Sumiyoshi-Taisha

The Sumiyoshi Taisha (Japanese住 吉 大 社) is a Shinto shrine in the district of Sumiyoshi in Osaka, Japan and is considered the main shrine of over 2,000 Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan, where Kami are worshiped, protect travelers, sailors and fishermen should. It was probably built in the 3rd century and is mentioned in the Kokin - wakashu.

In Sumiyoshi Taisha, the three Sumiyoshi kami Sokotsutsuo no Mikoto, Nakatsutsuo no Mikoto and Uwatsutsuo no Mikoto are worshiped, and Okinagatarashihime no Mikoto, the mythical emperor wife Jingū - Kogo, from the shrine to have been built after their return from Korea. Issued by the Shrine Bunrei (see shintai ) are always per- together for all Kami. Your worship in the shrine goes so far that they even have side shrines there are consecrated ( Shiga -no- yashiro and mikoshi -ko ).

All buildings in the shrine grounds are after the style sumiyoshi - zukuri (住 吉 造) built one of the oldest shrine architecture styles. The four main buildings are oriented toward the inland sea now and belong to the National Cultural Property of Japan. Today's main hall dates from 1810.

Over 600 stone lanterns line the access and the cry terrain. Particularly well known is the bridge Soribashi (also Taikobashi ), in the Keicho era ( 1596-1614 ) of Yodogimi, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's concubine to have been donated.

Inside the haiden of Ō- wata -tsu -mi -no- yashiro ( a sessha of the shrine ) is a torii, which is very unusual (usually Torii stand outside the building). In Funatama -sha ( a sessha ) are Tori -no- iha - kusu - bune -no- kami worshiped (a child of Izanami and Izanagi ) under the name of Ame -no- tori - bune and the way Kami Saruda - hiko. In Tatsu -no- yashiro (also Mii -no- yashiro ) the water - Mizu Kami -ha -no- me is worshiped.

The priesthood in Sumiyoshi Taisha has long been hereditary, to the family who had always assumed the office extinct. The first priest, Tamo -mi -no- Sukune, and his wife, Ichi -hime -no- mikoto, are worshiped on the grounds cry in the O- moto- yashiro ( a massha ) as Kami.

Throughout the year many festivals ( matsuri ) are aligned by the shrine. One of the best known of which is the Otaue Shinji - rich harvests on 14 June. According to legend, Jingū Kogo is to have the women of the province of Nagato instructed to do so, to plant on the present site of the shrine of rice seedlings. This myth is repeated ritual at the festival of twelve young women with traditional dance and music. The main festival of the shrine on July 31, is one of the most colorful and most important in Japan. The shrine was an important goal of " proxy pilgrimages " by leading Gannin - Bozu the Tokugawa period.