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, meanin ...

located in the hills of Furu in

Tenri is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. The modern city was founded on April 1, 1954, and is named after the Japanese new religion Tenrikyo, which has its headquarters in the city. As of April 1, 2015, the city has an estimated population ...

Nara prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805 and has a geographic area of . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the northwest, Wakaya ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

. It is one of the oldest extant Shinto shrines in Japan and has housed several significant artifacts. Isonokami shrine was highly regarded in the ancient era, and frequented by many members of the Imperial Family. It played a pivotal role in Japan's early history, especially during the 3rd to 5th centuries. The shrine is at the northern end of the ''Yamanobe no michi'', the oldest road in Japan.

History

It is unknown which

kami are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...

was initially worshipped at Isonokami shrine. Isonokami Shrine was supposedly built in the 7th year of Emperor Sujin's reign, or the 91 BC. However, there is little record of Sujin's existence or identity, and therefore the claim is deemed legendary. The construction of a structure that can be identified as a Shinto shrine in the Isonokami area probably dates two or three centuries later. Despite this, it is not unlikely that the Isonokami area was considered a sacred site during that time, as archeological digs have found many ritual objects, and Isonokami worship was already firmly established when they were adopted by the Yamato leaders in the 4th century. Early records show that the shrine was an emerging center of Yamato power, flavored with a military overtone. Archeological evidences shows that around the 4th century, Yamato kings and nobility constructed more and more palaces and buildings in the shrine's vicinity. Prior to this, the Yamato leaders identified with kami worshipped at Mount Miwa, but may have turned to Isonokami for its martial implications. Myths written in the '' Nihon Shoki'' clearly attempt to link the Yamato court to Isonokami shrine. According to the ''Nihon Shoki'', Emperor Suinin's eldest son, Prince Inishiki ordered a thousand swords made and was placed in charge of Isonokami's treasures. He then founded the Mononobe clan, who patronized the shrine for many generations. Indeed, many of the state's iron weaponry were kept in the shrine's storehouses. When the Mononobe clan collapsed, it was reformed as the Isonokami clan. The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japan ...

. In 965,

Emperor Murakami was the 62nd emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 村上天皇 (62)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Murakami's reign spanned the years from 946 to his death in 967. Biography Before he ascended to ...

ordered that Imperial messengers be sent to report important events to the guardian ''kami'' of Japan. These ''heihaku'' were initially presented to 16 shrines including the Isonokami Shrine. From 1871 through 1946, the Isonokami Shrine was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.

Architecture

Isonokami shrine is surrounded by

Cryptomeria ''Cryptomeria'' (literally "hidden parts") is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae, formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae. It includes only one species, ''Cryptomeria japonica'' ( syn. ''Cupressus japonica'' ...

(''sugi)''. A '' waka'' poem from the ''

Man'yōshū The is the oldest extant collection of Japanese (poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after AD 759 during the Nara period. The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's poetic compilations. The compiler, or the last in ...

'' anthology mentions Isonokami shrine, surrounded by holy cedar trees. The current site of Isonokami shrine may have been the site of an earlier religious structure, the Izumo-taisha. This is suspected because of a secondary shrine to Izumo-takeo found near the main shrine, but on higher ground. Since secondary shrines are never built higher than the principal shrine, some have concluded that it was an older structure that stood before the current one. The

honden In Shinto shrine architecture, the , also called , or sometimes as in Ise Shrine's case, is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine, intended purely for the use of the enshrined ''kami'', usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a s ...

, or main hall, is built in the '' nagare-zukuri'' style.

Enshrined

The main enshrined dedication is to , the kami of a legendary sword (''futsu-no-mitama-no-tsurugi'') that was given to by

Takemikazuchi is a deity in Japanese mythology, considered a god of thunder and a sword god. He also competed in what is considered the first sumo wrestling match recorded in history. He is otherwise known as "The ''kami'' of Kashima"" (Kashima-no-kami), th ...

in Kumano and used by Emperor Jimmu, the first

Emperor of Japan The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the ...

. However, the sword itself is hidden in Isonokami shrine, but the second sword is visible in Kashima Shrine,

Ibaraki Ibaraki may refer to any of the following places in Japan: * Ibaraki Prefecture, one of the 47 prefectures of Japan **Ibaraki, Ibaraki, a town in Ibaraki Prefecture **Ibaraki Airport, an airport in Omitama, Ibaraki **Ibaraki dialect, the dialect sp ...

Artifacts

The '' Nanatsusaya-no-Tachi'', a seven-branched sword, is housed in Isonokami shrine. It was given to the Yamato king by the crown prince of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder J ...

, a kingdom on the

Korean Peninsula Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

. The sword has been kept in Isonokami shrine since ancient times, perhaps as early as the 4th century when it was received from Baekje. It was rediscovered in 1873, and its gold inlaid inscription has proven to be a valuable historical resource. The sword is currently not available for public viewing. The '' Totsuka-no-Tsurugi'', a legendary sword, is also said to be kept at Isonokami shrine. According to the ''

Kojiki The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...

'', the sword was used by the god

Susanoo __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 charact ...

to slay the Yamata-no-Orochi, a giant serpent with eight heads and eight tails. Priests at the shrine do not allow anyone to see or inspect the sword. Ten treasures brought by

Amenohiboko was a legendary prince of Silla who settled in Japan during the era of Emperor Suinin, around the 3rd or 4th century and was said to have lived in Tajima Province. His descendants are the Tajima clan. Amenohiboko is the ancestral god of Tajima Pr ...

are thought to be housed in Isonokami shrine. According to the '' Nihon Shoki'', Amenohiboko was a prince from Korea who settled in Japan. The ten treasures he brought are known as the '' Tokusa-no-Kandakara'', and they are as follows: *Okitsu-kagami (A

mirror A mirror or looking glass is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera. Mirrors reverse the direction of the im ...

) *Hetsu-kagami (A mirror) *Yatsuka-no-tsurugi (A sword) *Iku-tama (A jewel) *Makarukaheshi-tama (A jewel) *Taru-tama (A jewel) *Chikaheshi-no-tama (A jewel) *Orochi-no-hire (A type of long scarf worn by women) *Hachi-no-hire (A type of long scarf worn by women) *Kusagusa-no-mono-no-hire (A type of long scarf worn by women)

National Treasures

National Treasures of Japan

*The '' haiden'', or hall of worship, with '' irimoya'' style roofing,

Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle b ...

*The ''haiden'' at the Izumo Takeo secondary shrine *The ''Nanatsusaya-no-Tachi''Ponsonby-Fane, ''Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan,'' p. 299.

Important Cultural Properties

*The ''

rōmon The is one of two types of two-storied gate used in Japan (the other one being the '' nijūmon'', see photo in the gallery below). Even though it was originally developed by Buddhist architecture, it is now used at both Buddhist temples and S ...

'', or main gate *Two iron shields from the

Kofun period The is an era in the history of Japan from about 300 to 538 AD (the date of the introduction of Buddhism), following the Yayoi period. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes collectively called the Yamato period. This period is ...

*Several pieces of

breastplate A breastplate or chestplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing. It is ...

armor *Several unearthed artifacts (''

magatama are curved, comma-shaped beads that appeared in prehistoric Japan from the Final Jōmon period through the Kofun period, approximately 1000 BCE to the 6th century CE. The beads, also described as "jewels", were made of primitive stone and ea ...

'',

necklace A necklace is an article of jewellery that is worn around the neck. Necklaces may have been one of the earliest types of adornment worn by humans. They often serve ceremonial, religious, magical, or funerary purposes and are also used as sym ...

s, ring-pommel sabers)

Others

*Ornate red '' ō-yoroi'' *Black lacquered

kabuto ' (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors which, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. Note that in the ...

, various helms *'' Kokitsunemaru'', an '' ōdachi'' forged by

Sanjō Munechika In Japanese, may refer to: People * Emperor Sanjō (三条天皇; Sanjō-tennō), the 67th emperor of Japan * , a Japanese kuge family Fictional characters *Kairi Sanjō and Yukari Sanjō, fictional characters from the manga series '' Shugo Cha ...

Annual celebrations

Japanese New Year The is an annual festival with its own customs. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, . However, some traditional events of the Japanese New Year are par ...

(January 1) * Genji-sai (January 3) * Furufudatakiage-sai (January 15) * Tama-no-o-sai (Night before ''

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan. The name literally means 'seasonal division', referring to the day just before the first day of spring in the traditional calendar, known as ; though previously referr ...

'') *''

'' * Kinen-sai (February 19) * Kentōkōkōsha-ōmatsuri (First Sunday of each month) * Shunki-ōmatsuri (April 15) * Chōjukōsha-shunki-ōmatsuri (May 3) * Denden Festival (June 30) * Ōharae-shiki (June 30 and December 31) * Sūkei-kai-ōmatsuri (First Sunday of each month) * Boujisarae-shinji (October 1) * Furumatsuri (October 15) * Chōjukōsha-shūki-ōmatsuri (November 3) * Chinkon-sai (November 22) *

Niiname-no-matsuri The Niiname-sai (新嘗祭, also read Shinjō-sai and Niiname-no-Matsuri) is a Japanese harvest ritual. The ritual is celebrated by the Emperor of Japan, who thanks the Shinto deities for a prosperous year and prays for a fruitful new year. It ta ...

(November 23) * Ohitaki-sai (December 8) * The Emperor's Birthday (December 23) * Hokura-matsuri (December 31) *

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...

(December 31) * Tsukinami-no-matsuri (Every 1st and 15th day of the month)

Notes

References

* Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. (2000)
''Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami.''
Honolulu:

University of Hawaii Press A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

. * Brown, Delmer M. et al. (1993). ''Cambridge History of Japan'', Volume 1. New York: Cambridge University Press. . * Kidder, Jonathan Edward (2007). ''Himiko and Japan's elusive chiefdom of Yamatai: archaeology, history, and mythology''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. . * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1962).
''Studies in Shinto and Shrines.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 399449
* ____________. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* ____________. (1964)
''Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby-Fane Memorial Society. {{DEFAULTSORT:Isonokami Shrine Kanpei-taisha Jingū Tenri, Nara Shinto shrines in Nara Prefecture National Treasures of Japan Important Cultural Properties of Japan Beppyo shrines