Hikawa Shrine (Saitama)

Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社, Hikawa-jinja) is a Japanese Shinto shrine in Omiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. Surrounding the shrine is a large park in which there are many cherry blossom trees, a zoo and a museum.

Hikawa Shrine
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeitySusanoo
Kushinadahime
Ōkuninushi
FestivalReitaisai (Annual main festival) (August 1)
TypeShikinaisya
Musashi no Kuni ichinomiya or sannomiya
Former kanpeitaisha
Chokusaisha
Beppyo jinja
Location
Location1-407, Takahana-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama, Japan
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates35°55′00″N 139°37′46″E
Architecture
StyleNagare-zukuri
FounderEmperor Kōshō
Date established473 BC
Website
musashiichinomiya-hikawa.or.jp
Glossary of Shinto

The district of Omiya, literally "Great Shrine", derives from the special favor shown by Emperor Meiji, who raised Hikawa above all other shrines in the Kantō region.[1]

Standing behind three torii gates in a wood with many ancient Japanese elms, it claims to have a 2400-year history.

History

According to the shrine's tradition, the shrine was established during the reign of Emperor Kōshō in 473 BC. A legend recounts that Yamato Takeru, who injured his leg during his crusade to the East, visited the shrine in accordance with the directions of an old man who appeared in a dream. After worshiping, he was able to stand on his own. It is known that the old name of the region, Ashidate (足立), literally meaning "leg stand", was named after this incidence. The pond within the grounds of the shrine is a remnant of Minuma and considered to have roots in enshrining the water god of Minuma.

Hikawa was designated as the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) for the former Musashi province.[2] This main shrine has 59 branch shrines in Tokyo and 162 branch shrines in Saitama Prefecture.[3]

From 1871 through 1946, Hikawa Shrine was officially designated one of chokusaisha by Emperor Meiji and one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.[4] The main shrine structure was renovated in 1882. In 1940, a project financed by the government reconstructed the main shrine structure, the gate tower, and other structures.

Entrance torii at Hikawa Shrine

In 1976, the Large Torii of Meiji Shrine which had been damaged by lightning in 1966 was repaired and relocated to Hikawa Shrine.

Imperial visits to the shrine
  • December 11, 1868: Emperor Meiji's first visit.[1]
  • 1870: The emperor worships at Hikawa.[1]
  • 1873: The emperor moves in state to the shrine.[1]
  • August 31, 1878: The emperor travels from Tokyo to Hikawa.[1]
  • 1896: The Crown Prince Yoshihito visits the shrine.[1]
  • 1917: The Crown Prince Hirohito visits the Hikawa.[1]
  • 1919: The Regent Hirohito (sesshō) visits the shrine.[1]
  • 1920: Empress Sadako (kogō) visits Hikawa.[1]

Shinto belief

This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the veneration of the kami or spirits of Susanoo no mikoto, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and Inadahime no mikoto.[5]

As many as 290 daughter shrines exist across Japan, all named "Hikawa". Most are small, but all are considered dwelling places of Susanoo.

Access
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See also

Notes
  1. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines, p. 391.
  2. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3. Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2011-08-09
  3. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hikawa-jinja" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 311, p. 311, at Google Books.
  4. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, pp. 125.
  5. Ponsonby-Fane, p. 379.

References
  • Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 58053128
  • Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 3994492
  • ____________. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
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