Marcionの匣
お悩み相談
Everlasting Wave Laying and Wandering, Ise Jingu Shrine (Ise City, Mie Prefecture)
- １．Meaning of Vernal Equinox Day and Ise Jingu Shrine
- ２．The Chronicles of Japan, which tells the story of Emperor Temmu and the founding of Ise Jingu
- ３．Background of Ise Jingu as the Highest-ranking Jingu Shrine
Hello! I'm Maruhanabachi, a frustrated housewife writer with three Saturdays falling on holidays this year.
This time, as a Vernal Equinox Day special, we focus on Ise Jingu, the great shrine that everyone knows!
What does the Vernal Equinox Day have to do with Ise Jingu Shrine? You may be thinking, "What does the Vernal Equinox Day have to do with Ise Jingu Shrine?
But in fact, there is a relationship, and a big one at that.
Let's take a closer look at the relationship between the Vernal Equinox Day and Ise Jingu, and the mystery of why Ise Jingu became a key shrine for the protection of the nation!
First of all, what is the Vernal Equinox Day? Let's start from the beginning.
１．The Meaning of the Vernal Equinox and Ise Jingu
The Ise Jingu, the starting point of the Ise Pilgrimage.
Toyouke Grand Shrine, the god of food, clothing, shelter, and industry
The Vernal Equinox itself is one of the 24 solar terms.
The 24 solar terms were introduced from China during the Asuka period (710-794) as a calendar for measuring the weather of the four seasons and have been improved to incorporate Japan's unique climate (rainy season and typhoons).
The vernal equinox is the day that separates spring from winter.
After this day, the days become longer and warmer, and people begin to prepare for rice cultivation and the harvest in the fall.
It has long been known as one of the 24 solar terms that support agriculture, the foundation of our lives.
Next, let us talk about the name Vernal Equinox Day.
Vernal Equinox Day, one of the national holidays, was originally called Shunki Koreisai.
It is a large festival held at the Imperial Palace to enshrine the spirits of successive Emperors and all other ancestors of the Imperial Family.
After World War II, in order to wipe out the Shintoistic atmosphere of the state, a law concerning national holidays was enacted, and the name "Vernal Equinox Day" was changed to "Day to Praise Nature and Cherish Life," but the original Vernal Equinox Day is still held today.
Why, then, is the Vernal Equinox Day celebrated on the day of the Spring Equinox?
As you know, on the vernal equinox (and the autumnal equinox), the sun rises in the true east and sets in the true west.
The sun sets in the true west.
Because of this, the seven days around the vernal equinox (and the autumnal equinox) are called "Ohigan," or the far shore of the equinox, when people give thanks to the spirits of their ancestors and make offerings to them.
The custom of the so-called "Ohigan" is unique to Japan.
The starting point of this custom is the Jodo faith.
It began with the Tendai sect of Buddhism and spread to the aristocracy in the early Heian period (794-1185), and then to the general public in the late Heian period (794-1185).
From the mid-Heian period, the Imperial Spirit Festival was held in a Buddhist ceremony, but after the Meiji Restoration, the Shinto ceremony came to be held due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism.
The vernal equinox is one of the 24 solar terms that are used to mark the change of the four seasons and to encourage the cultivation of rice.
In Buddhism, the vernal equinox is a day to comfort the spirits of ancestors on the equinox.
The two meanings are combined to celebrate Vernal Equinox Day as a national holiday.
Taga Shrine, a branch of the Outer Shrine, enshrining Toyouke Ookami Arashigami
Kazamiya Shrine, which also enshrines the two wind gods.
Tsuchimiya Shrine, which also enshrines the deity Oodo-no-mikoto.
Now that you have a basic knowledge of Vernal Equinox Day, it is time to introduce the Grand Shrines that we will be discussing!
Everyone knows Ise Jingu, the Jingu of the Jingu.
It is a shrine of the Shinto gods, but it is not the same as the Jingu.
(In this designation, you can catch a glimpse of the pride of being the only shrine of God that has no equal!)
As it is well known, this is the highest-ranking Shinto shrine that enshrines Amaterasu, the ancestral deity of the Japanese Imperial Family.
It is the highest Shinto shrine enshrining Amaterasu, the ancestral deity of Japan's Imperial Family, and as such, the Spring Imperial Rei Matsuri Ceremony is held at Ise Jingu Shrine in conjunction with the Spring Imperial Rei Matsuri held at the Imperial Palace.
The sacred object is the Yata no Kagami, one of the three sacred objects.
It is the large mirror that shone on the face of Amaterasu at the time of Ama-no-Iwato (Ama-no-Iwato).
The ata is an ancient unit of length.
It means from the bottom edge of the palm to the tip of the middle finger, so the average length for an adult male is about 17 cm.
An "ata" is approximately 136 cm.
The average height of a fifth-grade boy is about 138 cm, so the size is rather realistic.
So, the yatagarasu is the same size. It is big...
According to the official website of Ise Jingu, there are 125 shrines that make up Ise Jingu, including the outer and inner shrines, 14 separate shrines, 43 regent shrines, 24 subordinate shrines, and 42 jurisdiction shrines!
The following is a list of the main ones.
★Inner Shrine (Imperial Grand Shrine)
God of worship: Amaterasu (Amaterasu-Omikami), the deity of the Imperial Family.
Separate shrines located inside the Inner Shrine: Arasakimiya Shrine and Kazahinomiya Shrine
Separate shrines outside the Inner Shrine: Tsukuyomi-gu Shrine, Izo-gu Shrine, Tsukiyomi-gu Shrine, Takihara-gu Shrine, and Wahime-gu Shrine.
★Outer Shrine (Toyouke Grand Shrine)
Goddess of food, clothing, shelter, and industry.
Separate shrines inside the outer shrine: Tagamiya, Tsuchimiya, and Kazamiya
If you try to visit all the other shrines outside of the Inner Shrine, a day is really not enough.
When paying a visit to the shrines, please visit in the following order: Outer shrine, Inner shrine, and then the other shrines outside the Inner shrine.
I took a bus from the Outer Shrine to the Inner Shrine, then walked to Tsukuyomi-gu Shrine and Wahime-gu Shrine before running out of energy.
The Otorii gate of the Inner Shrine crowded with people.
People heading for the main shrine of the Inner Shrine
２．Emperor Temmu and the Chronicles of Japan, which tells the story of the founding of Ise Jingu
Ise Jingu is so famous that a mere introduction may not satisfy you.
In this issue, we will look into the reason why Ise Jingu became the highest-ranking Shinto shrine!
Those of you who know the story may say, "It was because Princess Yamato enshrined the Yatanokagami during her pilgrimage to Ise, wasn't it?" According to tradition, this is true.
Princess Yamato, the daughter of Emperor Suinin, has been questioned as much as the emperors of her generation.
The place where Princess Yamato, who exists in the tradition, enshrined the Yatanokagami.
Why did it have to be in Ise?
The key lies in the Chronicles of Japan, which describes the founding myth of Ise Jingu Shrine, and the background of its formation.
The Kojiki and Nihonshoki.
Both chronicles describe the beginning of the world, from its vague beginnings to the creation of the nation of Japan by Isanagi and Isanami, the birth of Amaterasu and many other deities, and eventually to the Yamato Imperial Court.
However, the content of the Kojiki is slightly different.
The Kojiki was established in 712.
It is a narrative work and contains many episodes from the Izumo mythology, in which the descendants of Amaterasu (i.e., the emperor) are in a position of conflict with the gods. The eight million gods are lively and dynamic, and it is probably the most interesting to read.
This may be due to the fact that the book was compiled mainly from legends from a time when there were no written texts.
On the other hand, the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan) was established in 720.
It was written in chronological order and compiled by order of the first emperor of Japan, making it the so-called imperial history of Japan.
As is appropriate for a history book explaining the origin of a nation, the story of the Kami period is greatly shortened, much of the Izumo myth is omitted, and many chapters are devoted to the genealogy of the emperors.
Although they were written only nine years apart, the Kojiki and Nihonshoki differ slightly in content. (In addition, the names of people are written in different kanji, and the names themselves are also slightly different, which makes things complicated!)
The compilation of the Nihonshoki and Kojiki were both major projects ordered by Emperor Temmu of the Asuka Period.
The history of Japan from the beginning of the universe to the 33rd Emperor Suiko was completed as the official history of the nation of Japan, with many references to many sources, and with a brief interruption after Emperor Temmu's death.
One of the purposes of compiling history books by those in power, both ancient and modern, has always been to assert the legitimacy of the state's power.
By compiling the Chronicles of Japan, the Imperial Court clarified the origins of the nation and provided the basis for its legitimacy to rule the country, skillfully weaving together historical fact, folklore, and fiction.
Let us now turn our attention to Emperor Temmu, who ordered the compilation of the Chronicles of Japan.
Emperor Temmu occupies an important position in Japanese culture.
It is said that it was during the reign of Emperor Temmu that the term "emperor" and the term "Japan" began to be used.
He ordered the compilation of the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan) for Shintoism, while he also protected Buddhism and promoted Buddhism as a national religion.
Shinto and Buddhism.
While maintaining imperial rule as a despotic monarch, he protected the two religions that still culturally support the nation of Japan, creating a religious foundation that has continued to the present day.
He is the emperor who prepared the ground for the birth of Japan's unique culture.
Emperor Temmu is also known for the Jinshin Rebellion, which was one of the few times in Japanese history that a member of the imperial family was involved in an uprising.
This was one of the few successful coups d'etat by the imperial family in Japanese history.
Emperor Temmu's son was named Prince Oumihito. He was the blood brother of Emperor Tenchi.
After the Taika Reformation, his elder brother Emperor Tenchi (Emperor Chūōtaiō) and his son, Nakatomi Kamatari, ruled with a strong political authority.
He was succeeded by his son, Emperor Otomo.
However, Otomo no emperors. However, Prince Otomo saw his uncle and brother, Prince Omijin, as an enemy who might threaten his position.
Prince Omijin sensed that Prince Otomo was moving to kill him, and he raised an army to defeat him.
He defeated Otomo and ascended the throne to become Emperor Temmu.
This is only the story told after Emperor Temmu's victory.
From Otomo's point of view, Prince Omijin was a usurper.
In other words, if you win, you are the official army, and if you lose, you are the bandit army.
Originally, Emperor Tenchi and Emperor Temmu were on bad terms, and there are various theories as to the cause, such as a grudge that Emperor Tenchi had stolen Emperor Omito's consort, King Nukata.
Emperor Tenmu, who had driven his elder brother's son to death and taken the throne, took the Empress Uno no Sararahime, one of his brother's four daughters, as a substitute for Nukata-o, who had been stolen by his elder brother.
She later became Emperor Jito.
He also married his son Kusakabe to Emperor Tenchi's daughter, Princess Ahe no Hime-miko.
However, Emperor Kusakabe died prematurely, and Princess Abe ascended to the throne as Emperor Gemyo.
Was it redemption for her elder brother that she made multiple marriages with his daughters in this way? Or was she trying to prevent herself from being killed by her own flesh and blood as well?
Why did Emperor Temmu order the compilation of "Shōshi," or "authentic history," the basis for the legitimacy of his power? Don't you think you can understand?
Tsukiyomi-no-miya, a separate shrine of the Inner Shrine
First, visit Tsukiyomi Shrine, then Tsukiyomi Aratomiya Shrine
After that, visit Isanaki-miya and Isanaya-miya.
３．Background of Ise Jingu as the Highest Shrine
Now, with this background in mind, let's take a look at the myth of the founding of Ise Jingu.
In the Chronicles of Japan, it is written that around the time of Emperor Suinin, Yamatohime-no-Mikoto searched for a suitable place to worship Amaterasu with a yatanokagami (three-legged mirror). The Kojiki, on the other hand, only mentions Ise Jingu Shrine in the section on Emperor Sujin's consort and consorts.
"Toyosukihime no Mikoto (Toyosukihime no Mikoto) worshipped at the Grand Shrine at Ise."
(From Kadokawa Bunko's "The Newly Revised Kojiki: Tsuki - A Translation from the Modern Language", translated and annotated by Yuukichi Takeda, commentary by Keishin Nakamura)
Even in the section on Emperor Suinin, the name of Princess Yamato does not appear at all.
Princess Yamato appears in the section on her older brother, Emperor Keiko. It is the first time that Yamatohime gives Kusanagi to her nephew, Yamato Takeru-no-mikoto, as the chief priest of Ise-jingu Shrine.
Let's think about the significance of adding the story of the founding of Ise Jingu, which does not exist in the Kojiki, to the official history, the Nihon Shoki.
At the time of Tenson Korin, Amaterasu Omikami bestows three sacred treasures on her descendant, Ninigi no Mikoto.
YatanoKagami, Kusanagi no Tsurugi, and Yasakani no Magatama. They are not only the sacred treasures given to us by Amaterasu Omikami, but also the divine spirit of Amaterasu Omikami, and her divine power itself.
The Three Sacred Treasures have been enshrined in the emperor's residence since the time when Tenson descended.
However, during the reign of Emperor Sujin, an epidemic spread throughout the world.
Emperor Sujin was afraid to place the sacred Yata no Kagami near him, so he entrusted it to Toyosukiirihime no Mikoto, keeping it away from the palace and enshrining it in Kasanui Village.
Emperor Suinin followed in the footsteps of Emperor Sujin and had his daughter Yamato Hime no Mikoto search for a suitable place to enshrine Amaterasu Omikami.
Yamatohime-no-mikoto, carrying the Yatanokagami, traveled through Omi Province and Mino, and when he reached Ise, an oracle was given to her.
“Here Yamatohime no Mikoto seeks a place to appease the great deity and make her sit and arrives at Uda no Sasahata.
After returning, she entered the province of Omi, traveled around Mino in the east, and reached Ise province.
Sometimes Amaterasu Omikami asked Yamatohime no Mikoto and said,
"This kamikaze's Ise no Kuni is the country where the everlasting waves return to.
It is a beautiful country in the neighboring country. I think I live in Kore no Kuni,' said Tamafu.
Therefore, in accordance with the teachings of the Great God, a shrine was built in the province of Ise.”
(Iwanami Bunko "Nihonshoki (2)", from Taro Sakamoto, Saburo Ienaga, Mitsusada Inoue, Susumu Ohno)
Amaterasu Omikami, who was looking for a place to rest, fell in love with Ise! I will stay here! Emperor Suinin built a shrine according to the oracle.
Now, what is the reason for adding the foundation of Ise Jingu to the official history so clearly?.
It is thought that it is related to the connection between Emperor Tenmu and Ise Province.
During the Jinshin War, when Emperor Tenmu, who was Prince Oama, raised an army, the military strength was insignificant.
Therefore, he recruited soldiers on his way to battle.
Therefore, Nabari refused to send troops.
In Ise, the provincial governor, Miyake no Muraji Ishitako, dispatched an army to give a boost.
After the Jinshin War, Emperor Tenmu, who ascended to the throne, sent his daughter, Princess Oku, to Ise Jingu Shrine as Saigu.
(It is said that Nabari, who refused to dispatch troops, was treated coldly by Emperor Tenmu...).
The official website of Ise Jingu also has this description on the history page of Shikinen Sengu.
“The Shikinen Sengu system began at the initiative of Emperor Tenmu and was first held in the fourth year of Emperor Jito (690).” It's written casually, but you know what I mean!.
In other words, Emperor Tenmu was greatly indebted to Ise during his accession to the throne.
After his accession to the throne, he reciprocated and sent his daughter to Saigu, making Ise Jingu the cornerstone of national protection.
In order to show the grounds for this, the myth of the creation of Ise Jingu Shrine, which was not found in the Kojiki, was added to the Nihon Shoki.
How about that. Don't you think it's possible?
In fact, some say that the Outer Shrine existed before the Inner Shrine.
According to the Fudoki of Ise Province, when Emperor Jinmu, who descended from the heavens, was pushing for an expedition to the east, there was a god named Isetsuhiko in Ise, and Amanohiwake no Mikoto, a retainer of Emperor Jinmu, drove him away., pacify Ise.
Considering this, it is possible that the Outer Shrine was a shrine enshrining a local deity before it was conquered by the Imperial Court.
The Jingu, which supported the Jinshin War, received the patronage of Emperor Tenmu, and a new inner shrine was built.
Spread the wings of your imagination.
However, on the other hand, everyone, please take a look at Ise Jingu with a map app.
From there, let's reduce the scale and search for Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, where the capital of the Asuka period was located.
Ise Jingu is almost due east from Asuka Village in Nara Prefecture!
On the day of the vernal equinox, when we give thanks to our ancestors and make a memorial service, the sun rises in the direction of Ise Jingu.
From Ise Jingu, where Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and the ancestor of the empire, is enshrined.
This is by no means a coincidence. Could it be that Emperor Tenmu himself built Ise Jingu?
No, there is a lot of debate about when Ise Jingu was actually founded, but all theories say it was built earlier than Emperor Tenmu.
Even if one mystery seems to be solved, the mystery of Ise Jingu remains unsolved, and that is why people will continue to be fascinated.
What did you think? It will soon be the first day of spring.
Let us think about the blessings of the warming sun and our ancestors who have been linked to us through the blood of our ancestors.
Gods and people, myths and historical facts, people's thoughts and beliefs.
Let us enjoy the history of the human world intertwined and woven together.
(End)