ichigami deity of market town

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ichigami　市神 / いちがみ deity of the market town, market deity

There are various shugojin 守護神 protector deities, tutelary deities of market towns, many of then female.

- - - - - In Western Japan they are usually
エビスガミ Ebisugami，蛭子(ひるこ)神 Hirukogami
イチキシマヒメノミコト Ichikishima Hime no Mikoto 市杵島姫 / 大市姫 Oichihime

- - - - - In Eastern Japan they are usually
オオクニヌシノミコト Okuninushi no Mikoto
ヒコホホデミノミコト Hikohohodemi no Mikoto 彦火火出見
コトシロヌシノカミ Kotoshironushi no Kami 事代主命
イチキシマヒメノミコト Ichikishima Hime no Mikoto 市杵島姫 / 大市姫 Oichihime


CLICK for more photos !

They are venerated in various forms, from natural round stones to carved stones with the inscription 市神 or six-sided wooden pillars and small 祠 Hokora shrines.
They were placed at the entrance to a town or a fishing harbour, at a bridge or a four-road crossing.
There are no special days for their festivals but on some special days people make offerings:
正月の蔵(くら)開き Opening of the Storehouse at the New Year
小正月 End of the New Year festivities. (now January 14)


They are closely related to the Dosojin Wayside Deities.

. 道祖神 Dosojin Wayside Deities .

The oldest mention of an Ichigami is in 795, when 藤原冬嗣 Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu enshrined the 宗像大神 Munakata deity as protector of the East and West Town of Kyoto.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There are various shrines in Japan named
Ichigami Jinja 市神神社 Ichigami Shrine

..............................................................................................................................................

Gifu no Ichigami Jinja
Gifu-ken, Ena-shi, Ōichō, 600



The deity in residence is 恵比寿様 Ebisu sama.
With a special market on every day with a seven - 七日市 / 七日福市.

- reference -

..............................................................................................................................................

Omi no Ichigami Jinja
15-4 Yokaichihonmachi, Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture / 滋賀県八日市市本町１５－４

- Deities in Residence
事代主命　大国主命　猿田彦大神　額田王

- - - - - HP of the Shrine
- source : norichan.jp/jinja -


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- Reference : 日本語



source and more photos : nishizato.net/shirotorijiin


. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - -　 H A I K U　 - - - - -

市神の狛犬に角木下闇
Ichigami no koma-inu ni tsuno koshitayami

the Komainu
of the Ichiba Deity has horns -
darkness under the trees

田中英子 Tanaka Eiko

. WKD : konoshita yami 下闇（こしたやみ） darkness under the trees .
- kigo for all summer




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Legends about the shugoshin 守護神 are in the comments.
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #shugojin #shugojin #tutelary #protector #ichigami -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::