Ichinomiya (一宮, also 一の宮 or 一之宮; first shrine) is a Japanese historical term referring to the Shinto shrines with the highest rank in a province. Shrines of lower rank were designated ninomiya (二宮, second), sannomiya (三宮, third), shinomiya (四宮, fourth), and so forth. [1]

Monument at the Tamura Shrine listing all Ichimomiya

The term gave rise to modern place names, such as the city of Ichinomiya, Aichi, named after Masumida Shrine in the former Owari Province.

Overview edit

The term "Ichinomiya" literally means "first shrine" and is popularly regarded as the highest ranking shrine in each province, with the second ranking shrine referred to as the "Ninomiya" and third ranking shrine as "Sannomiya", and so on. However, there is no documentary material stipulating on how the shrines in each province are to be ranked, or even when this ranking system was created. As a general rule, all shrines designated "Ichinomiya" are of ancient origin and are listed in the Engishiki records completed in 927AD. However, the shrine selected is not necessarily the largest, or oldest, in that province, and is not necessarily one of the "Myojin Taisha", which are regarded as the most important shrines. Rather, per the Ritsuryō legal and administrative system established in the Nara period, kokushi were appointed as imperial governors of each province. When the kokushi travelled from Heian-kyo to his local seat at the provincial capital, the first shrine he called upon officially in his province was the "ichinomiya". As the purpose of this visit was to announce to the local kami of his appointment to office, it was important that this shrine be dedicated to important local deities and to be located close to the provincial capital. Even after the collapse of the Ritsuryō system by the Kamakura period, the ichinomiya continued to enjoy a certain prestige, and often after all vestiges of the provincial capital had fallen into ruins and its exact location lost, the term "Ichinomiya" was often preserved as a place name. [2] [3][4]

Tachibana Mitsuyoshi, a noted Shinto scholar in the early Edo Period visited ichinomiya nationwide for 23 years starting 1675, and wrote the record of his travels in a 13 volume account. This began the popularization of pilgrimages by the common populace to these shrines. Under State Shinto, the ichinomiya were not accorded any special status, although many were accorded high ranks under the Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines.

While as a rule-of-thumb, there can be only one "first shrine" in each province, several provinces have various rival candidates for the title. This has arisen for various reasons: relocation of the provincial capital can result in a new ichinomiya being appointed, or in some cases the merger of two provinces can result in two ichinomiya for the new province. In other cases, due to the ambiguity in the criteria for ichinomiya designation and due to conflicting ancient records, rival claimants have arisen.

Region Province Shrine Location Shrine ranking
Name Kanji Engishiki Modern Beppyo?
Kinai Yamashiro Kamo Shrine 賀茂神社 Kyoto, Kyoto Myojin Taisha Kanpei Taisha Yes
Yamato Ōmiwa Shrine 大神神社 Sakurai, Nara Myojin Taisha Kanpei Taisha Yes
Kawachi Hiraoka Shrine 枚岡神社 Higashiosaka, Osaka Myojin Taisha Kanpei Taisha Yes
Izumi Ōtori taisha 大鳥大社 Sakai, Osaka Myojin Taisha Kanpei Taisha Yes
Settsu Sumiyoshi-taisha 住吉大社 Osaka, Osaka Myojin Taisha Kanpei Taisha Yes
Tōkaidō Iga Aekuni Shrine 敢国神社 Iga, Mie
Ise Tsubaki Grand Shrine 椿大神社 Suzuka, Mie
Tsubaki Shrine / Nakato Shrine 都波岐神社・奈加等神社 Suzuka, Mie No
Shima Izawa-no-miya 伊雑宮 Shima, Mie No
Izawa Shrine 伊射波神社 Toba, Mie
Owari Masumida Shrine 真清田神社 Ichinomiya, Aichi
Mikawa Toga Shrine 砥鹿神社 Toyokawa, Aichi
Tōtōmi Kotonomama Hachiman-gū 事任八幡宮 Kakegawa, Shizuoka No
Oguni Shrine 小国神社 Shūchi-gun, Shizuoka
Suruga Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha 浅間神社 Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
Izu Mishima Taisha 三嶋大社 Mishima, Shizuoka
Kai Ichinomiya Asama Shrine (Fuefuki) 浅間神社 Fuefuki, Yamanashi
Ichinomiya Sengen Shrine 浅間神社 Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi No
Sagami Samukawa Shrine 寒川神社 Kōza-gun, Kanagawa
Musashi Hikawa Shrine 氷川神社 Ōmiya-ku, Saitama
Ono Shrine 小野神社 Tama, Tokyo No
Awa Awa Shrine 安房神社 Tateyama, Chiba
Susaki Shrine 洲崎神社 Tateyama, Chiba No
Kazusa Tamasaki Shrine 玉前神社 Ichinomiya, Chōsei-gun, Chiba
Shimōsa Katori Jingū 香取神宮 Katori, Chiba
Hitachi Kashima Jingū 鹿島神宮 Kashima, Ibaraki
Tōsandō Ōmi Takebe taisha 建部大社 Ōtsu, Shiga
Mino Nangū Taisha 南宮大社 Fuwa-gun, Gifu
Hida Minashi Shrine 飛騨一宮水無神社 Takayama, Gifu
Shinano Suwa-taisha 諏訪大社 Suwa, Nagano
Kōzuke Nukisaki Shrine 一之宮貫前神社 Tomioka, Gunma
Shimotsuke Futarasan Shrine 日光二荒山神社 Nikkō, Tochigi
Utsunomiya Futarayama Shrine 宇都宮二荒山神社 Utsunomiya, Tochigi No
Mutsu Tsutsukowake Shrine 都都古和気神社 Higashishirakawa-gun, Fukushima
Shiogama Shrine 鹽竈神社 Shiogama, Miyagi
Dewa Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi Shrine 大物忌神社 Akumi-gun, Yamagata
Hokurikudō Wakasa Wakasahiko Shrine 若狭彦神社 Obama, Fukui
Echizen Kehi Shrine 氣比神宮 Tsuruga, Fukui
Kaga Shirayama Hime Shrine 白山比咩神社 Hakusan, Ishikawa
Noto Keta Taisha 気多大社 Hakui, Ishikawa
Etchū Takase Shrine 高瀬神社 Nanto, Toyama Formerly
Keta Shrine 気多神社 Takaoka, Toyama No
Oyama Shrine 雄山神社 Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama
Imizu Shrine 射水神社 Takaoka, Toyama
Echigo Yahiko Shrine 彌彦神社 Nishikanbara-gun, Niigata
Kota Shrine 居多神社 Jōetsu, Niigata No
Amatsu Shrine 天津神社 Itoigawa, Niigata No
Sado Watatsu Shrine 度津神社 Sado, Niigata
San'indō Tamba Izumo-daijingū 出雲大神宮 Kameoka, Kyōto Formerly
Tango Kono Shrine 籠神社 Miyazu, Kyōto
Tajima Izushi Shrine 出石神社 Toyooka, Hyōgo
Awaga Shrine 粟鹿神社 Asago, Hyōgo No
Inaba Ube shrine 宇倍神社 Tottori, Tottori
Hōki Shitori Shrine 倭文神社 Tottori
Izumo Izumo-taisha 出雲大社 Izumo, Shimane
Iwami Mononobe Shrine 物部神社 Ōda, Shimane
Oki Mizuwakasu Shrine 水若酢神社 Oki-gun, Shimane Yes
Yurahime Shrine [ja; simple] 由良比女神社 Oki-gun, Shimane No
San'yōdō Harima Iwa Shrine 伊和神社 Shisō, Hyōgo
Mimasaka Nakayama Shrine 中山神社 Tsuyama, Okayama
Bizen Kibitsuhiko Shrine 吉備津彦神社 Okayama, Okayama
Bitchū Kibitsu Shrine 吉備津神社 Okayama, Okayama
Bingo Kibitsu Shrine 吉備津神社 Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Aki Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社 Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Suō Tamanooya Shrine 玉祖神社 Hōfu, Yamaguchi No
Nagato Sumiyoshi Shrine 住吉神社 Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Nankaidō Kii Hinokuma Jingū 日前神宮・國懸神宮 Wakayama, Wakayama
Niutsuhime Shrine 丹生都比売神社 Katsuragi, Wakayama
Itakiso Shrine 伊太祁曽神社 Wakayama, Wakayama
Awaji Izanagi Jingū 伊弉諾神宮 Awaji, Hyōgo
Awa Ōasahiko Shrine 大麻比古神社 Naruto, Tokushima
Ichinomiya Shrine 一宮神社 Tokushima, Tokushima No
Sanuki Tamura Shrine 田村神社 Takamatsu, Kagawa
Iyo Ōyamazumi Shrine 大山祇神社 Imabari, Ehime
Tosa Tosa Shrine 土佐神社 Kōchi, Kōchi
Saikaidō Chikuzen Sumiyoshi Shrine 住吉神社 Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Hakozaki Shrine 筥崎宮 Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Chikugo Kōra taisha 高良大社 Kurume, Fukuoka
Buzen Usa Jingū 宇佐神宮 Usa, Ōita
Bungo Sasamuta Shrine 西寒多神社 Ōita, Ōita
Yusuhara Hachiman-gū 柞原八幡宮 Ōita, Ōita
Hizen Yodohime Shrine [simple] 河上神社 Saga, Saga No
Chikuri Hachiman-gū 千栗八幡宮 Miyaki, Saga
Higo Aso Shrine 阿蘇神社 Aso, Kumamoto
Hyūga Tsuno Shrine 都農神社 Tsuno, Miyazaki
Ōsumi Kagoshima Shrine 鹿児島神宮 Kirishima, Kagoshima
Satsuma Hirakiki Shrine 枚聞神社 Ibusuki, Kagoshima
Nitta Shrine 新田八幡宮 Satasumasendai, Kagoshima
Iki Amanotanagao Shrine [ja; simple] 天手長男神社 Iki, Nagasaki No
Tsushima Kaijin Shrine 海神神社 Tsushima, Nagasaki

Ninomiya edit

Region Province Shrine Location Shrine ranking
Name Kanji Engishiki Modern Beppyo?
Kinai Izumi Izumi Anashi Shrine [ja]
Tōkaidō Ise Tado Taisha
Owari Ōagata Shrine Yes
Mikawa Chiryu Shrine [ja]
Tōtōmi Mononobe Shrine (Kashiwazaki City) [ja]
Rokuon Shrine [ja]
Suruga Toyosumi Shrine [ja]
Izu Asama Shrine (Mishima City) [ja]
Kai Miwa Shrine (Fuefuki City) [ja]
Sagami Kawakagi Shrine [ja]
Musashi Kanasana Shrine
Ninomiya Shrine (Akiruno City) [ja]
Kazusa Tachibana Shrine (Mobara City) [ja]
Shimōsa Tamazaki Shrine [ja]
Ninomiya Shrine (Funabashi City) [ja]
Hitachi Shizumi Shrine [ja]
Tōsandō Ōmi Hiyoshi Taisha Yes
Mino Ibuki Shrine [ja]
Shinano Ono Shrine & Yahiko Shrine [ja]
Kōzuke Ninomiya Akagi Shrine [ja]
Mutsu Isasumi Shrine
Dewa Kinowa Shrine [ja]
Hokurikudō Echizen Tsurugi Shrine [ja; simple]
Kaga Sugo Ishibe Shrine [ja; simple]
Noto Isurugi Hiko Shrine [ja]
San'indō Hōki Ōgamiyama Shrine
Izumo Sada Shrine
San'yōdō Aki Hayatani Shrine
Nankaidō Awaji Yamato Okunitama Shrine [simple]
Saikaidō Higo Kosa Shrine [ja]


Sannomiya edit

Region Province Shrine Location Shrine ranking
Name Kanji Engishiki Modern Beppyo?
Kinai Izumi Hijiri Shrine (Izumi City) [ja]
Tōkaidō Owari Atsuta Jingu Yes
Mikawa Sanage Shrine [ja]
Suruga Miho Shrine (Shizuoka) [ja]
Izu Sengen Shrine (Mishima City) [ja]
Kai Tamamoro Shrine [ja]
Sagami Hibita Shrine [ja]
Hitachi Yoshida Shrine (Mito City) [ja]
Tōsandō Ōmi Taga-taisha Yes
Mino Tagi Shrine [ja]
Kōzuke Sannomiya Shrine (Yoshioka Town) [ja]
Shimotsuke Murahi Shrine [ja]
Dewa Omoimi Shrine [ja]
Hokurikudō Echigo Hakkai Shrine [ja]
San'indō Tajima Mizutani Shrine [ja]
San'yōdō Suō Nikabe Shrine [ja]
Saikaidō Hizen Tenzan Shrine [ja]


Shinomiya edit

Gonomiya edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Shinto, Ichi no miya; retrieved 2013-5-14.
  2. ^ Shibuya, Nobuhiro (2015). Shokoku jinja Ichinomiya Ninomiya San'nomiya (in Japanese). Yamakawa shuppansha. ISBN 4634150867.
  3. ^ Yoshiki, Emi (2007). Zenkoku `Ichinomiya' tettei gaido (in Japanese). PHP Institute. ISBN 4569669301.
  4. ^ Okada, Shoji (2014). Taiyō no chizuchō 24 zenkoku `Ichinomiya' meguri (in Japanese). Heibonsha. ISBN 4582945619.

External links edit