Twenty-Two Shrines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nijūnisha (二十二社 twenty-two shrines?) of Japan is one ranking system for Shinto jinja (shrines). The system was established during the Heian period. The shrines listed below receive special offerings from the Imperial Court. Most were selected from shrines that were in the immediate vicinity of Kyoto, the capital of Japan at the time.
Contents |
[edit] Establishment
Under the Ritsuryō law system, the shrines that the Imperial Court would present offerings to for rites such as the kinensai (祈年祭), a service to pray for a good harvest, were mostly decided by the engishiki jinmyōchō (延喜式神名帳 Engishiki Shrine Name Book?), but once the Ritsuryō system began to deteriorate, the offerings were only given to a select few shrines. These shrines were changed many times, and in 1081, the following 22 shrines were finally decided upon. Near the end of the Heian period, there was a movement to add Itsukushima Shrine to the list, but it was not. However, until the end of the Muromachi period, the Imperial Court made offerings to it, and in the Edo period, offerings were again made after disasters occurred.
[edit] List of the Shrines
[edit] Upper Seven Shrines
| Shrine Name | Current Name | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingū (神宮) | Jingū (also Ise Jingū 伊勢神宮) |
Ise, Mie | |
| Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū (石清水八幡宮) | Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū | Yawata, Kyoto Prefecture | |
| Kamo Jinja (賀茂神社) |
Kamo Wake Ikaduchi Jinja (賀茂別雷神社) |
Kamowake Ikaduchi Jinja (also Kamigamo Jinja 上賀茂神社) |
Kita-ku, Kyoto |
| Kamo Mioya Jinja (賀茂御祖神社) |
Kamo Mioya Jinja (also Shimogamo Jinja 下鴨神社) |
Sakyō-ku, Kyoto | |
| Matsunoo Jinja (松尾神社) | Matsunoo Taisha | Ukyō-ku, Kyoto | |
| Hirano Jinja (平野神社) | Hirano Jinja | Kita-ku, Kyoto | |
| Inari Jinja (稲荷神社) | Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) | Fushimi-ku, Kyoto | |
| Kasuga Jinja (春日神社) | Kasuga Taisha | Nara City, Nara Prefecture | |
[edit] Middle Seven Shrines
| Shrine Name | Current Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Ōharano Jinja (大原野神社) | Ōharano Jinja | Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto |
| Ōmiwa Jinja (大神神社) | Ōmiwa Jinja | Sakurai, Nara |
| Isonokami Jinja (石上神社) | Isonokami Jingū | Tenri, Nara |
| Ōyamato Jinja (大和神社) | Ōyamato Jinja | Tenri, Nara |
| Hirose Jinja (廣瀬神社) | Hirose Taisha | Kawai, Nara |
| Tatsuta Jinja (龍田神社) | Tatsuta Taisha | Sangō, Nara |
| Sumiyoshi Jinja (住吉神社) | Sumiyoshi Taisha | Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka |
[edit] Lower Eight Shrines
| Shrine Name | Current Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hiyoshi Jinja (日吉神社) | Hiyoshi Taisha | Otsu, Shiga |
| Umenomiya Jinja (梅宮神社) | Umenomiya Taisha | Ukyo-ku, Kyoto |
| Yoshida Jinja (吉田神社) | Yoshida Jinja | Sakyo-ku, Kyoto |
| Hirota Jinja (廣田神社) | Hirota Jinja | Nishinomiya, Hyōgo |
| Gion-sha (祇園社) | Yasaka Jinja (八坂神社) | Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto |
| Kitano Jinja (北野神社) | Kitano Tenmangū (北野天満宮) | Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto |
| Niukawakami Jinja (丹生川上神社) | Niukawakami Jinja Shimosha (lower shrine) Niukawakami Jinja Nakasha (middle shrine) Niukawakami Jinja Kamisha (upper shrine) |
Shimoichi, Nara Higashiyoshino, Nara Kawakami, Nara |
| Kifune Jinja (貴船神社) | Kifune Jinja (also Kibune Jinja) | Sakyō-ku, Kyoto |
