Watatsu Shrine

Watatsu Shrine (度津神社, Watatsu-jinja) is a Shinto shrine in the Hamochiiioka neighborhood of the city of Sado, Niigata.[1] It is the ichinomiya of former Sado Province.[2] The main festival of the shrine is held annually on the April 23.[3]

Watatsu Shrine
度津神社
Torii at Watatsu Shrine
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeityIsonotakeru no mikoto
FestivalApril 23
Location
Location550-4 Hamochiiioka, Sado-shi, Niigata-ken
Watatsu Shrine is located in Niigata Prefecture
Watatsu Shrine
Watasu Jinja
Watatsu Shrine is located in Japan
Watatsu Shrine
Watatsu Shrine (Japan)
Geographic coordinates37°51′36.9″N 138°19′50.3″E
Glossary of Shinto

Enshrined kami

The primary kami enshrined at Watatsu Jinja are:

  • Isonotakeru no mikoto (五十猛命), god shipbuilding and sailing.[4][5]
  • Oyahitsuhime no mikoto (大屋津姫命), sister of Isonotakeru
  • Tsumatsuhime no mikoto (抓津姫命), sister of Isonotakeru

History

Located on the island of Sado in the Sea of Japan, the history of Watatsu Shrine is uncertain, as the shrine was completely destroyed by a flood during the Kan'ei era (1624-1643) of the Edo Period.[6] According to shrine tradition, it was founded by the semi-legendary Kofun period Emperor Chūai (reigned 192–200 AD). Its name appears in the Engishiki records compiled in 927 AD, but only as a minor shrine. It was destroyed by a flood in 1470, and rebuilt by the Honma clan, who were rulers of Sado island, in 1472. The shrine appears to have been destroyed repeatedly by floods in 1493, 1533 and 1593, and was merged in 1493 with a nearby Hachiman shrine. It is only mentioned as an ichinomiya in 1678 with the publication the Shokoku Ichinomiya Pilgrimage Record (諸国一宮巡詣記, Shokoku Ichinomiya Pilgrimage Record) by Shinto scholar Tachibana Mitsuyoshi. Following the Meiji restoration, with the establishment of State Shinto in 1872, the shrine was classified as a National shrine, 3rd rank (国幣小社, kokuhei-shōsha).[7][8]

The enshrined kami is Isonotakeru no mikoto (五十猛命),[5] the son of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who is said to have taught people shipbuilding and how to use ships,[4] and his two sisters Oyahitsuhime no mikoto (大屋津姫命) and Tsumatsuhime no mikoto (抓津姫命)[7]

Each year in late-April, horseback archery (yabusame) takes place at the branch shrine in the town of Hamochi.[9]

The shrine is located about 15 minutes by car from Ogi Port.[10]

  • Torii
    Torii
  • Honden
    Honden
  • Heiden
    Heiden
  • Gate
    Gate

See also

References
  1. VisitSado.com, Watatsu Shrine Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-11-6.
  2. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2; retrieved 2012-3-13.
  3. Shibuya, Nobuhiro (2015). Shokoku jinja Ichinomiya Ninomiya San'nomiya (in Japanese). Yamakawa shuppansha. ISBN 978-4634150867.
  4. Kotodamaya.com, "Watatsu Jinja"; retrieved 2012-11-6.
  5. Pickens, Stuart D. B. (2004). Sourcebook in Shinto: Selected Documents, p. 372.
  6. Sado Travel Guide, "Hamochi"; 佐渡市 観光課 観光振興係 (Sado Tourism Promotion), 佐渡一ノ宮度津神社 (Sado Ichinomiya Shrine); excerpt, 度津神社の由緒は「延喜式」神名帳（927年）に記載されている神社を式内社と言い、当時佐渡の国には九社あり; retrieved 2012-11-6.
  7. Shibuya, Nobuhiro (2015). 諸国神社 一宮・二宮・三宮. Yamakawa Publishing Company. ISBN 978-4634150867.(in Japanese)
  8. Irie, Koichiro (2018). 諸国一の宮. Idō kyōshitsu Publishing. ISBN 978-4901398060.
  9. "Yabusame shinji," Encyclopedia of Shinto; retrieved 2012-11-6.
  10. Okada, Shoji (2014). Taiyō no chizuchō 24 zenkoku 'Ichinomiya' meguri (in Japanese). Heibonsha. ISBN 978-4582945614.
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