Koutari Shrine, a shrine under the jurisdiction of Nagaoka Tenmangu, and its rare deity! Hmm... what about that bird?? [Osaka Hokusetsu Series / Nagaokakyo Series]
A shrine associated with Emperor Kanmu, read as 'Koutari no Jinja'. The enshrined deity is a rare god named 'Amenokamudachi no Mikoto'!! It is an important shrine that Nagaoka Tenmangu oversees, despite the considerable distance, perhaps due to its connection to Nagaokakyo!!
Also, Nagaokakyo Station was originally called 'Koutari Station'!! Hmm, hmm, wait, what!? I saw a nameplate on a house on my way back that said 'Koutari'... so it's the Koutari family!!
Also, the 'Gohundred-step stone' is actually a 'Gothousand-step stone'... the gods are strict. Haha.
This area is an ancient shrine where relics from the Jomon period and stone swords and tube beads from the Yayoi period have been unearthed, and it is also the site that became the land of Nagaokakyo. It seems Emperor Kanmu had a dream in which a god descended from heaven into a pond in this area, then called Tamura, and prevented evil spirits from attacking the palace from the south. Emperor Kanmu had a shrine built in this area to worship this god and had a sword and silk hidden there. At that time, it is said that the place name Tamura was changed to Koutari Village. In addition, it can be inferred that it was recognized as an important shrine because it was blessed with water transport since ancient times and served as a vital point for transportation, such as the Saigoku Kaido, playing an important role in the defense of Kyoto. By the way, it seems that amulets from Koutari Shrine are worn by athletes who want to be blessed with 'divine feet,' and people like Naoko Takahashi and famous racers have come to pray here.
Change History
2025/05/14: First edition
▼HP
▼Access ▼Enshrined Deity/Principal Image and Attendants
2-chome, Higashikoutari, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture
Amenokamudachi no Mikoto
Amenokamudachi no Mikoto
- One of the thirty-two defenders who is said to have served as a captain and was one of the followers of Nigihayahi. He is the ancestor of the Yamashiro no Kuga no Muraji, the ancestor of the Yaku no Muraji, the ancestor of the Katsuragi no Muraji, and a grandson god of Taka-mi-musubi-no-kami.
- He also accompanied Ninigi during the Tenson Korin (descent of the heavenly grandson), who is also considered the younger brother of Nigihayahi.
Shrines that enshrine Amenokamudachi no Mikoto are as follows. Hmm, I wonder if I'm overlooking something...
There is also a theory that he is Prince Toneri, the fourth son of Emperor Tenmu, and until the Edo period, it was called Koutari Daimyojin.
▼Highlights
The tutelary deity of the former Koutari Village
Relics from the Jomon period and stone swords and tube beads from the Yayoi period have been unearthed
Identified as 'Koutari Shrine', one of the nineteen Otokuni shrines listed in the 'Engishiki' as a Shikinaisha
There are also stories that locals called Koutari 'Koudan' or 'Koutani', and the shrine 'Kamitarahan'
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The following legend remains as 'Emperor Kanmu's Dream'
He dreamed that a god descended from heaven into the 'Tamura Pond', the old name of Koutari Village, and prevented evil spirits from attacking the palace from the south
When the Emperor awoke and sent his servants to the land of Tamura, the servants saw the figure of the god, but because of the dazzling appearance, they could only see the feet
He had a shrine built in Tamura to worship this god and had a sword and silk hidden there
Thereafter, this shrine came to be called 'Koutari Shrine' and Tamura came to be called 'Koutari Village'
It is said to have been enshrined before the end of the 8th century
It is also said that Emperor Kanmu held an imperial festival there in 796
The enshrined deity is 'Amatsukami-tatsu-no-mikoto'.
According to the shrine's description, the enshrined deities also include 'Prince Toneri,' a son of Emperor Tenmu who compiled the 'Nihon Shoki'.
During the Kamakura period, this was the location of a manor belonging to the Kujo family of the regent house, and it was managed by the Kotari clan.
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I suspect that the inclusion of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Tenmu, as an enshrined deity might be a later addition due to the existence of Kotari Mitsumaru, a great-grandson of Emperor Tenmu.
In the Northern and Southern Courts period, Kotari Nobutomo (Nobuyoshi) served as a bodyguard for Ashikaga Tadayoshi.
The Kotari clan inherited the position of 'geshu' (local administrator) of the Oshio Manor.
During the Muromachi period, they became 'gokenin' (direct retainers) of the shogunate.
They became one of the Nishioka hikan-shu (shogunate retainers) of the shogunate.
During the Sengoku period, they made Kotari Castle their base and ruled the surrounding area.
After the wars, the Kotari clan moved to the Amakusa region of Kyushu.
→ Amakusa = Christians; Tama, also known as Gracia of Shoryuji Castle, also began to believe in Christianity... A connection to Christianity is hinted at.
Motoori Norinaga is said to have recorded the enshrined deity as 'Totsu-yama-misaki-tarashi-no-kami'.
→ Regarding the deity,please refer to the Kokugakuin University website. (I give up on summarizing lol)So, shall we conclude that the main enshrined deity is 'Kotari Daimyojin'!? It seems it was originally Kotari Daimyojin.
In the shrine precincts, there is a 'No-jinja Shrine' that enshrines Kayanohime-no-kami.
In 1872, it was relocated to its current site due to the construction of the Tokaido Main Line.
In 2011, it is said that members of the 'Nadeshiko Japan' team, who won the Women's World Cup, were sent amulets from this shrine because they were from Nagaokakyo City (Was the newspaper in the precincts about cheering for the Kyoto Ekiden team related to the World Cup victory story??).
→ Approach to the shrine
I visit by entering from the west and exiting from the south.
There are remains of the earthworks and dry moats of Shoryuji Castle, and excavation surveys have confirmed that the height difference between the earthworks and the dry moat is about 6 meters, and the Kotari Kofun, a square tomb from the late 6th century, was confirmed under the earthworks.
The earthworks and dry moats were built by Hosokawa Fujitaka during the major renovation of the castle. In addition, an earthen bridge and earthworks with flanking defenses remain.
→ Shrine precincts
→ Front of the worship hall and main hall
There is a sacred camphor tree, and there was a resident who kept flapping its wings with a mysterious cry and building a nest in the sacred tree!? Please watch out for droppings!!
→ 'Nojin Tenjin', a sub-shrine to the right of the main hall
It seems to be the 'No-jinja Shrine' that enshrines Kayanohime-no-mikoto. The framed tablet read 'Nogami Tenjin'.
→ Left of the main hall
→ Auxiliary and subordinate shrines to the left of the main hall
If we are to believe the shrine entrance, it is likely Otoshi-no-kami, the child of Izumo's Susanoo.
→ A mysterious bird living in the sacred tree on the shrine grounds
→ The front approach on the south side
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