1 Bow, 2 Worships, 2 Claps, 1 Bow: 'Iware-Yamaguchi Shrine' - Can you read it as Iware? [Sakurai Series]
I wonder if anyone can actually read it as 'Iware'...? This region is 'Iware', an ancient place name covering the area from the southwestern part of Sakurai City to Kashihara City. Speaking of Iware, there is Iwarehiko, also known as 'Emperor Jimmu', and speaking of Emperor Jimmu, that brings us to 'Kashihara', right? Is the connection between these names just a coincidence? I want to know the origin (iware) of this name.
Revision History
2025/04/15: First Edition
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HP: -
Access: 502 Tani, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture
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Oyamatsumi-no-Kami
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→History
Seems to be one of the candidate sites for the Shikinaisha 'Iware-Yamaguchi Shrine'
'Iware-Yamaguchi Shrine' was ranked as a Taisha (Grand Shrine) in the Engishiki Jinmyocho and was a powerful shrine in ancient times.
There are 15 shrines named 'XX Yamaguchi (za) Shrine' listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho for Yamato Province and Yamashiro Province, and this is one of them.
It is believed that the mountain god was enshrined in mountainous areas that served as water sources, and was managed and worshipped by the state.
The Engishiki Norito (liturgies) for the Kinensai festival state that timber for palace construction was harvested from the mountains of the Asuka, Iware, Oshisaka, Hase, Unebi, and Miminashi Yamaguchi Shrines.
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It is said to have been worshipped since before the Nara period.
In 730, it is recorded that 'Iware-Yamaguchi Shrine received 801 bundles of rice as tax from Kobe (shrine households), etc.' (from 'Yamato no Kuni Shozeicho')
In 806, 'Shinsho Kakuchokufusho' records two households for Iware Shrine.
In 859, 'Sandai Jitsuroku' records it as Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.
It is also said that it was enshrined on a hill south of a small reservoir called Komo-ike in front of the shrine.
It was also called 'Iware-Mikumari Shrine', and because of its deep connection to the flow of the Iware River, its status as a guardian deity of water sources and a deity that distributes water flow from the mountains became stronger.
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In the mid-Edo period, it seems to have been called 'Futatsuki Shrine', which is thought to be due to the fact that Emperor Yomei's palace, the 'Iware-ikebe no Futatsuki no Miya', was considered to be in this area.
The 31st Emperor Yomei... father of Prince Shotoku.
→Approach to the Shrine Grounds
It is said that it was once called Namitsuki Shrine based on the theory that it is the site of Emperor Yomei's Iware-no-ikebe-no-Namitsuki-no-Miya Palace.
→ Shrine Grounds
It seems the procedure is a light bow before the two bows to ring the bell, followed by two bows, two claps, and one bow.
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