Students Hiyoshi

Sakanami Jinjya
(Sakanami Shrine)

 

Sakanami Jinjya was dedicated in Asuka period (AD593 - 709). By the book "Minokoku Shinmeicyou" which was written over one thousand years ago, this shrine is the only "Sei-Ichii" shrine in Tono, however there are three hundred and forty-five shrines in the book. "Sei-ichii" means the highest status of shrine. This Shrine had been called "Hachimangu" from middle of Heian period (AD794 - 1191). It is because samurais (warriors) had more force from that period, then their protective god dedicated this shrine at that period. This shrine was destroyed by fire in 1558, but it was rebuilt next year. The year is in the Age of Civil Wars in Japan. We think it was very hard to rebuild and we can understand that the shrine was very important for the people who lived in that period. "Hachimangu" was renamed "Sakanami Jinjya" by Meiji Ishin (1868 - the Meiji Restoration). There are fourteen connected shrines in this Shrine and they were repaired many times.

You must go up the 177 stairs to pray. When you go up the 88 stairs, you can find second torii. Torii means a gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrime. Then you go up the 53 stairs, you can arrive at Baba. You can find many things in there. Goshinsui is a perennial well for purify, wash hands, drink water. It called mysterious water because the well is on a top of the mountain. If you go up 36 more stairs, you can arrive at Honden. Honden is the main shrine in the Sakanami shrine.

We go to this Sakanami Shrine many times. When we were born, most of the people who live in here pay a devotional visit to this Shinto shrine. When we visit there, we pray for health and to be a good person. We call it "Hatsu mairi". Hatsu means first time and mairi means the devotional visit. When we enter a school, leave school, or graduate, we also go there and pray. We hold a festival about October 15th. The oldest Mikoshi (a portable shrine) was made about 270 years ago. When we arrive at Baba (It means a riding ground), the mikoshi have a rest. The people who live in Syuku play a lion dance in front of the shrine and Baba. Many years ago, children rode on the dressed horses, but we have no horse now, then we carry a portable shrine for chridren on our shoulders. We have a "Kokage Kyoushitsu" in summer. Kokage means under a tree and Kyoushitsu means school. We learn anything and play games in there.

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