東大寺の御水取にあたり、当地で送水神事が行われる。

［平泉隆房］

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