Kanda Shrine
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2011) |
Kanda Shrine 神田明神 | |
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〒 101-0021 | |
Geographic coordinates | 35°42′07″N 139°46′04″E / 35.70194°N 139.76778°E |
Architecture | |
Date established | 730 |
Website | |
www | |
Glossary of Shinto |
Kanda Shrine (神田明神, Kanda-myōjin, officially 神田神社 Kanda-jinja), is a
History
Kanda Shrine was first built in the second year of the
Due to its proximity to the Akihabara Electric Town, the shrine has become a mecca for the technophiles who frequent Akihabara. The Kanda Shrine sells talismans specifically for blessing electronic devices against the types of harm that could come to them.[2]
Architecture
The two-storey main gate, Zuishin-mon (隨神門), marks the entrance to Kanda Shrine. Zuishin-mon was reconstructed in 1995 with
Enshrined Kami
The three major kami enshrined are
Taira no Masakado was a land-owning government official who led a massive insurrection against the Heian government and declared himself the "New Emperor" (新皇). He was later elevated to the status of a local kami out of a mixture of fear and reverence. He is an important figure in the shrine's history. After his defeat in 940 AD, he was decapitated by Fujiwara no Hidesato and his severed head was brought to the Shibasaki (Edo) area in a wooden bucket (首桶) and buried on a low hill near the shrine's location today. Locals who respected his defiance, and fearing his curse, enshrined him in Kanda Shrine, and his spirit is said to watch over the surrounding areas. It was rumored that when his shrine fell into disrepair, Masakado's angry spirit wrought natural disasters and plagues upon the nearby lands. It is also said that Tokugawa Ieyasu felt uncomfortable to have his castle built close to such a powerful spirit, and so decided to move Kanda Shrine to its modern location.
During the
Festivals
Kanda festival (Kanda Matsuri) is one of the three major Shinto festivals of Tokyo, started in 1600 by Tokugawa Ieyasu to celebrate his decisive victory at the battle of Sekigahara. At the time, the festival was important enough to be named a state festival, and its highly decorated mikoshi were paraded down the main streets and into Edo castle, so that even the shōgun could observe the celebrations. Today, it is held in honor of the enshrined kami, and celebrated around May 15 of every odd year.
Daikoku festival is also held at Kanda Shrine in January.
Cultural references
In the anime and multimedia franchise Love Live! School Idol Project, the character Nozomi Tojo serves as a shrine maiden at the Kandamyoujin shrine, while she and the other members of protagonist idol group µ's train by running up and down stairs leading to the shrine. In 2015, the shrine's administrators named Nozomi as an official mascot.[3]
Images
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Paper Lantern
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Chōzuya Pavilion
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The Honden
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Lanterns
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Roof Designs
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Rail Ornamentation
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Monument to Zenigata Heiji
References
- ^ "Visiting Japan In May? Enjoy The Kanda Festival In Tokyo! | MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん". MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん (in Japanese). 17 April 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Kandamyoujin shrine sells IT talismans". KandaMyoujin.or.jp.
- ^ 神田明神 [@kanda_myoujin] (January 2, 2015). "TOKYO MXテレビで、アニメ「ラブライブ!」が、1月4日23時から放送されます。 神田明神公式アイドルの「東條 希」が出演していて、神田明神もアニメ中に出てきます。 僕、ししまいも応援していますよm(_ _)m" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
- Official Site (Japanese)