Kotohira-gū

Kotohira- gū (Japanese金刀 比 罗 宫, formerly known under the name Konpira -dai - gongen (金 毗罗 大 権 现) ) is a Shinto shrine in the city Kotohira in Nakatado -gun Kagawa prefecture in Japan. It is also called Konpira -san and said to have been built in the 1st century.

The shrine is located at 521 m altitude, about halfway to the top of the mountain Zōzu. 785 stone steps lead up to the main shrine and 1,368 to the innermost sanctuary. Since the Muromachi period pilgrimages to the shrine have become popular, and every day hundreds of pilgrims make the climb. On the way to the shrine, a Sake Museum are (at the beginning ) and a lot of rocks, in which the names of donors for the shrine and the donated sum are carved with Kanji.

For a long time it was unclear whether the Kotohira gū should be a Buddhist or a Shinto shrine.

Main kami of the shrine was a long time Ō- mono- nushi ( -no- mikoto ), a sea-faring associated Kami ( who is also praised as a Buddhist deity Kompira ) until it was replaced by Sutoku - tennō in 1165. For sailors, it is a tradition to throw small barrels with offerings to Ō- mono- nushi in the lake. From the one who finds this, it is expected to bring them to the shrine. The large nautical companies in Japan are also among the ujiko of the shrine, so to his community. Almost all Japanese ships have an amulet of the shrine on board.

As a go- shintai alleged acts a wooden statue that sent Sutoku - tennō in a precious basket. However, this basket was never opened. Two more baskets were added later, probably located in the mirror. From go- shintai of Kotohira- gū several thousand were Bunrei distributed to other shrines throughout Japan.

In addition Shrine Asahi -no- yashiro ( a massha ) all eighty myriads of Kami of Shinto are worshiped. In Harai -do -no- yashiro ( a massha ), the four cleaning Kami ( Harai -no- kami ) Haya -aki -tsu -hime -no- mikoto, I- buki -do nushi - no-kami, Se - oritsu -hime and Haya - sasura -hime -no- kami worshiped. The agricultural Kami Ō- toshi, Mi- toshi toshi and Waka have joined their place of worship in Mi- toshi -no- yashiro ( a massha ). The mountain - Kami Ō- yama -tsu -mi has here the Ō- yama -tsu -mi -no- yashiro as massha. For Sugawara no Michizane the Sugawara -no- yashiro has been built. Another massha is dedicated to one of Ō- mono- nushis wives, Miho -tsu -hime. A particularly famous trailer Ō- mono- nushis, Crown Prince Taishi Shōtoku is, as the only guest - Kami ( aidono -no- kami ) in Kotohira -gu also worshiped. Also, there is a massha for the kami of the roads and crossroads, Sae -no- kami, where they are worshiped under their individual names, which is a very rare variant of their worship.

From not only religious interest are the Omote - shoin and Oku- shoin building ( exterior and interior reception and guest hall ), in which ( usually only for a short time in several decades ) has a plurality, donated works of art is exhibited and numerous paintings on wall panels ( fusuma ) can be seen. Among them are works by Ito Jakuchu, Maruyama Ōkyo and Murata Tanryō.