Kanda Shrine ( 神田明神 , Kanda-myōjin , officially 神田神社 Kanda-jinja ) , is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo , Japan . The shrine dates back 1,270 years, but the current structure was rebuilt several times due to fire and earthquakes. It is situated in one of the most expensive estate areas of Tokyo. Kanda Shrine was an important shrine to both the warrior class and citizens of Japan, especially during the Edo period , when shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu paid his respects at Kanda Shrine. Due in part to the proximity of the Kanda Shrine to Akihabara , the shrine has become a mecca for technophiles who frequent Akihabara.
44-480: Kanda Shrine was first built in the second year of the Tenpyō Era (730 AD ), in the fishing village of Shibasaki, near the modern Ōtemachi district. In order to accommodate the expansion of Edo Castle , the shrine was later moved to the former Kanda ward in 1603, then moved once again to its modern site on a small hill near Akihabara in 1616. The shrine has been rebuilt and restored many times. The current structure
88-517: A kami appears in a dream to communicate its will) as vocational functions in their service to shrines. As time passed, they left the shrines and began working independently in secular society. In addition to a medium or a miko (or a geki , a male shaman), the site of a takusen may occasionally also be attended by a sayaniwa who interprets the words of the possessed person to make them comprehensible to other people present. Kamigakari and takusen may be passive, when
132-458: A kami by placing a white-feathered arrow on the roof of her house. Contemporary miko are often seen at Shinto shrines, where they assist with shrine functions, perform ceremonial dances, offer omikuji fortune telling, sell souvenirs, and assist a kannushi in Shinto rites. Kuly describes the contemporary miko as: "A far distant relative of her premodern shamanic sister, she
176-440: A coloured wedding dress and perform the corresponding tradition of the wedding toast. The resemblance of a wedding ceremony as the initiation rite suggests that the trainee, still a virgin, had become the bride of the kami she served (called a Tamayori Hime ( 玉依姫 ) ). During her trance, said kami had requested the girl to his shrine. In some areas of Japan she had to bring a pot filled with rice ( meshibitsu ) and
220-505: A compound of the kanji 巫 ("shaman"), and 女 ("woman"). Miko was archaically written 神子 (" kami " + "child") and 巫子 ("shaman child"). The term is not to be confused with miko meaning "prince", "princess" or "duke", and which is otherwise variously spelt 御子 ("august child"), 皇子 ("imperial child"), 皇女 ("imperial daughter", also pronounced himemiko ), 親王 ("prince") or 王 ("king", "prince" or "duke"). These spellings of miko were commonly used in
264-462: A form of state Shinto headed by the emperor—the shaman-in-chief of the nation—meant that Shinto needed to be segregated from both Buddhism and folk-religious beliefs. As a result, official discourse increasingly repeated negative views of Miko and their institutions. There was an edict called Miko Kindanrei ( 巫女禁断令 ) enforced by security forces loyal to Imperial forces, forbidding all spiritual practices by miko , issued in 1873, by
308-424: A member of the tribe, would teach the girl in training the techniques required to be in control of her trance state. This would be done by rituals including washings with cold water, regular purifying, abstinence and the observation of the common taboos like death, illness and blood. She would also study how to communicate with kami and spirits of the deceased, as a medium, by being possessed by those spirits. This
352-426: A pan. An old, long-abandoned practice saw miko engage in sexual intercourse with a kannushi , who would represent the kami . Any resulting child would be considered the child of the kami ( 御子神 , mikogami ) . In some cases, girls or women were visited at night by a travelling spirit ( 稀人 , marebito ) . After this visit, the woman announced to the public her new position of being possessed by
396-611: A person speaks after suddenly becoming involuntarily possessed or has a dream revelation; they can also be active, when spirit possession is induced in a specific person to ascertain the divine will or gain a divine revelation. Miko are known by many names; Fairchild lists 26 terms for "shrine-attached Miko " and 43 for "non-shrine-attached Miko ". Other names are ichiko ( 巫子 , "shaman child") , or "market/town child" ( 巫子 ) (both likely ateji meaning "female medium; fortuneteller"), and reibai ( 霊媒 , meaning "spirit go-between, medium") . In English,
440-694: A powerful spirit, and so decided to move Kanda Shrine to its modern location. During the Meiji period , the Emperor Meiji was faced with public pressure to include Kanda Shrine in the Tokyo Ten Shrines ( 東京十社 , Tokyo Jissha ) , but hesitated to do so because of the shrine's association with Taira no Masakado, who was seen as a dangerous anti-government demagogue . This was temporarily resolved by removing Taira no Masakado as an enshrined kami. However, Masakado's spirit proved so popular amongst
484-461: A secret language, only known by insiders (other shamans of the tribe) and so discovered the secrets of fortune-telling and magical formulas. After the training, which could take three to seven years, the girl would get her initiation rite to become a real shaman. This mystic ceremony was witnessed by her mentor, other elders and fellow shamans. The girl wore a white shroud as a symbol for the end of her previous life. The elders began chanting and after
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#1732791745564528-400: A shaman went voluntarily into training or was appointed by the village chieftains. To achieve this, such a person had to have some potential. To become a shaman, the girl (still at a young age, mostly after the start of the menstruation cycle) had to undergo very intensive training specific to the kuchiyose miko . An acknowledged elder shaman, who could be a family member (like an aunt) or
572-417: A while the girl started to shiver. Next, her mentor would ask the girl which kami had possessed her and therefore be the one she would serve. As soon as she answered, the mentor would throw a rice cake into her face, causing the girl to faint. The elders would bring the girl to a warm bed and keep her warm until she woke up. When the whole ordeal was over and the girl had woken up, she was permitted to wear
616-509: A woman close to the kami diminished as a patriarchal, militaristic society took over. During the Edo period (1603–1868), writes Groemer, "the organizational structures and arts practiced by female shamans in eastern Japan underwent significant transformations". Though in the Meiji period (1868–1912), many shamanistic practices were outlawed: After 1867 the Meiji government's desire to create
660-414: Is different from Wikidata Articles containing Japanese-language text Miko A miko ( 巫女 ) , or shrine maiden , is a young priestess who works at a Shinto shrine . Miko were once likely seen as shamans , but are understood in modern Japanese culture to be an institutionalized role in daily life, trained to perform tasks, ranging from sacred cleansing to performing
704-421: Is most probably a university student collecting a modest wage in this part-time position." The ethnologist Kunio Yanagita (1875–1962), who first studied Japanese female shamans, differentiated them into jinja miko ( 神社巫女 , "shrine shamans") who dance with bells and participate in yudate ( 湯立て , "boiling water") rituals, kuchiyose miko ( ロ寄せ巫女 , "spirit medium shamans") who speak on behalf of
748-531: The Azusa Yumi ( 梓弓 , "catalpa bow") , the tamagushi ( 玉串 ) (offertory sakaki -tree branches), and the gehōbako ( 外法箱 , a "supernatural box that contains dolls, animal and human skulls ... [and] Shinto prayer beads") . Miko also use bells, drums, candles, gohei , and bowls of rice in ceremonies. The Japanese words miko and fujo ("female shaman" and "shrine maiden" respectively) are usually written 巫女 as
792-695: The Daibutsu (Great Buddha), later to be completed and placed in Tōdai-ji , Nara . 743 ( Tenpyō 15 ): The law of Perpetual Ownership of Cultivated Lands (墾田永代私財法) issued 744 ( Tenpyō 16 ): Naniwa-kyō announced as capital. 745 ( Tenpyō 17 ): The capital returns to Heijō-kyō ( Nara ), construction of the Great Buddha resumes. 749 ( Tenpyō 20 ): After a 25-year reign, Emperor Shōmu abdicates in favor of his daughter, Takano -hime , who will become Empress Kōken. After his abdication, Shomu took
836-512: 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
880-9060: The Kuni Palace site, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education) ; retrieved 2011-07-14 ^ Varley, pp. 141–142. ^ Varley, p. 141; Brown, p. 273. ^ Titsingh, p. 72 , p. 72, at Google Books . ^ Varley, p. 143. References [ edit ] Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past . Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0 ; OCLC 251325323 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia . Cambridge: Harvard University Press . ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5 ; OCLC 58053128 Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran ; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon . Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691 Varley, H. Paul . (1980). A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa . New York: Columbia University Press . ISBN 9780231049405 ; OCLC 6042764 External links [ edit ] National Diet Library , "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection Preceded by Jinki Era or nengō Tenpyō 729–749 Succeeded by Tenpyō-kanpō v t e Japanese era names ( nengō ) by period 538–1264 Asuka Heian Heian (cont'd) Heian (cont'd) Heian (cont'd) Heian (cont'd) Kamakura (cont'd) 645–650 Taika 650–654 Hakuchi 686–686 Shuchō 701–704 Taihō 704–708 Keiun 708–715 Wadō Nara 715–717 Reiki 717–724 Yōrō 724–729 Jinki 729–749 Tenpyō 749 Tenpyō-kanpō 749–757 Tenpyō-shōhō 757–765 Tenpyō-hōji 765–767 Tenpyō-jingo 767–770 Jingo-keiun 770–781 Hōki 781–782 Ten'ō 782–806 Enryaku 806–810 Daidō 810–824 Kōnin 824–834 Tenchō 834–848 Jōwa 848–851 Kashō 851–854 Ninju 854–857 Saikō 857–859 Ten'an 859–877 Jōgan 877–885 Gangyō 885–889 Ninna 889–898 Kanpyō 898–901 Shōtai 901–923 Engi 923–931 Enchō 931–938 Jōhei 938–947 Tengyō 947–957 Tenryaku 957–961 Tentoku 961–964 Ōwa 964–968 Kōhō 968–970 Anna 970–973 Tenroku 973–976 Ten'en 976–978 Jōgen 978–983 Tengen 983–985 Eikan 985–987 Kanna 987–988 Eien 988–990 Eiso 990–995 Shōryaku 995–999 Chōtoku 999–1004 Chōhō 1004–1012 Kankō 1012–1017 Chōwa 1017–1021 Kannin 1021–1024 Jian 1024–1028 Manju 1028–1037 Chōgen 1037–1040 Chōryaku 1040–1044 Chōkyū 1044–1046 Kantoku 1046–1053 Eishō 1053–1058 Tengi 1058–1065 Kōhei 1065–1069 Jiryaku 1069–1074 Enkyū 1074–1077 Jōhō 1077–1081 Jōryaku 1081–1084 Eihō 1084–1087 Ōtoku 1087–1094 Kanji 1094–1096 Kahō 1096–1097 Eichō 1097–1099 Jōtoku 1099–1104 Kōwa 1104–1106 Chōji 1106–1108 Kajō 1108–1110 Tennin 1110–1113 Ten'ei 1113–1118 Eikyū 1118–1120 Gen'ei 1120–1124 Hōan 1124–1126 Tenji 1126–1131 Daiji 1131–1132 Tenshō 1132–1135 Chōshō 1135–1141 Hōen 1141–1142 Eiji 1142–1144 Kōji 1144–1145 Ten'yō 1145–1151 Kyūan 1151–1154 Ninpei 1154–1156 Kyūju 1156–1159 Hōgen 1159–1160 Heiji 1160–1161 Eiryaku 1161–1163 Ōhō 1163–1165 Chōkan 1165–1166 Eiman 1166–1169 Nin'an 1169–1171 Kaō 1171–1175 Jōan 1175–1177 Angen 1177–1181 Jishō 1181–1182 Yōwa 1182–1184 Juei 1184–1185 Genryaku Kamakura 1185–1190 Bunji 1190–1199 Kenkyū 1199–1201 Shōji 1201–1204 Kennin 1204–1206 Genkyū 1206–1207 Ken'ei 1207–1211 Jōgen 1211–1213 Kenryaku 1213–1219 Kempo 1219–1222 Jōkyū 1222–1224 Jōō 1224–1225 Gennin 1225–1227 Karoku 1227–1229 Antei 1229–1232 Kangi 1232–1233 Jōei 1233–1234 Tenpuku 1234–1235 Bunryaku 1235–1238 Katei 1238–1239 Ryakunin 1239–1240 En'ō 1240–1243 Ninji 1243–1247 Kangen 1247–1249 Hōji 1249–1256 Kenchō 1256–1257 Kōgen 1257–1259 Shōka 1259–1260 Shōgen 1260–1261 Bun'ō 1261–1264 Kōchō 1264– present Kamakura (cont'd) Nanboku-chō Nanboku-chō Muromachi (cont'd) Momoyama Edo (cont'd) Modern Japan 1264–1275 Bun'ei 1275–1278 Kenji 1278–1288 Kōan 1288–1293 Shōō 1293–1299 Einin 1299–1302 Shōan 1302–1303 Kengen 1303–1306 Kagen 1306–1308 Tokuji 1308–1311 Enkyō 1311–1312 Ōchō 1312–1317 Shōwa 1317–1319 Bunpō 1319–1321 Gen'ō 1321–1324 Genkō 1324–1326 Shōchū 1326–1329 Karyaku 1329–1331 Gentoku 1331–1334 Genkō 1332–1333 Shōkyō Northern Court 1334–1338 Kenmu 1338–1342 Ryakuō 1342–1345 Kōei 1345–1350 Jōwa 1350–1352 Kannō 1352–1356 Bunna 1356–1361 Enbun 1361–1362 Kōan 1362–1368 Jōji 1368–1375 Ōan 1375–1379 Eiwa 1379–1381 Kōryaku 1381–1384 Eitoku 1384–1387 Shitoku 1387–1389 Kakei 1389–1390 Kōō 1390–1394 Meitoku Southern Court 1334–1336 Kenmu 1336–1340 Engen 1340–1346 Kōkoku 1346–1370 Shōhei 1370–1372 Kentoku 1372–1375 Bunchū 1375–1381 Tenju 1381–1384 Kōwa 1384–1392 Genchū Muromachi 1394–1428 Ōei 1428–1429 Shōchō 1429–1441 Eikyō 1441–1444 Kakitsu 1444–1449 Bun'an 1449–1452 Hōtoku 1452–1455 Kyōtoku 1455–1457 Kōshō 1457–1460 Chōroku 1460–1466 Kanshō 1466–1467 Bunshō 1467–1469 Ōnin 1469–1487 Bunmei 1487–1489 Chōkyō 1489–1492 Entoku 1492–1501 Meiō 1501–1521 Bunki 1504–1521 Eishō 1521–1528 Daiei 1528–1532 Kyōroku 1532–1555 Tenbun 1555–1558 Kōji 1558–1570 Eiroku 1570–1573 Genki 1573–1592 Tenshō 1592–1596 Bunroku 1596–1615 Keichō Edo 1615–1624 Genna 1624–1644 Kan'ei 1644–1648 Shōhō 1648–1652 Keian 1652–1655 Jōō 1655–1658 Meireki 1658–1661 Manji 1661–1673 Kanbun 1673–1681 Enpō 1681–1684 Tenna 1684–1688 Jōkyō 1688–1704 Genroku 1704–1711 Hōei 1711–1716 Shōtoku 1716–1736 Kyōhō 1736–1741 Genbun 1741–1744 Kanpō 1744–1748 Enkyō 1748–1751 Kan'en 1751–1764 Hōreki 1764–1772 Meiwa 1772–1781 An'ei 1781–1789 Tenmei 1789–1801 Kansei 1801–1804 Kyōwa 1804–1818 Bunka 1818–1830 Bunsei 1830–1844 Tenpō 1844–1848 Kōka 1848–1854 Kaei 1854–1860 Ansei 1860–1861 Man'en 1861–1864 Bunkyū 1864–1865 Genji 1865–1868 Keiō 1868–1912 Meiji 1912–1926 Taishō 1926–1989 Shōwa 1989–2019 Heisei 2019–present Reiwa Not recognized by
924-826: The Northern Court, which retained Gentoku until 1332. Not recognized by the Southern Court. Genchū discontinued upon reunification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392 and Meitoku retained until 1394. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tenpyō&oldid=1229945472 " Categories : Japanese eras 720s in Japan 730s in Japan 740s in Japan 729 beginnings 749 endings Hidden categories: Webarchive template archiveis links Articles with short description Short description
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#1732791745564968-490: The Religious Affairs Department ( 教部 ) . The Shinto kagura dance ceremony, which originated with "ritual dancing to convey divine oracles", has been transformed in the 20th century into a popular ceremonial dance called Miko-mai ( 巫女舞 ) or Miko-kagura ( 巫女神楽 ) . The position of a shaman passed from generation to generation, but sometimes someone not directly descended from
1012-469: The [Ryukyu Islands]. In Japan these women were priestesses, soothsayers, magicians, prophets and shamans in the folk religion, and they were the chief performers in organized Shinto. These women were called Miko, and the author calls the complex "Mikoism" for lack of a suitable English word. The word can also mean "shrine virgin". Miko traditions date back to the prehistoric Jōmon period of Japan, when female shamans would go into "trances and convey
1056-458: The building grounds. The three major kami enshrined are Daikokuten , Ebisu , and Taira no Masakado . As Daikokuten and Ebisu both belong to the Seven Gods of Fortune (Japanese, "Shichifukujin"), Kanda Shrine is a popular place for businessmen and entrepreneurs to pray for wealth and prosperity. Taira no Masakado was a land-owning government official who led a massive insurrection against
1100-478: The commoners, that it was symbolically returned to the shrine after the Second World War . 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
1144-477: The country. The more formal name for these "kokubunji" was "konkomyo-shitenno-gokoku no tera" (meaning "temples for the protection of the country by the four guardian deities of the golden light"). The more formal name for these "bokubunniji" was "hokke-metuzai no tera" (meaning "nunneries for eliminating sin by means of the Lotus Sutra"). 743 ( Tenpyō 15 ): The Emperor issues a rescript to build
1188-1007: The deceased, and kami uba ( 神姥 , "god women") who engage in cult worship and invocations (for instance, the Tenrikyo founder Nakayama Miki ). Researchers have further categorized contemporary miko in terms of their diverse traditions and practices. Such categorizations include blind itako (concentrated in north and east Japan), mostly-blind okamin (north and east Japan), blind waka or owaka (northeastern Japan), moriko (north and east of Tokyo), nono (central Japan), blind zatokaka (northwest Japan), sasa hataki who tap sasa ("bamboo grass") on their faces (northeast of Tokyo), plus family and village organizations. Others have divided miko or fujo by blindness between blind ogamiya ( 尾上屋 , "invocation specialist") or ogamisama who perform kuchiyose and spirit mediumship and sighted miko or kamisama who perform divination and invocations. In
1232-639: The growing influence of Genbō and others. 740 ( Tenpyō 12, 9th month ): Under the command of Ōno no Azumabito , an army of 17,000 is sent to Kyushu to stop the potential disturbance. 740 ( Tenpyō 12, 10th month ): Hirotsugu is decisively beaten in battle; and he is beheaded in Hizen Province . 740 ( Tenpyō 12 ): The capital is moved to Kuni-kyō . 741 ( Tenpyō 13 ): The Emperor calls for nationwide establishment of provincial temples . Provincial temples ( "kokubunji" ) and provincial nunneries ( "kokubunniji" ) were established throughout
1276-545: 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. 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
1320-645: The new one commenced in Jinki 6, on the 5th day of the 8th month of 729. Events of the Tenpyō era [ edit ] [REDACTED] Ground-plan of Heijō-kyō (Nara) 740 ( Tenpyō 12, 8th month ): In the court of Emperor Shōmu in Nara , Kibi no Makibi and Genbō conspire to discredit Fujiwara no Hirotsugu , who is Dazai shoni in Kyushu . 740 ( Tenpyō 12, 9th month ): Hirotsugu revolts in reaction to
1364-3238: 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. Tenpy%C5%8D Period of Japanese history (729–749) Part of a series on the History of Japan [REDACTED] Periods Paleolithic before 14,000 BC Jōmon 14,000–1000 BC Yayoi 1000 BC – 300 AD Kofun 300–538 AD Asuka 538–710 Nara 710–794 Heian Former Nine Years' War Later Three-Year War Genpei War 794–1185 Kamakura Jōkyū War Mongol invasions Genkō War Kenmu Restoration 1185–1333 Muromachi Nanboku-chō period Sengoku period 1336–1573 Azuchi–Momoyama Nanban trade Imjin War Battle of Sekigahara 1573–1603 Edo (Tokugawa) Tokugawa shogunate Invasion of Ryukyu Siege of Osaka Sakoku Perry Expedition Convention of Kanagawa Bakumatsu Meiji Restoration Boshin War 1603–1868 Meiji Ryūkyū Disposition Invasion of Taiwan (1874) Satsuma Rebellion First Sino-Japanese War Treaty of Shimonoseki Triple Intervention Invasion of Taiwan (1895) Colonization of Taiwan Boxer Rebellion Russo-Japanese War Treaty of Portsmouth Japan–Korea Treaty Colonization of Korea 1868–1912 Taishō World War I Intervention in Siberia Great Kantō earthquake 1912–1926 Shōwa Militarism Financial crisis Nanking incident Mukden Incident Invasion of Manchuria May 15 incident February 26 incident Anti-Comintern Pact Tripartite Pact Second Sino-Japanese War World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor Pacific War Atomic bombings Soviet–Japanese War Surrender of Japan Occupation of Japan Postwar Japan Anpo protests Economic miracle Asset price bubble 1926–1989 Heisei Lost Decades Great Hanshin earthquake Cool Japan Tōhoku earthquake Imperial transition 1989–2019 Reiwa COVID-19 pandemic Abe assassination Noto earthquake 2019–present Topics Capital punishment Currency Earthquakes Economy Era names Education Empire Foreign relations Geography Historiography Religion Buddhism Christianity Islam Judaism Shinto Military Naval Politics Post-war Science and technology Sports World Heritage Sites Glossary History Timeline v t e Tenpyō ( 天平 )
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1408-422: The practice of ecstasy outside of the authority of the shrines were published. These bulls were not only aimed at ecstasy, but were aimed at magicians, priests, sorcerers, etc. It was an attempt to gain complete control, while at the same time it aimed at eradicating abuses which were occurring. During the feudal Kamakura period (1185–1333) when Japan was controlled by warring shōgun states: [T]he miko
1452-528: The ruling class". "In addition to her ritual performances of ecstatic trance", writes Kuly, "[the miko ] performed a variety of religious and political functions". One traditional school of miko , Kuly adds, "claimed to descend from the Goddess Uzume ". During the Nara period (710–794) and Heian period (794–1185), government officials tried to control miko practices. As Fairchild notes: In 780 A.D. and in 807 A.D. official bulls against
1496-421: The sacred Kagura dance. The traditional attire of a miko is a pair of red hakama ( 緋袴 ) (divided, pleated trousers), a white kosode (a predecessor of the kimono ), and some white or red hair ribbons. In Shinto , the color white symbolizes purity. The garment put over the kosode during Kagura dances is called a chihaya ( 千早 ) . Traditional miko tools include
1540-476: 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
1584-417: The titles of ancient Japanese nobles, such as Prince Kusakabe ( 草壁皇子 , Kusakabe no Miko or Kusakabe no Ōji ). Miko once performed spirit possession and takusen (whereby the possessed person serves as a "medium" ( yorimashi ) to communicate the divine will or message of that kami or spirit; also included in the category of takusen is "dream revelation" ( mukoku ), in which
1628-958: The tonsure, thus becoming the first retired emperor to become a Buddhist priest. Empress Kōmyō, following her husband's example, also took holy vows in becoming a Buddhist nun. Notes [ edit ] ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). " Tempyō " in Japan Encyclopedia , p. 957 , p. 957, at Google Books ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File Archived 2012-05-24 at archive.today . ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 67–73 , p. 67, at Google Books ; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō , pp. 272–273; Varley, H. Paul. Jinnō Shōtōki , pp. 141–143. ^ Brown, p. 273. ^ Titsingh, p. 71 , p. 71, at Google Books . ^ Titsingh, p. 71 , p. 71, at Google Books ; 恭仁宮跡の発掘調査 (Excavations on
1672-435: The types of harm that could come to them. The two-storey main gate, Zuishin-mon (隨神門), marks the entrance to Kanda Shrine. Zuishin-mon was reconstructed in 1995 with cypress wood, and is built with an irimoya styled roof. The shrine building is constructed in the Shinto style of Gongen-zukuri . It is painted vermilion, and decorated with gold and lacquered interiors. Many sculptures of its enshrined kami can be found on
1716-510: The word is often translated as "shrine maiden", though freer renderings often simply use the phrase "female shaman" ( shamanka ) or, as Lafcadio Hearn translated it, "Divineress". Some scholars prefer the transliteration miko , contrasting the Japanese Mikoism with other Asian terms for female shamans. As Fairchild explains: Women played an important role in a region stretching from Manchuria, China, Korea and Japan to
1760-591: The words of the gods" (the kami ), an act comparable with "the pythia or sibyl in Ancient Greece." The earliest record of anything resembling the term miko is of the Chinese reference to Himiko , Japan's earliest substantiated historical reference (not legendary); however, it is completely unknown whether Himiko was a miko , or even if miko existed in those days. The early miko were important social figures who were "associated with
1804-400: Was a Japanese era name ( 年号 , nengō , "year name") after Jinki and before Tenpyō-kanpō . This period spanned the years from August 729 through April 749. The reigning emperor was Shōmu -tennō ( 聖武天皇 ) . Change of era [ edit ] 729 Tenpyō gannen ( 天平元年 ) : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and
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1848-435: Was achieved by chanting and dancing, thus therefore the girl was taught melodies and intonations that were used in songs, prayers and magical formulas, supported by drum and rattlers. Other attributes used for rituals were mirrors (to attract the kami ) and swords ( katana ). She also needed the knowledge of the several names of the kami that were important for her village, as well as their function. Finally she learned
1892-610: Was destroyed in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and rebuilt in 1934 with concrete, and thus survived the Tokyo firebombing of World War II , unlike many of Japan's historical structures. Restoration is being done on Kanda Shrine, and work continues today. 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
1936-401: Was forced into a state of mendicancy as the shrines and temples that provided her with a livelihood fell into bankruptcy. Disassociated from a religious context, her performance moved further away from a religious milieu and more toward one of a non-ecclesiastical nature. The travelling miko , known as the aruki miko , became associated with prostitution. ... [T]he miko 's stature as
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