, also known as Himekoso-jinja (媛社神社), 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
Ogōri,
Fukuoka prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 Square kilometre, km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders S ...
,
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 north ...
. It is dedicated to Orihime, the Japanese name of the Weaver Girl from the Chinese folk tale
The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd
"The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" are characters found in Chinese mythology and characters appearing eponymously in a romantic Chinese folk tale. The story tells of the romance between Zhinü (; the weaver girl, symbolizing the star Vega) and ...
.
The weaver is celebrated in
Tanabata
, also known as the Star Festival ( 星祭り, ''Hoshimatsuri''), is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair res ...
, a Japanese festival.
History
According to the Hizen-Fudoki, an ancient record of the
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of the Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō. It did not inclu ...
, this shrine was extant in 730. The original object of worship at the shrine was a river, Yamaji-gawa, on the south of the shrine. 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 1000 years ago, this area was developed by the textile industry. The villagers believe the weaving goddess known as ''Tanabata-tsume'' (棚機津女) from ancient times, and the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl from
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
was assimilated, it is now known as the god of textiles.
Festivals
Tanabata Grand festival, the annual summer festival held August 6-8 every year. On the evening of August 6 children bring the ''
mikoshi
A is a sacred religious palanquin (also translated as portable Shinto shrine). Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when ...
'' from the shrine, carry it around the neighborhoods that worship at the shrine. At 5 o'clock on the following day morning, the lion dance is performed as a prayer dedicated to the shrine. And later in the morning, the lion dancer and children pulling a float visit neighbors. In the evening, many open-air stalls line the path leading to the shrine, and wishes written on strips of paper sent from people throughout Japan decorate every available space.
Gallery
File:Tanabata-jinja, Ogori, Fukuoka 01.jpg, Torii at Tanabata Shrine entrance.
References
External links
Tanabata Shrine - Fukuoka Prefecture Tourist Information
Shinto shrines in Fukuoka Prefecture
Tourist attractions in Fukuoka Prefecture
{{Shinto-stub