Hinomisaki Shrine is a

Shinto shrine A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion. Overview Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings. The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...

located in

Izumo, Shimane is a city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Izumo is known for noodles and the Izumo-taisha Shinto shrine. History Izumo Taisha is the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan. In 2008, the holy area was open to the public from 1 August until August 17, aft ...

a few miles away from

Izumo-taisha , officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god , fam ...

dedicated to

Amaterasu Amaterasu, also known as Amaterasu Ōmikami () or Ōhirume no Muchi no Kami (), is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. One of the major deities (''kami'') of Shinto, she is also portrayed in Japan's earliest literary texts, the ''Kojik ...

and

Susanoo-no-Mikoto __FORCETOC__ Susanoo (; historical orthography: , ) is a in Japanese mythology. The younger brother of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line, he is a multifaceted deity with contradictory charac ...

. It is a branch shrine of

Izumo Taisha , officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god , fam ...

, and has a document identifying Susanoo with

Matarajin Matarajin (摩多羅神) or Madarajin (摩怛哩神) is a Buddhist god chiefly venerated in the Tendai school of Japanese buddhism. While originally regarded as a wrathful deity obstructing rebirth in the pure land, and thus a "god of obstacles", ...

Amago Tsunehisa was a powerful warlord who gained the hegemony in Chūgoku region, Japan starting as a vassal of the Rokkaku clan.__He_ruled_the_domains_of_">DF_53_....__He_ruled_the_domains_of_Inaba,_Hōki_Province.html"__"title="Inaba_Province.html"_;"title="DF ...

backed the shrine to undermine the influence of Izumo-taisha. Its island has a notable lighthouse which is the tallest one in Asia. Priests of the Shrine were instrumental in spreading the idea that Izumo Province was the gate to the underworld, and a source of power as a result where all things originated. Its origin story mentions sea snakes guiding the gods to Izumo. Sea snakes are considered the messengers of

Worship of Ame no Fuyukinu

Ame-no-Fuyukinu is also worshipped at Hinomisaki Shrine. Legends say he founded this shrine. The Ono family works as priests there. They claim to be his descendants. The shrine has a ritual. It is called the "Shinken hōten shinji." This means "sword offering ritual." The ritual is based on the Kusanagi sword myth. His delibery of the sword

Kusanagi no Tsurugi is a legendary Japanese sword and one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan. It was originally called , but its name was later changed to the more popular ("Grass-Cutting Sword"). In folklore, the sword represents the virtue of valor. Legends ...

. This sword is one of the

Imperial Regalia of Japan The are the imperial regalia of Japan and consist of the sword , the mirror , and the jewel . They represent the three primary virtues: valour (the sword), wisdom (the mirror), and benevolence (the jewel).

References

{{coord, 35.42958, 132.62932, format=dms, type:landmark_region:JP, display=title Beppyo shrines Kokuhei Shōsha Shinmei shrines Izumo Shrine and Buddhism Sacred Sites Shinto shrines in Shimane Prefecture Kusanagi no Tsurugi