Maroudo Shrine in Itsukushima Shrine

This is part five entry of Itsukushima shrine (厳島神社) in Miyajima island.

Maroudo shrine purification hall

Let's assume that you are approaching the shrine from the big torii gate that looks like it is floating in the ocean. To the left there is sessha shrine (摂社/subordinate to the main one) called Maroudo (= guest) shrine (客神社). In reality, this is the first shrine visitors worshipping and praying as this is the closest shrine to the entrance. For some reason, it is a tradition that all the ritual ceremonies that take place in Itsukushima shrine take place in the Maroudo shrine first.

                             

                 

The family crest of Itsukushima shrine is called "Mitsumori nijuukikkou ni kenhanabishi  (三つ盛り二重亀甲に剣花菱) meaning triplet (三盛り) double-tortoiseshells (二重亀甲) embedding swords (剣) and diamond-shaped flower (花菱). This crest is well known as that of Izumo Ooyashiro (出雲大社), although Izumo has the singular form. Just to remind you that Izumo Ooyashiro enshrines Okuni (大国主), BTW.

Itsukushima shrine family crest - triplet

Is there a relationship between Itsukushima shrine and Izumo Ooyashiro???

Yes.

Family crest of Izumo Taisha at Yatsuashimon (= 8-legged gate)

Five male deities, Masakatsuakatsukachihayahi amenooshihomimi (マサカツアカツカチハヤヒアメノオシホミミ), Amenohohi (アメノホヒ), Amatsuhikone (アマツヒコネ), Ikutsuhikone (イクツヒコネ), and Kumanokusubi (クマノクスビ) are enshrined in Maroudo shrine. These dudes are born by a ritual ceremony called "Ukei (= covenant trial by pledge/誓約)", arranged between Amaterasu (アマテラス) and Susanoo (スサノヲ). Since five bloke deities were born from Amaterasu's accessory (アマテラスの玉) called "Yasakaninoihomisumaru (八坂瓊之五百箇御統)", they are considered to be offsprings of Amaterasu. Note that Amaterasu and Susanoo are siblings! Needless to say, three female deities, Takiribime (タキリビメ), Ichikishimahime (イチキシマヒメ), and Tagitsuhime (タキツヒメ) enshrined in Itsukushima shrine were also born during Ukei ceremony. The name of the shrine came from Ichikishimahime, BTW. Since they were born from Susanoo's sword (スサノヲの剣) called "Totsukanotsurugi (十拳剣)", they are considered to be Susanoo's offspring.

Image from Wiki

It should be mentioned that the probable reason why Izumo Ooyashiro and Itsukushima shrine share the same type of family crest is that Izumokuninomiyakko (出雲国造) clan, who's been taking care of all the ritual ceremonies in Izumo Ooyashiro, declares that they are descendent from Amenohohi (天穂日命). When you see shrines bearing this type of family crest, enshrined deities must have something to do with the above-mentioned five male and three female deities.

On the other hand, the Shinto priest at the Itsukushima shrine has been the heredity of the Saeki clan (佐伯氏). Kuramoto Saeki (佐伯鞍職), the first Shinto priest, received a divine message from Ichikishimahime and built the Itsukushima shrine in AD 593. The family crest of the Saeki family is Gyouyou Kuyou (杏葉九曜 see below) which is different from the shrine's family crest. This is probably because the Saeki clan is a prominent deity in Aki province but they are not descendants of three enshrined deities.

Saeki clan's family emblem-杏葉九曜

Collectively, five male deities enshrined in maroudo shrine and three female deities enshrined in the main hall are siblings and that's why five brothers are invited to be at maroudo shrine.

Jizo statues in Daisho-in

This is part two entry of Daisho-in (大聖院) in Miyajima island, which is photo only but I hope you can grasp the atmosphere and solemnness of the temple. Words are not always required to express...

Wedding Ceremony At Itsukushima Shrine

This is a part 4 entry of Itsukushima Shrine.

When I was in Itsukushima shrine, I saw a formally dressed Japanese getting together at Haiden Hall. The wedding ceremony was about to take place!!!

The base sounds of taiko (drum) broke the silence and echoed all over the shrine. Then Shinto priest appeared without making noise, sat down in front of three deities, and delivered norito (祝詞) prayer. 

The ceremony was solemn but also a heartwarming moment as I could see that the young generation still follows our tradition. 

Happy Ever After!

This is Our World Tuesday 13, July 2015 entry.

Gatekeeper deities in Itsukushima Shrine

This is a part 3 entry of Itsukushima Shrine.

In almost all cases of visiting a shrine, worshippers go through the torii gate first and walk on the entrance path (参道) to approach Haiden Hall (拝殿). In the case of going and worshipping Itsukushima shrine, it is unrealistic to do so even when it is at the ebb. Although the entrance of the Itsukushima shrine is situated on the northeastern shore, I am going to explain the buildings, structures, and shrines present in the Itsukushima shrine according to the route from the bayside (= torii gate).

After passing under the big torii gate and walking toward the main hall (本殿), the first shrine located at the corners of the flat stage (平舞台) is called Kadomaroudo shrine (門客人神社).

Image from Hatsukaichi city

The one to the left enshrines "Kushiiwamado no kami (櫛石窓神)" and the other to the right enshrines "Toyoiwamado no kami (豊石窓神)". The two deities are also called "Amanoiwatowake no kami (= Gatekeeper deity at Heaven's gate made of rock/天岩門別神), who appeared in Japan chronicle where Ninigi(ニニギ), a grandson of Amaterasu (アマテラス), descended from heaven (Tenson ko-rin/天孫降臨). 

Kushiiwamado safeguarding at the left corner

Deities who followed Ninigi are called "Itsutomonowo (= five accompanied deities/五伴諸)" that include Amenokoyame (天児屋命), Futodama (布刀玉命), Amanouzume (天宇受売命), Ishikoridome (伊斯許理度売命), Tamanooya no mikoto (玉祖命). Besides, when Amaterasu sent Ninigi to pacify earth (= hostile ground), she passed him the Imperial regalia (= three sacred treasures of Japan/三種の神器) and asked three deities to support him. Three deities are named "Omoikane (思金神)", Anemotajikarao (天手力男神), and Amanoiwatowake (天岩門別神), the Gatekeepers of heaven's gate. Amanoiwatowake is said to be the offspring of Amanofutodama (天太玉神).

Obviously, the Amanoiwatowake's mission was to be at the corners of the gate and secure Ninigi against invasions of evil. Interestingly, their positions are always fixed - Kushiiwamado enshrined at the left and Toyoiwamado at the right.

It makes perfect sense to me that two gatekeeper deities are enshrined at the very front of Itsukushima shrine, assuming that the two deities can protect the shrine from high tides caused by typhoons.

To be continued...

Torii Gate At Itsukushima Shrine

One of my dreams has come true again!!!

Ever since the time of birth, my life has been related to Shinto somehow. My name was bestowed at Futaarasan shrine (日光二荒山神社) in Nikko where Ohkuni (大国主/大己貴命), Tagorihime (=his wife/田心姫), and Ajisukutakahikone (their offspring/味耜高彦根命), are enshrined. Last year I had a visit Izumo Taisha where the ruler of Izumo province, Ohkuni, is enshrined. It was an amazing experience and I would like to revisit it someday...

This year, I headed for Miyajima island (宮島) in Hiroshima Prefecture. According to Wiki, there are no traffic lights in this 2,000-inhabited island. My intention was to see one of his wives (Ohkuni committed bigamy that resulted in 180 or 181 offspring!), Tagorihime, enshrined in Itsukushima shrine (厳島神社).

Actually, Tagorihime is not the only enshrined deity in the Itsukushima shrine. Her sisters, Ichikishimahime (市杵島姫命) and Tagitsuhime (湍津姫命) are enshrined there, too. They are called "Munakata sanjoshin (= three female deities of Munakata/宗像三女神) and they tend to be enshrined altogether in shrines such as Munakata shrines (宗像神社), Itsukushima shrines (厳島神社), Manai shrines (真名井神社) and so on. Since they are deities of water, above mentioned shrines tend to be located nearby water and are distributed all over Japan. They were born when Susanoo (their dad) and Amaterasu did a ritual ceremony called "Ukei (誓約)". Since it's obvious that the name of the island came from Ichikishimahime, she must be the primary enshrined deity there... 

Itsukushima shrine is the most prestige shrine, called ichinomiya (一宮), in Aki Province (=western part of present Hiroshima Prefecture) and, as you are already aware of, the shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. 

The photo of the big torii gate is something like a cover page type of photo in travel magazines featuring Japanese tourism, as it represents the beauty and spirit of Japan. Itsukushima shrine gained solemnness and prestige when Kihomori Taira (平清盛) was assigned as the Governor of Aki Province in AD1146. 

The current torii is the 8th generation that was built in 1875. The 16.6 meters, weighed 60,000 kg big giant is taller than the Buddha statue (東大寺盧舎那仏像) in Todaiji Temple (東大寺), Nara!!! The style of this torii is called Ryohbu Torii (両部鳥居) that belongs to myojin torii (明神鳥居) family. The roof-looking post is called kasagi (笠木) that is attached to the post called shimagi (島木). The inner spaces of both Kasagi and shinagi are originally empty but are filled with tons of fist-sized stones and sands, weighing around 5000kg. Although two main pillars are pinned down to the foundation, the giant torii is able to stand by itself mostly due to the weight imposed from the top. Even by typhoon attacks!!!

To be continued...