Munakata Taisha

Munakata Taisha (宗像大社) is a collection of three Shinto shrines located in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the head of the approximately 6,000 Munakata shrines all over the country. Although the name Munakata Taisha refers to all three shrines—Hetsu-gū, Nakatsu-gū and Okitsu-gū—it is commonly used to refer to Hetsu-gū alone. As documented in Japan's second oldest book, Nihon Shoki, the shrines are devoted to the three Munakata goddesses (宗像三女神, Munakata-sanjojin).

Munakata Taisha
宗像大社
Hetsu-no-Miya Honden of 1578 (ICP)
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeityIchikishima Hime-no-Kami
Tagitsu Hime-no-Kami
Tagori Hime-no-Kami
TypeMunakata Shrine
Location
Location2331, Tashima, Munakata
Fukuoka 〒811-3505
1811, Ōshima, Munakata
Fukuoka 〒811-3701
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates33°49′51.92″N 130°30′51.65″E
Website
www.munakata-taisha.or.jp
Glossary of Shinto

These kami are believed to be daughters of the goddess Amaterasu, the ancestress of the imperial family or to be the daughters of Susanoo, who has also been worshipped there for many years as the god of mariners, and he has come to be worshipped as the god of traffic safety on land as well.

Munakata Taisha is also home to many Japanese treasures. Hetsu-gū's honden (main shrine) and haiden (main prayer hall) are both designated Important Cultural Properties and the precincts are a Historic Site.[1] The Shinpō-kan (神寶館), the shrine's treasure hall located on the southwest corner of Hetsu-gū's grounds, houses many important relics including six National Treasures of Japan. Over 120,000 artifacts housed in the Shinpō-kan were unearthed on Okinoshima.[2]

It was formerly an imperial shrine of the first rank (官幣大社, kanpei taisha) in the Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines.

Three shrines
Gate of Hetsu-no-miya

All three shrines are located in Fukuoka Prefecture, yet they are all on separate islands. The main shrine, Hetsu-gū, is located on the mainland of Kyūshū. Nakatsu-gū is established at the foot of Mt. Mitake on the island of Ōshima off the west coast of Kyūshū.[3] The final shrine, Okitsu-gū, is on the island of Okinoshima located in the middle of the Genkai Sea. The shrine occupies the entire island, therefore women are not allowed to set foot on the island and men must perform a purification ceremony before landing.[4]

In 2009 the three shrines were submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the serial nomination Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region.[5][6][7]

In July, 2017 Japan's Okinoshima Island gained UNESCO World Heritage Status.[8]

Shrine Name Enshrined Deity Island Location Coordinates
Hetsu-gū (辺津宮) Ichikishima-hime-no-Kami (市杵島姫神) Kyūshū 33°49′51.92″N 130°30′51.65″E
Nakatsu-gū (中津宮) Tagitsu-hime-no-Kami (湍津姫神) Ōshima 33°53′49.17″N 130°25′56″E
Okitsu-gū (沖津宮) Tagori-hime-no-Kami (田心姫神) Okinoshima 34°14′33.24″N 130°6′14.10″E

See also

References
  1. "宗像神社境内" [Munakata Jinja Precinct]. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. "Stroll through Munakata History". 宗像市公式Webサイト. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  3. "Munakata-taisha Nakatsu-gu Shrine". Japan National Tourist Organization. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  4. "Muna Kata Tai Sha". Archived from the original on 2006-01-25. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  5. "Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region". UNESCO. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  6. "Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region". World Heritage Promotion Committee of "Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in Munakata Region". Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  7. "Overview of Munakata City". 宗像市公式Webサイト. Archived from the original on 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
  8. "Japan's Okinoshima island gains Unesco World Heritage status". BBC News. 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-07-09.

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