is a

Shinto shrine A Stuart D. B. Picken, 1994. p. xxiii is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more kami, , the deities of the Shinto religion. The Also called the . is where a shrine's patron is or are enshrined.Iwanami Japanese dic ...

Shimonoseki file:141122 Shimonoseki City Hall Yamaguchi pref Japan01s3.jpg, 260px, Shimonoseki city hall is a Cities of Japan, city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 248,193 in 128,762 households and a pop ...

Yamaguchi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 Square kilometre, km2 (2,359 Square mile, sq mi). ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. It is dedicated to the child

Emperor Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. His death marked the end of the Heian period and the beginning of the Kamakura period. During this time, the Im ...

, who died in the

Battle of Dan-no-ura A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...

(aka Dannoura), which occurred nearby in 1185. This battle was important in the history of Japan because it brought an end to

Genpei War The was a national civil war between the Taira clan, Taira and Minamoto clan, Minamoto clans during the late Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the downfall of the Taira and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto no Yori ...

in which the

Minamoto clan was a Aristocracy (class), noble surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the Imperial House of Japan, imperial family who were excluded from the List of emperors of Japan, line of succession and demoted into the ranks of Nobili ...

defeated the rival

Taira clan The was one of the four most important Japanese clans, clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period, Heian period of History of Japan, Japanese history – the others being the Minamoto clan, Minamoto, the Fujiwara clan, Fuji ...

, and ended the Taira bid for control of Japan. The shrine is situated on the waterfront of the

Kanmon Strait The or the Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating Honshu and Kyushu, two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshu side of the strait is Shimonoseki (, which contributed "Kan" () to the name of the strait) and on the Kyushu ...

, between the centre of Shimonoseki and the tourist restaurants of

Karato is the downtown area of the city of Shimonoseki, Japan. Located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is known for its fish market. Main sightseeing spots and institutions Sightseeing * (Aquarium) * (268.2 m) * (fresh fish shop etc.) * For ...

, Kanmon Wharf. The bright red main gate makes it a very visible sight.

Description

The colours and style of the gate are inspired by

Ryūgū-jō or is the supernatural undersea palace of Ryūjin or Dragon God in Japanese tradition. It is best known as the place in fairytale where Urashima Tarō was invited after saving a turtle, where he was entertained by the Dragon God's princess O ...

, according to the Shimonoseki Tourist Guidebook published by the Shimonoseki City Tourism Department. This source states that Antoku's grandmother, Nii-no-Ama, who drowned with Antoku, wished for their palace to be created underwater as she jumped into the sea. Ryūgū-jō is a mythical underwater palace, belonging to the dragon god of the sea. In the

Tale of Heike is an epic poetry, epic account compiled prior to 1330 of the struggle between the Taira clan and Minamoto clan for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War (1180–1185). It has been translated into English at least ...

, Nii-no-Ama told Antoku, before jumping, that they would go to an underwater palace, without referring to Ryūgū-jō. Then, Antoku's mother (Kenreimon-In, aka

Taira no Tokuko , later known as , was the daughter of Taira no Kiyomori and Taira no Tokiko. She was empress consort of Emperor Takakura. Tokuko was also the last Imperial survivor from the great naval battle of Dan-no-ura. Her life became a compelling ...

) had a dream, in which they were living in Ryūgū-jō. Inside, in the Hoichi Hall, is a statue of Hoichi the Earless, one of the characters in a traditional ghost story which was made known in the west by

Lafcadio Hearn was a Greek-born Irish and Japanese writer, translator, and teacher who introduced the culture and literature of Japan to the Western world. His writings offered unprecedented insight into Japanese culture, especially his collections of legend ...

. The grounds also contain the Nanamori-zuka (seven mounds), which represent the Heike warriors also lost in the Battle of Dan-no-Ura.

Kanpei-sha

In 1871, the identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the Imperial family.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' p. 124. The ''kampeisha'' were shrines venerated by the imperial family. This category encompasses those sanctuaries enshrining emperors, imperial family members, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family.Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University
Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms, ''Kampei Taisha.''
/ref> Up through 1940, the mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or included the shrine; and it was then known as Akama''-gū''Ponsonby-Fane. ''Imperial,'' p. 125. In 1940, Akama's status was changed , which is the highest rank; and since then, it has been known as Akama ''jingū.''Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1963). ''The Viscissitudes of Shinto,'' p. 394.

Notes

References

Japan National Tourist Organisation
(note that the information that Emperor Antoku was three years old when he died is contradicted by other sources, which say that although he was a young child, he was a few years older than that. See the Wikipedia page for

Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. His death marked the end of the Heian period and the beginning of the Kamakura period. During this time, the Im ...

) * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887
* _______________. (1962)
''Studies in Shinto and Shrines.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 399449
* _______________. (1963)
''The Viciissitudes of Shinto.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{Authority control Jingū Shinto shrines in Yamaguchi Prefecture Beppyo shrines Kanpei Chūsha Shimonoseki Japanese imperial tombs

Description

Kanpei-sha

See also

Notes

References