Kengun Shrine
Encyclopedia
Kengun Shrine is the oldest traditional shrine in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
, Japan
. It is one of the 4 shrines of Aso Shrine
group (Aso Shrine
, Kohsa Shrine and Kohnoura Shrine).
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is one of the 4 shrines of Aso Shrine
Aso Shrine
is a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
group (Aso Shrine
Aso Shrine
is a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
, Kohsa Shrine and Kohnoura Shrine).
Legend
- According to a legend, Emperor KeikoEmperor Keiko; also known as Ootarashihikooshirowake no Sumeramikoto, was the 12th 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 71–130.-Legendary narrative:Keikō is...
ordered 健緒組命（Takeogumino-mikoto）to conquor enemies who were around Mt. Choraina or Chorainasan (at Mashiki ?). He succeeded and was enshrined. (Local kamiKamiis 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 shrine called ubugamisama might be there) - According to an old document, this shrine was built in the 19th year of Emperor KimmeiEmperor Kimmeiwas the 29th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.His reign is said to have spanned the years from 539 through 571.-Traditional narrative:...
(欽明天皇, Kinmei-tenno, 509-571), the 29th emperor of Japan. A governor of Higo Province , now Kumamoto, KumamotoKumamoto, Kumamotois the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census...
was on his way to Aso ShrineAso Shrineis a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
to pray for his country, but heavy snow prevented him from going to Aso. A boy, about 3-years of age, appeared to him and said, "Your faith in Aso God is very deep, and you are going to Aso in spite of heavy snow. You should build a shrine here, since Aso ShrineAso Shrineis a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
was busy with the defense of the emperor who is east, while you must defend this place against enemies west, so the name should be Kengun.
13 kami are enshrined
- The main kamiKamiis 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...
is Kengun Ohkami(Take-ogumino-mikoto), who was a related kamiKamiis 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...
of Aso ShrineAso Shrineis a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
.The name of kami is 健緒組命 and 健 is also called Ken. Other kamiKamiis 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...
are 健磐龍命,阿蘇都比賣命 and others. They came by BunreiBunreiis a Shinto technical term that indicates both the process of division of a Shinto kami to be re-enshrined somewhere else, and the divided spirit which is the result of the division.For details, see the article about the similar term Kanjō....
from Aso ShrineAso Shrineis a Shinto Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Aso is one of the oldest and most prominent shrines in Japan. This shrine holds several Important Cultural Properties, such as Ichi-no-shinden （一の神殿）, Ni-no-shinden （二の神殿）, Rōmon （楼門） etc....
.
Satsuma Rebellion
- On February 22, 1877, 1400 SamuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
s decided to side with the Satsuma RebellionSatsuma RebellionThe was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
force in the Kengun Shrine area and formed a Kumamoto Company and they started to fight against the Kumamoto CastleKumamoto Castleis a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
. At the Satsuma RebellionSatsuma RebellionThe was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
, the kamiKamiis 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...
of burnt Katō ShrineKatō Shrineis a shrine in Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan, in which, daimyo or powerful territorial lord Katō Kiyomasa is enshrined. Alongside Ōki Kaneyoshi and Kin Kan, who made junshi, are enshrined.-History:...
and kamiKamiis 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...
of burnt Fujisaki-hachimanguFujisaki-hachimanguis a Shinto shrine located in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is dedicated to Emperor Ōjin, Empress Jingū and Sumiyoshi Sanjin.-History:*In 935, Fujisaki Hachimangu was established with the Bunrei of Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū Kyoto, at Chausuyama , Kumamoto Castle at the order of Emperor Suzaku...
were transiently relocated at the Kengun Shrine.
Small Shrines and Road to the Shrine
- Amemiya Shrine:Amemiya Ohkami is enshrined. Here a ceremony is held for rainfall.
- Miwa Shrine:Ohmononushi-Ohkami and others are enshrined for the prevention and cure of smallpox. People touch a stone there with depressions resembling smallpox scars and will gain some improvement or profit.
- Kokuzou Shrine:A relocated shrine due to the construction of the streetcar road. Its origin is not available.
- Hiyoshi Shrine:Here they pray for the prevention of fires. A relocated shrine due to the city planning law.
- Tensha Shrine:Tensha Ohkami is enshrined. A relocated shrine due to the city planning law.
- Hatchou-baba:800 meter-long road to the Shrine. There is a toriiToriiA 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...
at the front.
Cultural Properties of Japan
- Higo KaguraKagura- Fictional characters :*Kagura Tsuchimiya, the protagonist of Ga-rei*Kagura, an InuYasha character*Kagura Sohma , a Fruits Basket character*Kagura, an Azumanga Daioh character*Ten'nōzu Kagura, a Speed Grapher character...
or local Shinto theatrical dance: (prefectural properties) - CryptomeriaCryptomeriaCryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae; it includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica . It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as Sugi...
road (800 meters long) for horse riding :(city properties) - Kengun Shrine area :(city properties)
See also
- History of Kumamoto PrefectureHistory of Kumamoto PrefectureThe outline of the history of Kumamoto Prefecture is described herein. Kumamoto Prefecture is an eastern half of Hinokuni , corresponding to the Higo Province as called in days gone by. Exceptions are the part of Kuma gun or Kuma Districts of Japan which had once been included in Sagara Domain and...