Omi Shrine


Omi Jingu or Omi Shrine is a Jingū shinto shrine in Ōtsu, a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed in 1940 and is dedicated to Emperor Tenji. It was formerly an imperial shrine of the first rank in the Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines.
The shrine is located near Ōmijingūmae Station.

History

The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, the 38th emperor of Japan. Emperor Tenji carried out the Taika Reforms and aimed to complete the reform in the capital city, which was located on the west bank of Lake Biwa. He moved the Japanese capital from Asuka to Ōtsu in 667. Emperor Tenji also presided over the establishment of the first rōkoku, or Japanese water clock system, which was installed in 671.
The proposal for this shrine to Emperor Tenji was first considered by Japanese Diet in 1908. The construction of the shrine started in 1937 and was finished by November 7, 1940.

Layout and design

The shrine is surrounded by a large forest. Its main gate and buildings are painted red. The complex is located near the Otsu Palace.
Omi shrine pavilions were constructed by a method of Omi-zukuri, and it is listed in the Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.
There are a multitude of facilities within the precinct of the shrine, including Ichi-no-Torii, Ni-no-Torii, Syagō Hyō, Temizusha, Yuisho Kōsatsu, Rōmon, Ge-haiden, Nai-haiden, Honden, Kaguraden, Tokeikan Hobutsukan, Hidokei, Rokoku, Kodai Hidokei, Jidosya Kiyoharae-sho, Seishō Yōhaiden, Karuta gaku, Haraedo , Komorebi no Michi, Tokei Gakko, Omi Kangakukan, and Zen-an.

Monument status

National treasure of Japan

Search in the online database of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan for country's designated cultural properties
  • Sufukuji-tō-shinso-nōchihin x1 set - deposited to Kyoto National Museum
  • * Shari x3
  • * Shari container x1
  • ** Kinsen-hekiruritubo x1
  • ** Kinsei-Uchibako x1
  • ** Ginsei-Nakabako x1
  • ** Kondo-Sotobako x1
  • * Ruri-Gyoku x1 set
  • * Kōgyoku-Marutama x3
  • * Kondō-Haitekkyo x1
  • * Mumonginsen x11
  • * Suishō-ryu x2
  • * Dōrei （残欠共） x2
  • * Kinpaku-Moppen-Sonota-Hanshutsubutsu-Issai

    Important cultural properties of Japan

Search in the "Cultural Heritage Online" of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan
''Search in the "Cultural Heritage Online" of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan''

Monuments inscribed with poems (tanka and haiku)

Poem monuments made by the carving of famous tanka and haiku on natural stone is known as kuhi and kahi, respectively. The Omi shrine has 13 poem monuments.
  • Kuhi inscribed with a Matsuo Bashō's haiku, "から崎の松は花より朧にて".
  • Kahi inscribed with an Emperor Tenji's tanka, "秋の田の刈穂の庵の苫をあらみわが衣手は露にぬれつゝ".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Tokitsune Yokoi 's tanka, "歳神は今帰らすか左義長の青竹はぜて高く燃え立つ".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Kanichi Hirata 's tanka, "比叡ヶ嶺に近く琵琶湖を目下に大神の辺に永世住まなむ".
  • "Susumu Kagawaa: 湖ほとに息づき比そめと波はいひは留けく可奈志と波はまたいふ".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Kanesaburō Yamamura's tanka, "湖に音なき音を韻かせて比良ゆ流るる夕茜雲".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Yojurō Yasuda's tanka, "さざなみのしがの山路の春にまよひひとり眺めし花盛りかな".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Makiko Kasuga's tanka, "人間の智恵のはじめよひそひそと秘色の水に刻まあたらし".
  • Kuhi inscribed with Kashujo Itō's haiku, "楼門に湖脈打てる望の月".
  • Kuhi inscribed with Shōkeishi Katsura's haiku, "漏刻の音とこしへに初日影".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Takechi no Kurohito's tanka, "楽浪乃国都美神乃浦佐備而荒有京見者悲毛".
  • Kahi inscribed with a Kakinomoto no Hitomaro's tanka, "淡海乃海夕浪千鳥汝鳴者情毛思努爾古所念".
  • Kahi inscribed with an Emperor Kōbun 's Chinese poetry, "皇皇明日月と光り 帝徳天地に載す 三才並に泰昌 万国臣義を表す".

    Omi Jingu Tokei Museum (Clock Museum)

In the precincts of this shrine, the Omi Jingu Clock Museum displays various clocks centering on roukoku and Japanese clocks.

Festivals and annual events

A Water Clock Festival, Rokoku-sai, held in honor of the first water clock in Japan installed at the shrine, takes place around June 9–10, the day when the water clock is thought to have been installed. The preceding day features a Japanese tea ceremony performed by the Sen Sōshitsu, grand tea master of the Urasenke, one of the three san-Senke.
The Japanese national championship competitive karuta tournament, Karuta Matsuri, takes place here every January, on the first Saturday and Sunday after the New Year holiday. The Grand Champions are awarded the title Meijin and Queen, and a seven-time Grand Champion is known as an Eternal Master. The national championship for high school students is held every July. The tournaments take place here as Emperor Tenji composed the first poem of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry collection forming the basis of the game.
Another annual festival, Reisai, is held on 20 April, the anniversary of Otsu establishment as the capital during Emperor Tenji reign.

The list of annual celebrations and events

The following recurring events take place at the Omi Shrine:
  • January 1 : Saitainsai
  • January 1 : Hatsuhinode Yōhaishiki
  • January 2 : Nikku Hajimesai
  • January 2 : Genshisai
  • January 7 : Shōwa Tennō-sai Yohaishiki
  • January 10 : Tenji Tennō-sai
  • January 11: Karuta Meijin-i Queen-i Ketteisen
  • January 12 : Karuta Matsuri
  • January 12–13: Takamatsu-no-Miya Kinenhai Uta-garuta Taikai
  • January 15 : Koshinsatsu syounou-sai
  • February 3 : Setsubun-sai
  • February 11 : Kigensetsu-sai
  • February 23 : Ritsuryō-sai
  • March 1 : Kangaku-sai
  • March 17 : Kinen-sai
  • March 21: Shunbun no Hi
  • April 19 :
  • April 20: 2=例祭
  • April 20 : Omi Matsuri
  • April 29 : Shōwa-sai
  • May : Sōfukuji Tinkon Kuyou sai
  • June 9 : Kenka-sai
  • June 10 : Rokoku-sai
  • June 12 : Raijin-sai
  • June : Kenka Kensentyasai
  • June 30 : Kyoen-sai
  • July 7 : Nensui-sai
  • July 20–21: Zenkoku Kōtōgakkō Karuta Senshuken Taikai
  • July 30:
  • August 24 : Kōbun Tennō-sai
  • August 24 : Kensho-sai
  • September 8 : Mitsuki-sai
  • September 15 : Keirō-sai
  • September 23: Shūbun no Hi
  • October 17 : Kanname Hōsyuku-sai
  • November 1 : Kikka-sai
  • November 3 : Yabusame Shiniji
  • November 7 : Gochinza Kinen-sai
  • December 1 : Hatsuhokō Taisai
  • December 13: Kadomatsu date
  • December 20 : Susuharai-sai
  • December 23 : Tenchōsetsu-sai
  • December 31 : Joya-sai
  • December 31: Ōharaeshiki
  • on the 1st, 10th and 20th of the month : Tukinami no Matsuri
  • on the 1st of the month: Kōtsū Anzen Kigan-sai
  • on the 27th of the month: Tinka-sai
  • on the 28th of the month: ''Suinansya Irei-sai''