is a

Shinto , also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...

shrine A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...

in Nagata-ku, Kobe,

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 ...

. At Nagata, Kotoshironushi-no-Okami is enshrined. The shrine is associated with

Amaterasu , often called Amaterasu () for short, also known as and , is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology. Often considered the chief deity (''kami'') of the Shinto pantheon, she is also portrayed in Japan's earliest literary texts, the () ...

, who is said to have told

Empress Jingū was a Legend, legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her Emperor Chūai, husband's death in 200 AD. Both the and the (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Jingū's alleged lifetime. Legen ...

that a shrine was wanted at Nagata.

History

According to the ''

Nihon Shoki The or , sometimes translated as ''The Chronicles of Japan'', is the second-oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the , the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeol ...

'', Nagata was founded by

at the beginning of the 3rd century along with Hirota Shrine. In 2001, the shrine celebrated its 1,800 years of history. From 1871 through 1946, the Nagata was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the second tier of government supported shrines which were especially venerated by the imperial family.

Festivals and events

An autumn matsuri in October is a special day ('' en'nichi'') for the ''kami'' Kotoshironushi. A '' setsubun'' observance in February is the ''Tsuina-shiki Shinji,'' which engages hopes for safety in the home and averting misfortune. This Shinto purification ritual is designated as an

intangible cultural heritage An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. In ...

event. The elaborate ceremony is a pantomime representation of driving out demons or bad spirits.Ponsonby-Fane, pp. 327-328.

Notes

References

* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1964). ''Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan.'' Kyoto: Ponsonby-Fane Memorial Society.

External links

Nagata jinja official website
3rd-century establishments in Japan Religious buildings and structures in Kobe Shinto shrines in Hyōgo Prefecture Tourist attractions in Kobe Beppyo shrines Myōjin Taisha Kanpei Chūsha Ebisu shrines {{Shinto-shrine-stub

History

Festivals and events

See also

Notes

References

External links