Tomioka Hachiman Shrine
Encyclopedia
is the largest Hachiman Shrine
in Tokyo
.
. The God Hachiman
whom the shrine reveres was also a local Shinto deity of the Minamoto clan
thus the shinto shrine received cordial protection by the Tokugawa shogunate
. On other hand, the shrine was cordinal revered from the people of shitamachi, and familiar as "Hachiman of Fukagawa".
At the Meiji period
, the shrine lost the cordial protection like Edo period
, but was chosen as by the Meiji government
though it was the one inferior to Hikawa Shrine and other major shrines in the status that the government had provided.
On March 10, 1945, the shrine was burnt down by the bombing of Tokyo
. On March 18, the Emperor Hirohito
who was inspecting the burnt area visited here and received the explanation about the damage in precincts. At the returning to his palace, the emperor described his impression to Hisanori Fujita, his Grand Chamberlains
, compared with Great Kanto Earthquake
in 1923 had seen in his Crown Prince age:
After the war, two stone monuments to commemorate the visit were built in precincts.
.
Two basho
(Spring and Autumn) were held at the shrine every year under the permission of the shogunate, and banzuke
and other major systems were created in this period. After almost 80 years, basho had been held also in other places in Edo
(Tokyo), then Ekōin came to hold all basho since 1833. In Meiji period
(1868–1912), sumo strengthened the relation with Shintoism to survive because of losses of supports from the shogunate and daimyo
s, who lost power by the Meiji Restoration
, thus the Shinto shrine came to be valued further by sumo.
In 1900 (Meiji 33), the stone monument to commend successive yokozuna, the , was built by Jinmaku Kyūgorō
, the 12th yokozuna. Now, the stone inscribed with the shikona
s of all yokozuna until Hakuhō Shō
, the 69th yokozuna, and "unrivaled rikishi" Raiden Tameemon. The shrine has many other stone muments related to sumo.
Thus, when a rikishi reaches the rank of yokozuna, a dedication in the form of dohyō-iri is done at the shrine.
Hachiman Shrine
A is a Shinto shrine dedicated to kami Hachiman. It is the second most numerous type of Shinto shrine after those dedicated to Inari.Originally the name was read Yawata or Yahata, a reading still used in some occasions.-Famous Hachiman shrines:...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
History
The shrine was founded in 1627 with reclamation of the shoalShoal
Shoal, shoals or shoaling may mean:* Shoal, a sandbank or reef creating shallow water, especially where it forms a hazard to shipping* Shoal draught , of a boat with shallow draught which can pass over some shoals: see Draft...
. The God Hachiman
Hachiman
In Japanese mythology, is the Japanese syncretic god of archery and war, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism. Although often called the god of war, he is more correctly defined as the tutelary god of warriors. He is also divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people...
whom the shrine reveres was also a local Shinto deity of the Minamoto clan
Minamoto clan
was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian Period , although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku Era. The Taira were another such offshoot of...
thus the shinto shrine received cordial protection by the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
. On other hand, the shrine was cordinal revered from the people of shitamachi, and familiar as "Hachiman of Fukagawa".
At the Meiji period
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 :...
, the shrine lost the cordial protection like Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, but was chosen as by the Meiji government
Government of Meiji Japan
The Government of Meiji Japan was the government which was formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain, Chōshū Domain and Tenno. The Meiji government was the early government of the Empire of Japan....
though it was the one inferior to Hikawa Shrine and other major shrines in the status that the government had provided.
On March 10, 1945, the shrine was burnt down by the bombing of Tokyo
Bombing of Tokyo in World War II
The bombing of Tokyo, often referred to as a "firebombing", was conducted by the United States Army Air Forces during the Pacific campaigns of World War II. The U.S. mounted a small-scale raid on Tokyo in April 1942, with large morale effects...
. On March 18, the Emperor Hirohito
Hirohito
, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...
who was inspecting the burnt area visited here and received the explanation about the damage in precincts. At the returning to his palace, the emperor described his impression to Hisanori Fujita, his Grand Chamberlains
Chamberlain of Japan
The is a domestic caretaker and aide of the Emperor of Japan. He also keeps the Privy Seal and the State Seal and has been an official civil servant since the Meiji Period. Today the Grand Chamberlain, assisted by a Vice-Grand Chamberlain, heads the Board of the Chamberlains, the division of the...
, compared with Great Kanto Earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
in 1923 had seen in his Crown Prince age:
After the war, two stone monuments to commemorate the visit were built in precincts.
Sumo
Tomioka Hachiman Shrine is also known as the birthplace of , founded in 1684 and origin of the current professional sumoSumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
.
Two basho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
(Spring and Autumn) were held at the shrine every year under the permission of the shogunate, and banzuke
Banzuke
This article is about the banzuke document, for a list of wrestlers as ranked on an actual banzuke see List of active sumo wrestlersA , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament or honbasho. The term can also...
and other major systems were created in this period. After almost 80 years, basho had been held also in other places in Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
(Tokyo), then Ekōin came to hold all basho since 1833. In Meiji period
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 :...
(1868–1912), sumo strengthened the relation with Shintoism to survive because of losses of supports from the shogunate and daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
s, who lost power by the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, thus the Shinto shrine came to be valued further by sumo.
In 1900 (Meiji 33), the stone monument to commend successive yokozuna, the , was built by Jinmaku Kyūgorō
Jinmaku Kyugoro
Jinmaku Kyūgorō was a sumo wrestler from what is now Shimane, Japan. He was the sport's 12th Yokozuna.-Career:...
, the 12th yokozuna. Now, the stone inscribed with the shikona
Shikona
A shikona is a sumo wrestler's ring name.As with standard Japanese names, a shikona consists of a 'surname' and a 'given' name, and the full name is written surname first. However, the given name is rarely used outside formal or ceremonial occasions. Thus, the former yokozuna Asashōryū Akinori is...
s of all yokozuna until Hakuhō Shō
Hakuho Sho
is a professional sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator, Mongolia. Making his debut in March 2001, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2004. On May 30, 2007 at the age of 22 he became the second native of Mongolia, and the fourth non-Japanese overall, to be promoted to the highest rank in sumo,...
, the 69th yokozuna, and "unrivaled rikishi" Raiden Tameemon. The shrine has many other stone muments related to sumo.
Thus, when a rikishi reaches the rank of yokozuna, a dedication in the form of dohyō-iri is done at the shrine.