海神社/紀の川市 Kai Jinja: a mistery of “Marine Shrine” in the mountains
2020年 06月 20日
海神社 (かいじんじゃ): 山の中にある海神社の謎
和歌山県の紀の川流域の山中に「海神社」が鎮座しています。一千年の歴史を持つこの神社。なぜ海岸から遠く離れたこの山の中に「海神社」?という謎は昔から人びとの興味を惹きつけてきました。
Kai Jinja: a mistery of “Marine Shrine” in the mountains
The mistery of “Kai Jinja (Marine Shrine)” has attracted people's attention for many years. The shrine, with the history of almost 1,000 years, is located in the mountains near Kinokawa River in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture.
Why was it named “Marine Shrine” even though it was built dozens of miles away from the closest sea shore?
神社のルーツには諸説あります。先ず、社伝によると、祭祀を司った忌部スクネ(いんべのすくね)が神のお告げを受け、熊野の楯(たて)ヶ崎から来た海の神様、豊玉彦命と国津姫命をお祀りした、というもの。
別の説によると、瀬戸内海に居住していた古代人が和歌山に来て紀の川を遡り、奈良の吉野川流域にまで到達。その地域一帯に海の神様をお祀りしました。現在でも吉野地域の山間部に別の海神社があります。
また、紀の川に近い葛城山系や熊野で修業した修験者が勧請したという説明もあります。
There are a few legends that might give an answer to the long-standing riddle. First, the shrine’s two main deities were invited from the sea coast of the Kumano region in the southen part of the Kii Peninsula. According to the shrine’s historical documents, Imbenosukune, a priest, had a revelation from god and set up the shrine to house the deities.
Another legend says thant ancient tribes who lived along the Inland Sea in the western Japan brought the deities here. The tribes traveled westward to Wakayama and went up Kinokawa River, reaching as far as the deep mountains in the Yoshino region in Nara Prefecture.
The tribes built the shrines dedicated to their marine gods here and there in the places they resided. Indeed, there is another “Marine Shrine” in the mountains in Yoshino.
Others believe that those who practiced mountain asceticism (Shugendo) brought the deities here. The Katsuragi mountain range, which hosts a number of sacred spots for the religion, runs near the “Marine Shrine” in Kinokawa City.
しかしながら、1585年の豊臣秀吉による紀州遠征では本殿や古文書、宝物等も兵火にかかり破壊されてしまいました。
The Marine Shrine had been worshipped widely in local communities in Kinokawa City and it used to own a vast territory.
However, the shrine was devastated in the 16th century by a raid by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who subsequently brought the country under his sway. Not only the shrine’s main pavilions but also its old documents and treasure were destroyed and burned down.
The shrine has a so-called Ryobu torii gate. This gate has smaller gates on each side. The style is sometimes observed at the shrines associated with the sea, such as Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture. (Mayumi O)