| Hikawa jinja 氷川神社 |
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| Founded | 473 BC |
| Founder(s) | Emperor Kōshō |
Glossary of Shinto |
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Hikawa jinja (氷川神社) is a major Shinto shrine in the Omiya district of Saitama. Surrounding the shrine is a large park in which there are many cherry blossom trees, a zoo and a museum.
Omiya itself, literally 'Great Shrine', derives from the special favor shown by Emperor Meiji, who raised Hikawa above all other shrines in the Kantō region.[1]
Standing behind three torii gates in a wood with many ancient Japanese elms, it claims to have a 2400-year history.
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According to shrine's tradition, the shrine was established during the reign of Emperor Kōshō in 473 BC. A legend recounts that Yamato Takeru, who injured his leg during his crusade to the East, visited the shrine following directions of an old man who appeared in his dream. After worshiping, he was able to stand on his own. It is known that the old name of the region, Ashidate (足立), literally meaning "leg stand", was named after this incidence. The pond within the grounds of the shrine is a remnant of Minuma and considered to have roots in enshrining the water god of Minuma.
Hikawa was designated as the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) for the former Musashi province. [2] This main shrine has 59 branch shrines in Toyko and 162 branch shrines in Saitama Prefecture.[3]
From 1871 (Meiji 4) through 1946 (Shōwa 21), the Hikawa shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.[4] The main shrine structure was renovated in 1882 (Meiji 15). In 1940 (Shōwa 15)), a project financed by the government reconstructed the main shrine structure, the gate tower, and other structures.
In 1976 (Shōwa 51), the Large Torii of Meiji Shrine which had been damaged by lightning in 1966 (Shōwa 41) was repaired and relocated to Hikawa jinja.[5]
This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the veneration of the kami or spirits of Susanoo no mikoto, Ōnamuchi-no-mikoto and Inadahime no mikoto.[6]
As many as 290 daughter shrines exist across Japan, all named 'Hikawa'. Most are small, but all are considered dwelling places of Susanoo.[7]
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