日本遺産認定「百世の安堵」~津波と復興の記憶が生きる広川の防災遺産~

紀州有田・南紀男山、廣八幡神社
「稲むらの火」で村人が避難した神社

 
廣八幡神社楼門

Hiro-Hachiman-Gu Shrine

Location & Access

206 Kaminakano Hirogawa-cho Arida-gun Wakayama-ken
TEL: 0737-62-2371/ 0737-63-5731
About a 20 minute walk or 5 minutes by taxi from JR (Japan Railways) Yuasa Station

Enshrined Deities

  • Honden (Main Shrine)
    Emperor Ojin (Hondawakeno-Mikoto)
    Empress Jingu (Okinagatarashihimeno-Mikoto)
    Emperor Chuai (Tarashinakatsuhikono-Mikoto)
  • Wakamiya-sha (Secondary Shrine)
    Emperor Nintoku (Osagino-Mikoto)
  • Kora-sha (Secondary Shrine)
    Takenouchino-Sukune (a legendary Japanese hero-statesman)
  • Tenjin-sha (Secondary Shrine)
    Sugawara Mitizane (a great scholar, calligrapher and statesman)

History

Hiro-Hachiman Jinja was once called Hachimangu. It was famous as the shrine of Ubusunagami (God of birth) for seven villages in the Hiro manor, having been revered by people since ancient times. In addition, the shrine is affiliated with Lafcadio Hearn’s (Yagumo Koizumi) “A Living God”, a story in a government-designated textbook. When a big tsunami hit Hiromura Village, many villagers escaped to the safe high grounds of Hachimangu. In chronological order the history of Hachimangu is listed as follows:

  • Legend has it that Empress Jingu, on her way back from the legendary military invasion of Korea, paid a royal visit to Hiro-mura Village, Arida.
  • Kii-zoku-Hudoki (Topography of Kishu-Book 2) says Hiro-Hachiman Jinja was founded in the time of Emperor Kinmei (reigned from 539 to 571).
  • During the Tensho era (1573-1592), in 1585, Hiro-Hachiman Jinja’s treasure house and some other buildings were destroyed in a fire during the war with the Toyotomi clan, bringing about the decline of the shrine at one time. But in the Edo period Kishu Tokugawa (The Kii branch of the Tokugawa) ruled Kishu (Wakayama), protecting the Hachimangu cordially. As a result, the shrine gradually regained its prosperity.
  • Kii-Meisho-Zue (Illustrated Guide to Kii [Kishu]), published in the Edo period, describes the pictures and origin of Hiro-Hachimangu, such as taho-to (two-storied pagada), shoro (bell tower), west gate, Kannon-do (Mercy Goddess temple), which shows well syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. However, when Shintoism and Buddhism were separated by order in the Meiji era, all these buildings were removed.
  • At present, the restoration works are under way for the first time since the year of Showa 53 (1978). They are scheduled to be completed in September, Heisei 28 (2016). The major buildings, such as Honden (Main Shrine), Tenjin-sha (Secondary Shrine), and Romon (two-storied gate) and so on, have already been restored, regaining the splendor of their past times.

Cultural Properties

National cultural properties
  • Main Hall (Nagare style) (built in 1414, Muromachi period)
  • Wakamiya-shrine Main Hall (Kasuga style) (built in 1493, Muromachi period)
  • Kora-shrine Main Hall (Kasuga style) (built in 1502, Muromachi period)
  • Tenjin-shrine Main Hall (Kasuga style) (built in 1652, Edo period)
  • Haiden (hall of worship) (Irimoya style) (built in 1704, Edo period)
  • Romon (two-storied gate) (Irimoya style) (built in Kamakura period)
  • Tanto (short sword) with the signature of Raikunimitsu (swordsmith from Kamakura period to the period of the North and South Dynasties)
  • Munafuda (28 ridge cards) ・・・cards put on the ridges on the occasion of setting up the framework and for repairs/ valuable as historical materials
Prefectural cultural properties
  • Buden (stage for dancing) (wooden, the roof covered with shingles, kirizuma style)
  • Nanki-Otokoyama Sansai Komainu (a pair of pottery guardian dogs) ・・・The works by Hikarugawatei Senba (Tsuchiya Masakichi), a master potter of the Edo period. One of the first-class Nanki- Otokoyama-yaki (ware) works. A number of ceramic works were produced in the kilns on a hill (Otokoyama) supported by Kishu Tokugawa in the Edo period.
  • The Monument to the memory of Hamaguchi Goryo (an educator and statesman in Wakayama, Meiji period, the first president of a prefectural assembly, famous as the model of “Living God” by Lafcadio Hearn) The inscription was made by Katsu Kaishu, a vassal of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The calligraphy was written by Iwaya Ichiroku, one of the three greatest calligraphers of the Meiji period.
Cultural properties designated by the town
  • Wooden Komainu (a guardian dog)
  • 600 volumes of Daihannyakyo Sutra (Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra)
  • Mikoshi (a portable shrine) ・・・dedicated by Shinkamigoto cho, Nagasaki prefecture.
National folk entertainment
  • Dengaku-mai (Arida-dengaku) ・・・an ancient form of music and dance performance that originated among peasants.
Prefectural intangible cultural properties
  • Otoda-maizishi (lion dance) ・・・The dance uniquely expresses the journey through the fifty-three stages of the Tokaido Highway.

Festivals and Events during the year

Jan. 1 Gantan-sai (New Year’s festival)
Jan. 15 Donto-matsuri festival (Shinto ritual of burning New Year decorations.)
Jan. 25 Hatsu Tenjin (the first festival of the New Year for Tenjin-sha of the year)
Feb. 3 Setsubun festival (bean-throwing festival)
Mar. (2nd or 3rd Sunday) Kenkasai (flower festival)
Apr. 25 Haru-matsuri (spring festival)
Jul. 14 Natsu-matsuri Yoimiya (summer festival-eve vigil)
         Tokasai festival (lantern festival)
Jul. 15 Natsu-matsuri (summer festival)
Jul. 31 Nagoshi-matsuri (End of Summer Festival)
Sept. 30 Aki-matsuri Yoimiya (autumn festival-eve vigil)
Oct. 1 Aki-matsuri (autumn festival)
         Taisai (main festival)
         Dengakumai (ancient music and dancing)
         Otodamaijishi (lion dance)
         Owatari (procession of portable shrines, floats, people clad in armor)
Oct. (3rd Saturday) Inamura-no-Hi (fire of rice sheaves) festival
Nov. 23 Shinkoku-kanshasai (harvest festival)
(every month)
1st and 15th day ・・・ Tsukinamisai (monthly festival)
25th ・・・ Tenjin-sha Tsukinamisai

Request for support given to the shrine

At present, the shrine is under restoration for the first time since the year of Showa 53 (1978). We would like to ask for donations from many people.
For more details, please contact Kohei Sasaki (priest) at TEL: 0737-62-2371 or 0737-63-5731.

Translator: Takashi Inoue
Edited by Paul Marlowe (Associate Professor Kobe University)

 
紀州有田・南紀男山、廣八幡神社
和歌山県有田郡広川町上中野206
Tel&Fax:0737-63-5731/0737-62-2371(宮司宅)