18/03/2020

Yasaka Shrine Legends

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. Shinto Shrines (jinja 神社) - Introduction .
. kami 神 Shinto deities .
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Yasaka Jinja 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto - Legends

Also called Gion Jinja 祇園神社 Gion Shrine.
There are now many Yasaka Shrines in Japan.


. Yasaka Shrine and the Gion Festival .
祇園祭 Gion Matsuri Festival - - - There are many kigo related to the Gion Festival.
yamaboko 山鉾 (やまぼこ)Gion Festival floats

. Gozu Tenno 牛頭天王 - Legends.
In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to Gozu Tennō 牛頭天王.

. hayariyamai はやり病 / Ryukobyo 流行病と伝説 Legends about epidemics .
densenbyoo 伝染病 Densenbyo contagious diseases // ekiri 疫痢 plague // ekibyoo 疫病 epidemic


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. Legends and Tales from Japan 伝説 - Introduction .


....................................................................... Chiba 千葉県 .....
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成田市 Narita city

千葉県成田市吉岡 Chiba, Narita, Kichioka
- reference source -

The ujiko 氏子 parishioners of the Yasaka Shrine never eat eggs.

. ujiko 氏子 local worshiper, parishioner of a Shinto shrine .




....................................................................... Fukuoka 福岡県 .....
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小倉 Kokura city

Jonai, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
- homepage of Kokura Yasaka Shrine -

At the shrine 小倉八坂神社 Kokura Yasaka Jinja there is a legend about the beginning of the festival. Once Lord 細川越中守忠興 Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563 - 1646) went hunting with hawks and took a rest at 不動山 Mount Fudoyama. There was one small stone shrine and when Tadaoki placed his staff against it, it opened and one 霊鷹 sacred hawk flew out of it. The hawk kicked out both eyes of Tadaoki. He felt great pain, went home soon but would not heal at all. He realized it was the punishment of Gozu Tenno and had a shrine built in his honor. After a performance of a ritual Kagura Yudate, 神楽湯立, one eye begun to heal. He had 能興行 No Kogyo rituals of Noh performed and the other eye begun to heal too.




....................................................................... Hiroshima 広島県 .....
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尾道市 Onomichi city

Gion Jinja 祇園神社 Gion Shrine
広島県尾道市土堂  Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima
- reference source -

About 300 years ago there was a severe ekibyo 疫病 epicemic in the region and the local fishermen and merchants suffered a lot. To help them the head priest of 鞆の浦の祇園神社 the Gion Shrine of Tomonoura prepared many amulets and went to Onomichi, but the local villagers did not let him in, because they said there was a Gion Shrine in Onomichi. They gathered at the nearby temple 常称寺 Josho-Ji and offered prayers too. Indeed, the epidemic stopped miraculously and Onomichi returned to a quiet fishing village.
Many villagers believe in 祇園さま Gion Sama and from June 7 for seven days they celebrate a large festival to honor the deity.




....................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県 .....
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津久井郡 Tsukui district 城山町 Shiroyama town


. hitodama 人魂 / 人玉と伝説 Legends about the lights of the human soul .
The main festival of Yasaka Shrine is on August 1. Sometimes on a bright evening, when the mikoshi 神輿 floats parade through the town there appear hitodama 人玉 lights like human souls among the floats.




....................................................................... Kochi 高知県 .....
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幡多郡 Hata district 大月町 Otsuki town 

960 Himenoi, Otsuki, Hata district, Kochi

八坂宮 Yasaka no Miya Shrine
During the war, an important person came to this shrine and said "If you do not worship here, you will be cursed!" Then he died. So the villagers now pray for him here.




....................................................................... Kyoto 京都府 .....
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京都祇園八坂神社七不思議 The seven wonders from Yasaka Shrine - there are varieties
The West Gate 西楼門(にしろうもん) Nishiromon (Sairomon), formerly called Kagomon 籠門 / also Goryumon
saru 猿 monkey
kiji 雉 pheasant
竜宮まで届く底無し井戸 a well to the dragon palace
Futami Iwa 二見石
kinukake iwa 衣掛岩
chikaramizu 力水
ryuuboe 龍吼
ryuuketsu 龍穴
Tadamori no tooroo 忠盛灯篭 / ? 油取りの燈籠
yonakiishi 夜啼石
- source : yasakajinjya-nanafushigi... -

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東山区 Higashiyama ward

kaibutsu 怪物 monster
About 800 years ago on a very stormy rainy night, at the 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine, there appeared a monster holding something that looked like a bundle of thick needles over its head. The soldiers of 平忠盛 Taira no Tadamori (? - 1153) were much afraid, but when they looked closer, they realized it was the kannushi 神主 Shinto priest who had covered his head with wheat straw during the rain.



....................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県 .....
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仙台市 Sendai city 青葉区 Aoba ward

宮城県仙台市宮城野区岩切字若宮前11-7 / Wakamiyamae, Iwakiri, Miyagino Ward, Sendai, Miyagi

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Kappagami カッパ神 the Kappa deity
During a お花湯立 divination ritual with hot water at the 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine, people bring two kyuuri 胡瓜 cucumbers, one as an offering for the deity and one to throw in the river as an offering to Kappagami 河童神 the Kappa Deity. The villagers do not eat cucumbers until this festival is over and they made their offerings.
Gozu Tenno Gozu Tenno 牛頭天王 likes cucumbers.

Gion Kappa 祇園かっぱ The Kappa Water Goblin connection
祇園さま Gionsama, Gion Sama, Gion-Sama - The Gion Deity
The messenger of お稲荷さん the Inari deity is the fox, but the messenger of the deity Gion sama is the Kappa.
Therefore on the festival for Gion Sama children must not play in the river to avoid accidents. Instead they have to throw cucumbers into the river from the bridge.

. Gion Sama 祇園さま / Gion Kappa 祇園かっぱ .
. . Miyagi 宮城県 Kappa Legends 河童伝説 .

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. sugi no ki 杉の木と伝説 Legends about the cedar tree .
It is a taboo to cut the sugi 杉 cedar tree in the compound of 八坂神社 Yasaka Shrine or pick up some needles from the ground.
Once the tree seemed to bend and almost fall down, so a miko 巫女 shrine maiden performed an oracle ritual.
She was told to leave the tree alone, the Deity would care for it.




....................................................................... Shiga 滋賀県 .....
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甲賀市 Koka city 水口町 Minakuchi town


Behind the Shrine 八坂神社 Yasaka Jinja is Ryuu-ga-mori 竜ヶ森 the Dragon Forest. There stood a huge sugi 杉 cedar tree which 6 people could hardly cover with their arms around it. A dragon lived in this tree. The tree was hit twice by lighting, and at the second time, the Dragon went back to heaven.
This special tree broke down during the Isewan Typhoon.
Nearby is a Ryuu-ga-ido 竜ヶ井戸 "Dragon Well" which is used for amagoi 雨乞い rain rituals and prayers.
. amagoi 雨乞いと伝説 Legends about rain rituals / Regenzauber .


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- reference : nichibun yokai database -

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