is a Shinto shrine in Ikoma,

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It i ...

, Japan. Generally called . The formal name of the shrine is "". This shrine is also known as "Ikoma-Taisha", which means "great shrine of Ikoma".

History

According to the ''Sokoku-Fudoki'', an ancient record of Japan, this shrine was extant in 458. The original object of worship at the shrine was a mountain,

Mount Ikoma is a mountain on the border of Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture in Japan. It is the highest peak in the Ikoma Mountains with a height of 642 meters. Mount Ikoma is a part of Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park. It is one of the most famou ...

, behind the shrine. This shrine has a long relationship with the Japanese royal family and the dynasty. In ''

Engishiki The is a Japanese book about laws and customs. The major part of the writing was completed in 927. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Engi-shiki''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 178. History In 905, Emperor Daigo ordered the compilation of the ...

'', a formal record on shrines written in 972, this shrine was given the title of "Kanpei-dai" as very high rank among Japanese shrines.

Patron deities

Today, this shrine is dedicated to seven gods, Ikomatsu-Hikono-Kami, Ikomatsu-Himeno-Kami, Okinaga-Tarashihimeno-Mikoto (

Empress Jingū was a legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her husband's death in 200 AD. Both the ''Kojiki'' and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Jingū's alleged lifetime. Leg ...

), Tarashinakatsu-Hikono-Mikoto (

Emperor Chūai , also known as was the 14th legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Chūai's alleged li ...

), Hondawakeno-Mikoto (

Emperor Ōjin , also known as (alternatively spelled 譽田別命, 誉田別命, 品陀和気命, 譽田分命, 誉田別尊, 品陀別命) or , was the 15th (possibly legendary) Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dat ...

), and Katsuragi-Takanukahimeno-Mikoto (mother of Empress Jingū), Okinaga-Sukuneono-Mikoto (father of Empress Jingū). Ikomatsu-Hikono-Kami and Ikomatsu-Himeno-Mikoto are understood to be husband and wife, and are embodied by Mount Ikoma itself.

Cultural Property

This shrine has the ''Ikoma-Mandara'', or "

Mandala A mandala ( sa, मण्डल, maṇḍala, circle, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for e ...

of Ikoma", and the Mandala was selected as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government. This shrine is also well known as a shrine of fire, and the Japanese royal family use the ''Shinboku'' or sacred woods of the shrine, as firewood at the ''

Daijosai The Daijō-sai (大嘗祭) is a special religious service conducted in November after the enthronement, in which the Emperor of Japan gives thanks for peace of mind and a rich harvest to the solar deity Amaterasu (天照大神) and her associa ...

'' ceremony. In October, the shrine has the ''Hi-matsuri'' or the "festival of fire".

References

* *Nihon Kotsu Kosha, ''Nara'', Nihon Kotsu Kosha, 1984, p. 137. *Japanese version of Wikipedia

Access

The entrance station to the shrine is Ichibu Station of

Kintetsu ''Kintetsu'' is the abbreviation of , or Kintetsu Railway, a Japanese railway corporation. It may also refer to: Companies * Kintetsu Group Holdings, the holding corporation of the Kintetsu Railway ** Kintetsu Bus, a bus company and a subsidiary ...

Ikoma Line The is a railway line of Kintetsu Railway in Nara Prefecture, Japan connecting Ikoma Station in the city of Ikoma and Ōji Station in the town of Ōji. Having a total length of , the entirely electrified standard gauge line is partially doubl ...

. About 5 minute walk from the station.

Gallery

File:Ikoma Taisya.jpg, A

torii A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. The presence of a ''torii'' at the entrance is usually the simplest ...

at Ikoma Jinja {{Shinto shrine Shinto shrines in Nara Prefecture