Hikawa Shrine
Encyclopedia
is a major Shinto
shrine in the Omiya
district of Saitama
. Surrounding the shrine is a large park in which there are many cherry blossom trees, a zoo and a museum.
Omiya itself, literally 'Great Shrine', derives from the special favor shown by Emperor Meiji
, who raised Hikawa above all other shrines in the Kantō region
.
Standing behind three torii
gates in a wood with many ancient Japanese elm
s, it claims to have a 2400-year history.
in 473 BC. A legend recounts that Yamato Takeru
, who injured his leg during his crusade to the East, visited the shrine following directions of an old man who appeared in his dream. After worshiping, he was able to stand on his own. It is known that the old name of the region, , 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
.
This main shrine has 59 branch shrines in Toyko and 162 branch shrines in Saitama Prefecture.
From 1871 (Meiji
4) through 1946 (Shōwa
21), the Hikawa shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The main shrine structure was renovated in 1882 (Meiji 15). In 1940 (Shōwa 15)), a project financed by the government reconstructed the main shrine structure, the gate tower, and other structures.
In 1976 (Shōwa 51), the Large Torii of Meiji Shrine
which had been damaged by lightning in 1966 (Shōwa 41) was repaired and relocated to Hikawa jinja.
or spirits of Susanoo no mikoto
, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and Inadahime no mikoto.
.
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine in the Omiya
Omiya-ku, Saitama
is a ward of Saitama city, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is in the Greater Tokyo Area and about 25 km north of central Tokyo. Ōmiya-ku is surrounded by Nishi-ku , Kita-ku , Minuma-ku , Urawa-ku , Chūō-ku , and Sakura-ku of Saitama city.Ōmiya-ku is the most active commercial and business centre in...
district of Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
. Surrounding the shrine is a large park in which there are many cherry blossom trees, a zoo and a museum.
Omiya itself, literally 'Great Shrine', derives from the special favor shown by Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
, who raised Hikawa above all other shrines in the Kantō region
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
.
Standing behind three torii
Torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred...
gates in a wood with many ancient Japanese elm
Japanese Elm
Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, the Japanese Elm, is one of the larger and more graceful Asiatic elms, endemic to much of continental north-east Asia and Japan.-Description:...
s, it claims to have a 2400-year history.
History
According to shrine's tradition, the shrine was established during the reign of Emperor KōshōEmperor Kosho
; also known as Mimatsuhikokaeshine no Mikoto; was the fifth emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 475 to 393 BC, but he may have lived in the early...
in 473 BC. A legend recounts that Yamato Takeru
Yamato Takeru
, originally Prince Ousu was a Japanese legendary prince of the Yamato dynasty, son of Keikō of Yamato, a legendary monarch who is traditionally counted as the 12th Tennō or Emperor of Japan. The tragic tale of this impressive figure is told in the Japanese chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki...
, who injured his leg during his crusade to the East, visited the shrine following directions of an old man who appeared in his dream. After worshiping, he was able to stand on his own. It is known that the old name of the region, , 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
Musashi Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama...
.
This main shrine has 59 branch shrines in Toyko and 162 branch shrines in Saitama Prefecture.
From 1871 (Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
4) through 1946 (Shōwa
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
21), the Hikawa shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The main shrine structure was renovated in 1882 (Meiji 15). In 1940 (Shōwa 15)), a project financed by the government reconstructed the main shrine structure, the gate tower, and other structures.
Meiji Shrine
', located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.-History:...
which had been damaged by lightning in 1966 (Shōwa 41) was repaired and relocated to Hikawa jinja.
Imperial progresses to the shrine
- December 11, 1868 (Meiji 1, 28th day of the 10th month): Emperor Meiji's first visit.
- 1870 (Meiji 3, 1st day of the 11th month): The emperor worships at Hikawa.
- 1873 (Meiji 6): The emperor moves in state to the shrine.
- August 31, 1878 (Meiji 11, 31st day of the 8th month): The emperor travels from Tokyo to Hikawa.
- 1896 (Meiji 29): The Crown Prince YoshihitoEmperor TaishōThe was the 123rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 30 July 1912, until his death in 1926.The Emperor’s personal name was . According to Japanese customs, the emperor has no name during his reign and is only called the Emperor...
visits the shrine. - 1917 (Taishō 6): The Crown Prince Hirohito visits the Hikawa.
- 1919 (Taishō 8): The Regent Hirohito (sesshō) visits the shrine.
- 1920 (Taishō 9): Empress Sadako (kogō) visits Hikawa.
Shinto belief
This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the veneration of the kamiKami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
or spirits of Susanoo no mikoto
Susanoo
, also known as is the Shinto god of the sea and storms. He is also considered to be ruler of Yomi.-Myths:In Japanese mythology, Susanoo, the powerful storm of Summer, is the brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. All three were born from Izanagi, when...
, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and Inadahime no mikoto.
Related shrines
As many as 290 daughter shrines exist across Japan, all named 'Hikawa'. Most are small, but all are considered dwelling places of SusanooSusanoo
, also known as is the Shinto god of the sea and storms. He is also considered to be ruler of Yomi.-Myths:In Japanese mythology, Susanoo, the powerful storm of Summer, is the brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. All three were born from Izanagi, when...
.
Access
- 10 minute walk from Tōbu Noda Line Kita-Ōmiya StationKita-Omiya Stationis a Tōbu Railway station located in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.-Station layout:There is an island platform with two tracks.-Adjacent stations:...
or Ōmiya-kōen StationOmiya-koen Stationis a Tōbu Railway station located in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:There are two side platforms serving two tracks.-Adjacent stations:... - 20 minute walk from JR or Tōbu Noda Line Omiya StationOmiya Station (Saitama)is a railway station in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Japan. It is a major interchange station for the East Japan Railway Company .-JR East:* Tōhoku Shinkansen* Akita Shinkansen* Yamagata Shinkansen* Jōetsu Shinkansen* Nagano Shinkansen...
See also
- List of Shinto shrines
- Twenty-Two Shrines
- Modern system of ranked Shinto ShrinesModern system of ranked Shinto ShrinesThe The The (sometimes called simply , was an organizational aspect of the establishment of Japanese State Shinto. This system classified Shinto shrines as either official government shrines or "other" shrines...
- Hikawa MaruHikawa Maruis a Japanese ocean liner that was built for the Nippon Yusen KK line by the Yokohama Dock Company. She was launched on 30 September 1929, and made her maiden voyage from Kobe to Seattle on 13 May 1930. She is one of three sister ships. The sister ships were named after important Shinto shrines,...