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First Internet Edition. All rights reserved. First created: 14 Apr 2006. Last updated: 01 Jan 2008.

 

Supplement 4: In the place where stands Opo-kuni-nusi’s “Palace connecting Heaven with Earth”:

Izumo-Taisha Grand Shrine

 

The Izumo-Taisha Grand Shrine, thought to be the oldest shrine in Japan, is mentioned not only in the two imperial chronicles Kojiki and Nihongi, but also in the provincial chronicles of Izumo, the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki. It is dedicated to the earthly deity Opo-kuni-nusi-nö-kamï, the sixth-generation descendant of Susa-nö-wo and his wife Kusi-nada-pime, the granddaughter of the male mountain deity Opo-yama-tu-mi-nö-kamï. Having absconded with Susa-no-wo’s sword of life, bow-and-arrow of life, cither, and even his daughter Suseri-bime, and then wresting life and power from his 80 brothers, Opo-kuni-nusi was able to gain sovereignty over all Izumo, only to cede it, in negotiations with the heavenly envoys, to Ninigi, under the stipulation, as .the Kojiki tells it, “[Only if you will] ... worship me, making my dwelling-place like the plentiful heavenly dwelling where rules the heavenly sun-lineage of the heavenly deities, firmly rooting the posts of the palace in the bedrock below, and raising high the crossbeams unto Takama-nö-para itself.” In the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki, too, it is recorded that many deities gathered in Taisha town in order to build such a palace for Opo-kuni-nusi. This palace, or dwelling-place, is today’s Izumo-Taisha Grand Shrine. (Locate it on this map of the Izumo area, which opens in a new window.)

 

In point of historical fact, however, it is not known exactly when the Izumo-Taisha shrine was built. From the contemporary Guidebook to The Province of the Gods (part 2, pp. 17-18), we learn that this shrine was known as early as the fourth century, being called ‘Unta’ then, and that “According to the contents of 3 ancient historical documents, it is possible that during the early part of the 8^th century, this shrine was called ‘Oyashiro’ and it had a huge main building. In the middle of the Heian era (794-1185), there was a book called ‘Kuchi-zasami’ (970), which was the textbook for the children of the noble. In this book, there is a song that says ‘Unta, Wani, Kyosan,’ which means Izumo Shrine was the largest, the Great Buddha of Nara was second and Daigoku-den in Kyoto was the third.”

 

While Opo-kuni-nusi is thus the deity who ruled, and then ceded to Ninigi, the province of Izumo, in late medieval times (1200-1600) he became known as Daikoku-ten, and was widely worshipped as the deity of good fortune. In more recent times, he is worshipped also as the deity of marriage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of all the festivals held at Izumo-Taisha, perhaps the best known is that taking place between what is called October 11-17 of the lunar calendar. During that time deities from all over the country gather at Izumo-Taisha for an annual conference. On the night of the 10^th, a special welcome ritual is celebrated on the beach at Inasa no Hama. A serpent is placed on a round wooden box (cf. images 23, 38, and especially 45 of Supplement 3), and is dedicated at the main shrine by the chief priest. Around the main shrine are smaller shrine buildings which house the visiting deities during their visit. The deities have their meeting in the holy of holies of the inner shrine. The interior of the main shrine is specially designed with this festival in mind, being divided into four quadrants (much as is the Japanese character 田, signifying ‘rice field’), with a huge main pillar at the center, and plenty of seats for the deities in each quadrant. Upon leaving Izumo-Taisha, the deities move on to Sada Jinja, for a second conference there.