Nishinomiya Jinja
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Nishinomiya Jinja (西宮神社 nishinomiyajinja?) is a shinto shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. The shrine is the head shrine of Ebisu sect of Shinto, under which it is said that there are about 3500 shrines. Locals call the shrine, by a nickname of Ebisu, ‘Ebessan’ of Nishinomiya.
The shrine is famous for the feast called ‘Tōka-Ebisu’, which is held on January 10th every year.
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[edit] Objects of Worship
Nishinomiya shrine has three small inner shrines and each shrine enshrines one or two kami. The first shrine enshrines Nishinomiya-Ōkami, or Ebisu-no-mikoto, namely Ebisu. The kami of second shrine are Amaterasu-Ōmikami and Ōkuninushino-Mikoto. The third shrine is for Susanoono-Mikoto.
[edit] History
It is not clear when this shrine was established. However, it is recorded that ‘Ebisu-sha’ was already at this place and attracting many people in Heian Period. Nishinomiya Jinja has some complicated history with Hirota Jinja, which is located north in the same city. For many centuries, Nishinomiya Jinja was called ‘Nangu-sha’, literally ‘South Shrine’ of Hirota Jinja. It means that Nishinomiya Jinja was one of branch shrines of Hirota Jinja. Against Koshikiiwa Jinja, Nishinomiya Shrine has the same kind of relationship. Koshikiiwa Jinja is sometimes called ‘Kita-no-Ebisu’ which means ‘Ebisu shrine of north’. According to Engishiki, it is interpreted that Koshikiiwa Jinja was under the control of Nishinomiya Jinja as its branch.
[edit] Access
- Nishinomiya Station of Hanshin Main Line
- Nishinomiya Station of JR Kobe Line
[edit] External links
- Nishinomiya Shrine Homepage (in Japanese)
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