Kibitsuhiko Shrine
Kibitsuhiko Jinja is a Shinto shrine in the Ichinomiya neighborhood of the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is the ichinomiya of former Bizen Province. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on the third weekend of October. Theshrine is also known in literature as the Asahi-no-miya.
Location
Kibitsuhiko Jinja is situated at the northeastern foot of Mount Kibi no Nakayama in Okayama. Kibitsu Jinja is situated at the mountain's northwestern foot. The headquarters of Kurozumikyō is located on the mountain's summit.Kibitsuhiko Jinja is located within close walking distance of Bizen-Ichinomiya Station.
Enshrined ''kami''
The kami enshrined at Kibitsuhiko Jinja are:Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, the son of Emperor Kōrei and conqueror of the Kingdom of KibiWakatakehiko-no-mikoto, younger brother or son of KibitsuhikoEmperor KōreiEmperor KōgenEmperor KaikaEmperor SujinHikosashikatawake-no-mikoto, brother of KibitsuhikoAmatarashi-hiko Kunioshi-hito no mikotoYamato-totohimo-moso-hime-no-mikoto, elder sister of KibitsuhikoŌyamato-totohiwakaya-hime-no-mikoto, younger sister of KibitsuhikoKanayamahiko-no-kami, elder sister of Kibitsuhiko- '''Ōyamakuni-no-kami'''
History
The origins of Kibitsuhiko Jinja are uncertain. According to the shrine's legend', it was during the reign of Empress Suiko, and was the site of Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto's residence; but the shrine does not appear in any historical documentation until the late Heian period. It is not listed in the early Heian period Engishiki and instead Ani Shrine was given the rank of Myojin Taisha and the rank of ichinomiya of the province. However, Ani Jinja sided with Fujiwara no Sumitomo in his revolt from 939 to 941 and was thus demoted. On the other hand, Kibitsu Shrine, the parent shrine of the Kibitsuhiko Jinja wrote prayers for the victory of imperial forces over Fujiwara no Sumitomo, and was thus rewarded by having their branch shrine in Bizen raised to become the ichinomiya. During the Sengoku period, the shrine was burned down by the Matsuda clan, but was restored with the support of Ukita Naoie. Toyotomi Hideyoshi prayed here for victory prior to his attack on Takamatsu Castle.In the Edo period, Ikeda Toshitaka, the daimyō of Himeji Domain and the lord of Okayama Castle, rebuilt the shrine, and successive rulers of Okayama Domain sponsored various repairs and reconstructions. After the Meiji Restoration, the shrine was listed as a Prefecture Shrine, and was promoted to a National Shrine, 3rd rank in 1928.In December 1930, the main shrine and most other structures burned down due to accident. The shrine buildings that can be seen today were completed in 1936.
The shrine is a three-minute walk from Bizen-Ichinomiya Station on the JR West Kibi Line.
Cultural Properties
National Important Cultural Properties
- Tachi sword, Edo Period. Signed by Ikeda Shinkai, this sword was donation to the shrine by Ikeda Tsunamasa, It is now kept at the Okayama Prefectural Museum.
National Intangible Folk Cultural Properties
- Kibitsuhiko Jinja rice planting festival.
Okayama Prefecture Designated Tangible Cultural Properties
- Honden, Edo period ; rebuilt by Ikeda Tsunamasa, daimyo the Okayama domain. It measures three bays across and two bays deep, with a cypress bark roof in the Nagare-zukuri style. It is surrounded by a veranda with a balustrade and a three-bay wooden floor at the front. The eaves are made of thick rafters, the joinery is made of two-fingered beams, and between the saddle-shaped pillarsare toad-shaped slats carved with the chrysanthemum and five-seven paulownia crests, which are supported by accordion supports. The interior is divided into an outer sanctuary and an inner sanctuary. The floor is raised and houses the altar.
- Emaki of Shinto rituals, Muromachi period ; This picture scroll depicts a sacred ritual held at Kibitsuhiko Shrine in the Middle Ages. It is primarily ink-colored, with a touch of pale pink and pale blue. It measures 23.3 cm tall and 260.0 cm wide..