Imamiya Jinja Shrine was founded in 994 in the Heian period. It begins with “Murasakino Goryoe” (a religious service held to propitiate a departed soul) in order to subdue the epidemic of plague believed to be the resentment of the Spirit.
It is now called “Tamanokoshi Shrine” (marry into a wealthy family) from the episode of Keishoin (the mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th Edo Shogunate), which is the founder of restoration, and is popular for good luck.
Also, at the hidden popular spot “Ahokashisan”, you can tell whether the wish will come true due to the weight of the stone.
Furthermore, Speaking of Imamiya Shrine, the famous “Aburi-mochi” (rice cake) is known as a monzen confectionery that tells you that there are benefits to avoiding troubles. The simple taste that has not changed since 1,000 years ago is attractive.
Imamiya Shrine, located in Murasakino, Kyoto, has been admired by the imperial court, people and samurai since the Heian period. It is said that it has the benefits of healthy longevity, family safety, family prosperity, commercial prosperity, good luck, good harvest, and agricultural prosperity, beginning with the elimination of the plague of the Heian period. Among a wide range of benefits, it is recently popular as “Tamanokoshi Shrine”, which I mentioned earlier. “Ekisha Shrine” (Shrine that existed before Imamiya Shrine was built) is currently “Sessha Shrine” (Shrine that came with main shrine and celebrated a god closely related to that god), but it seems to have been enshrined since main shrine. In the past, ambassadors were sent by the imperial court to calm down the epidemic. The “Yasurai Matsuri Festival” held in April is an Ekisha Shrine festival.
There are many Sessha shrines in the precincts, including Orihime Shrine, Hachimansha Shrine, Taishogunsha Shrine, etc.
During the Heian period, Heiankyo prospered as a capital, while people suffered from plagues and disasters, fearing that they were due to vengeful ghosts. In order to repose a rough revengeful ghost, Goryoe was actively run in various places such as Shinsenen, Goreisha and Gionsha.
Imamiya Shrine, like Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine), is a venerable shrine where goryoe for epidemic eradication had taken place. The murasakino that Imamiya Shrine enshrined was once called ‘Kinya’ (imperial hunting field), so it was called “Murasakino Shrine” or “Murasakino Wakamiya”.
The Kyoto City Bus is convenient for access to Imamiya Shrine. It is recommended to use the bus after moving to Kitaoji Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line. It takes about 7 minutes to Funayama bus stop. From there, you will arrive in 8 minutes on foot.
At Imamiya Shrine, the “Yasurai Matsuri Festival” is held on the second Sunday of April, the “Imamiya Festival” is held in May, and the Anual Festival is held on October 8th and 9th. Since Imamiya Shrine has a large Ujiko (Shrine Parishner) area, many people visit every festival.
In addition to the festival, the Imamiya Shrine also holds the “Imamiya City Handmade Flea Market” on the 1st of every month for the purpose of communication with the local community.
Imamiya Shrine in Kyoto is a sacred place for healthy longevity and Tamanokoshi prayer. The cute Tamanokoshi amulet awarded at the office is very popular among young women. There are also many attractions such as Orihimesha Shrine and Ahokashi-san. Please drop in when you visit Kyoto. Also recommended is Aburi-mochi, a famous confectionery that is said to be profitable for sickness when eaten. Please enjoy the taste of tradition.
The historical shrine where the god of epidemics was enshrined
There are many famous historic shrines and temples in Kita Ward, Kyoto City. Among them, the historical shrine where the god of epidemics was enshrined to quell the plague from the era of Heiankyo is “Imamiya Jinja Shrine”. Currently, it is said that there is a benefit for “Avoidance of Bad Luck”, “Health and Longevity” and “Good Match”. More recently, it is popular among women as “Tama no Koshi Jinja” (Shrine for “marry into the purple”) in Kyoto. Every year on the second Sunday in April, “Yasurai Matsuri Festival” will be held, one of the three biggest festivals in Kyoto. It is a festival to calm down the god of epidemics distracting people by dispersing the cherry blossoms during the season.
“State of Perfect Health” and “Health and Longevity”
The foundation of Imamiya Jinja Shrine was in the Heian era in 994 years. A large-scale epidemic has spread in the capital, and Imamiya Jinja Shrine was founded to quell it. After that, as a shrine dedicated to the god of epidemics, it has been gathered faith as having the interests of “State of Perfect Health” and “Health and Longevity”.
“Otama” was a woman who strongly admired Imamiya Jinja Shrine
The reason why this place became famous as “Tama no Koshi Jinja” (Shrine for “marry into the purple”) is related to Keishoin, the wife of the 3rd generation Tokugawa Shogun and the the mother of 5th generation general Tsunayoshi. Keishoin was born in a greengrocer at Nishijin in Kyoto and is said to have been called “Otama”. That “Otama” was a woman who strongly admired Imamiya Jinja Shrine. Since then, as a generic mother of the general, as rising to the first rank in O-oku (shogun’s harem), there is a theory that it became the origin of “Tama no Koshi”.
It will accelerate health recovery
This is “Ahokashi-san” which is a strange stone of Imamiya. It is said that this is said to be “Kamiuchi-ishi” for a long time, and if weak people stroke a stone with the palm of their hands and stroke while praying bad places in the palm, it will accelerate health recovery. It is also said to be “Omokaru-ishi” (heavy or light stone). If you lift it gently with the palm of your hand three times while lifting it up, it gets heavier, then it will lift with your wishes three times and if you get lighter it seems that your wish will come true.
Kazuwa is 1000 years of foundation, Kazari-ya is 600 years
Imamiya Jinja Shrine is also famous for “Aburi-mochi” (rice cake). There are two well-established stores selling Aburi-mochi in front of East Gate, from the side of Imamiya Jinja Shrine, the left side shop is “Kazari-ya” and “Ichiwa” is on the right side. These shops have an old history, it is said to be Japan’s oldest sweet shop from the Heian era, Kazuwa is 1000 years of foundation, Kazari-ya is 600 years. There is a legend that Aburi – mochi was served for ordinary people suffering from starvation at the approach of the shrine when Kyoto was burned down during the Onin War (broke out in 1467).
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
Name: | Imamiya Jinja Shrine |
Address: | Murasakinoimamiyacho 21 Kyoto Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8243 Japan |
Access: | Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma-sen Line “Kitaoji-eki Station” (8 minutes by car) |
Tel: | (+81) 75-491-0082 |
Price/Charge: | Free |
Official site: | http://www.imamiyajinja.org/ |
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