Daiho Hachimangu Shrine

The shrine was originally built in 701 by Fujiwara no Tokitada, a lord of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, as an offering from Usa Jingu Shrine in Tsukushi. An old Tendai Sect scripture states, “In the early hours of July 22, 1179 (the 3rd year of Jisho), a letter was written at Shimotsuma Hachimangu Shrine in Jyoriku Province, and it says Kanetomo,” indicating that Hachiman worship was already widespread by the late Heian period (794-1185). It is said that Taira no Masakado visited the shrine many times to pray for victory in battle, and that a new imperial throne was bestowed upon him by a priestess of the shrine. In 1189, on the day of his conquest of Oshu, Minamoto no Yoritomo, who was on a mission to conquer and pacify the Oshu region, requested the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine Wakamiya in Kamakura and built a regent shrine, Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine. In 1795, Emperor Kogaku gave the shrine a plaque and a curtain with a crest, and in 1887, the Kitashirakawa Shrine presented the shrine with a sacred offering. In addition, the Tokugawa family donated 115 koku of the shrine’s territory, and a red seal was given to the shrine for generations, which is still preserved today. It is said that the Lords of Oho Castle and Shimotsuma Castle were also deeply revered by the Tokugawa family. There are many Hachiman shrines that have been recommended from this shrine, but Fukagawa Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine in Tokyo is the most famous.

Main Shrine (Designated by the national government as an important cultural property)

Sangensha Nagare-zukuri style. It was rebuilt in 1577 by Lord Tagaya Takanetsune, lord of Shimotsuma Castle, and is known by the giran-mimihozu (a pseudo-treasured bead with a high column) in the main hallway. The building is tall and solid, with thick, sturdy pillars that give it a solid presence. On the other hand, the small, intricately assembled kumimono (braidwork) strongly expresses the local color of the Momoyama period, and the lack of gaudy ornamentation creates a subdued atmosphere.

Historic Site: Ruins of Taiho Castle (National Designated Cultural Property)

The precincts of the temple are also the ruins of a castle that existed from the Heian period (794-1185) to the Nanbokucho period (1644-1644). The west, north, and part of the east side were originally a plateau 288 meters east to west and 576 meters north to south, surrounded by the Toba no Awami (Taiho swamp), and the east side was also probably a swamp or marsh in older times. The castle was built on this site by Prince Taira no Kiyomasa, with the main castle to the north, the rear castle to the south, and the rear castle to the east. In 1086, Prince Morimiki Shimotsuma became the first lord of the castle, and about a hundred years later, the Shimotsuma clan came to an end with the fourth lord, Hiromiki Shimotsuma. By the order of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Oyama no Yorimasa ruled after Taiho Castle, and the Oyama clan took the name of the Shimotsuma clan from generation to generation. In November of the 2nd year of the Koukoku Period (Rekio 4, 1341), Kasuga Chusho Kentoki, the governor of Jyoriku Province, accompanied by the young Prince Koyoshi, entered the castle from Oda Castle and, as a base for the Southern Court in the East, raised a flag of righteousness in cooperation with the Sekijo lord Munosuke and Munemasa, but the castle fell due to lack of food and the approaching cold weather. However, the castle fell due to lack of food and the approaching cold weather. A monument to Masayasu stands behind the shrine to remind people of that time.

Festival Event] - Odd Festival (Fire Festival) - Tabanka Festival

The annual festival of this shrine, also known as “Taiho-machi,” is held on September 15 and 16. Also known as the “Seven Festivals,” seven different festivals are held at the shrine. The most distinctive of these is the torch festival (Tabanka Matsuri), which begins at 7:00 p.m. on September 12 and 14, one day later. This unusual fire festival, which can be found only here in Japan, has its origin in an ancient legend that in 1370 (Oan 3), Kenryoin, a separate priest of Taihoji Temple, extinguished a fire using tatami mats and pots and pans to quell it. The festival begins at sunset with the sound of taiko drums. This festival is also known as the “Winter Melon Festival,” and winter melons are offered to the gods. After the prayer is performed, the tatami mats are arranged in a Tomoe shape in front of the shrine, and on the nabe-buta in the center of the tatami mats, a bowl of rice and a bowl of winter melon are placed. It is believed that the person who picks up the kawarake (tatami mats and pots and pans) will not get sick, so the worshippers rush to pick up the tatami mats and pots and pans. Next, two large straw torches are lit in front of the hall of worship, and the visitors, surrounded by the vigorously burning torches, strike the tatami mats and pots and pans with all their might against the stone pavement. The name “tabanka” is said to have been derived from the sound of the torches being struck by the fire. Two of the tokoro players run around with torches in their hands, while four tatami-mat and one nabe-buta tokoro players chase after them or, conversely, are chased by them as they are sprayed with sparks of fire. Sometimes, visitors are chased by them. Finally, the Tatami mats and the Nabebutasho actor surround the blazing fire and try to extinguish it with a clattering sound. For about an hour until the torches burn out, the sound of Hachiman drums from the shrine’s tradition echoes through the air, adding to the grandeur of the event. The torchlight will be used to renew the coins of the shrine on the 12th and the main shrine and Wakamiya Hachiman-gu Shrine on the 14th.

Shrine Treasure] - Zuika Sotori Hachiryo Mirror (Prefectural Designated Cultural Property) - Made of white copper, 11.5 meters high.

This mirror is made of white copper and measures 11.2 cm in height. The mirror is 11.2 cm high and has an elaborate design on one side. The design on the back of the mirror is divided into four sections, with zuihua (auspicious flowers) scattered above and below, contrasting phoenixes on the left and right, and butterflies with wings spread out in four contrasting directions, with arabesques interspersed between them. It was probably cast in the 11th century.

Round wooden boat (Prefecturally designated cultural property)

It is 6.05 meters long and 58 centimeters wide. The bow and stern are pointed. It is said to have been discovered during reclamation work at Oho Swamp in the Ansei era (1854-1859) in the late Edo period. It is believed to have been used for transport in shallow waters. It is distinctive for its relatively flat bottom and elaborately carved inner and outer hulls. This wooden boat was made by hollowing out the trunk of a large tree, and is also called a kuribune. This beautifully crafted boat is thought to date from the late Kofun period and has been preserved in almost perfect condition, and is highly valued as a valuable archaeological material.

(Archaeological Materials, Pottery Group)-.

Jomon pottery, Yayoi pottery, earthenware, Sue ware, Haniwa clay figurines, Emperor’s gift, Tenza no Tachi sword (donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo), ten Chinese mirrors (donated by Hisahito, the first Bessho), five-man bow (donated by Tagaya Masatsune), heavy rattan bow, large sword (by Tetsusuko, donation), armor

Bronze Bell (Prefectural Designated Cultural Property)

Made of bronze, 108.1 cm high, 60.3 cm in diameter. According to the inscription in the “Ike-no-Ma” (the four roughly square sections in the center of the bell), the bell was cast in 1387 by Ishimuro Zenku, the founder of Hirabayashi Temple in Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture. It is known that the bell was produced by the carpenter Shami Dozen. Later, in 1456 (Kyotoku 5, Kojo 2), it became the property of Hoshichi-ji Temple in Sashima County, as evidenced by the additional inscription under the third ward. The bell is said to have been brought back by Tagaya Shigetsune, the spearhead of the Satake clan, in September 1547 as trophies from his campaign in Sashima County, and dedicated to Taiho Hachiman Shrine.

The legend of “Hitotsumono” (one thing)

Once upon a time, a large white snake lived in Taiho Swamp. In autumn, the snake would put up a white roof on the roof of a house in the suburbs of Daiho Hachiman. The house had to offer its daughter to the white snake. If they did not, the white snake would become angry and cause a great storm or flood, and the crops would not bear any fruit. The neighbors were distressed and wondered if there was any solution. As a result, they made a “one-eyed straw doll” and offered it to the white snake. The snake was so surprised that it disappeared from the Great Treasure Swamp. It is said that since then, the villages enjoyed a bountiful harvest.

Legend of the Swallow and the Yoshiie

Once upon a time, a great explosion occurred in the mountains of Nikko, causing the waters of Lake Chuzenji to dry up. The dragon, the master of the lake, lost his home and moved to Taiho Swamp. It began to eat people and cattle and horses around the swamp one after another. The villagers were very distressed and were wondering if there was a solution. At that time, Minamoto no Yoshie, a master of martial arts, visited Hachimangu Shrine to pray for victory on his way to conquer Oshu. The villagers immediately asked him to slay the dragon. Yoshie gladly accepted their wish, and stood by the edge of a swamp with a goose-mata arrow on his bow, staring at the surface of the swamp. The dragon, seeing the dignity of the warrior, became fearful and disappeared. Since then, people, cattle, and horses around the swamp have been able to live in peace.