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Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine

Kumano Hayatama Taisha is a Shinto shrine located in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, on the shores of the Kumanogawa in the Kii Peninsula of Japan.

It is included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the UNESCO World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range".

The three shrines (Kumano Sanzan) are the head shrines (Sohonsha) of all Kumano shrines, lie at between 20 and 40 km of distance one from the other and are connected by the pilgrimage route known as Pilgrimage Route of Kumano (Kumano Kodo).

Kumano Hayatama Taisha map.
Kumano Hayatama Taisha is located at the mouth of the Kumano-gawa River where the continuous flow of waters from the sacred heights of the Kii Mountains empty into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

  • The nature in and around the shrine is an integral part of this Grand Shrine’s precincts and annual rituals.

Entering Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine.
The main entrance to the shrine is located to the southeast.


Drum Bridge (Shimouma Bridge).
This bridge symbolizes traveling and transition from one state to another, or from one ‘world’ to another.


First torii of Kumano Hayatama Taisha (Ichi-no-Tori'i).
The function of a torii is to mark the entrance to a sacred space. For this reason, the road leading to a Shinto shrine (sando) is almost always straddled by one or more torii.

  • If the sando passes under multiple torii, the outer of them is called ichi no torii (first torii).
  • See more at Torii - Wikipedia.

Three-legged crow shrine (Yatagarasu shrine).
This shrine enshrines Yatagarasu, the legendary three-legged crow, and is associated with the first emperor of Japan, Jimmu.

  • The three-legged (or tripedal) crow is a mythological creature in various mythologies and arts of East Asia. It is believed to inhabit and represent the Sun.
  • In Japanese mythology, this flying creature is a raven or a jungle crow called Yatagarasu (eight-span crow) and the appearance of the great bird is construed as evidence of the will of Heaven or divine intervention in human affairs.
  • Yatagarasu as a crow-god is a symbol specifically of guidance.
  • In the Three Great Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan), Yatagarasu is worshiped as a servant of the Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the Great God of Kumano, and is also a symbol of Kumano.
  • Legend has it that Yatagarasu guided the Emperor and his army from mountainous Kumano to Yamato (present Nara) during his Hyuga (present Miyazaki)-Yamato expedition. Thus, the Yatagarasu has been worshipped as the god of guidance for over 1,000 years.
  • See more at Yatagarasu - Wikipedia.

Sacred Nagi tree (Nagi-no-Ki).
The Sacred Nagi Tree of Kumano Hayatama Taisha is one of the Natural Monuments of Japan.

  • The nagi tree, Nageia nagi, is also called the broadleaf podocarpus.
  • It is said that this tree, which has grown to a height of 17.6 m and a circumference of 5.45 m, was planted as a memorial by Taira no Shigemori in Heiji 1 (1159).
  • This ancient 800 year old Nagi-no-Ki tree highlights the areas deep tradition of nature worship.
  • See more at Sacred Nagi Tree of Kumano Hayatama Taisha - Wikipedia.

Kumano Sacred Treasure museum (Kumano Shinhokan).
As the head shrine of Kumano Shrine, which governs the Kumano faith, since the Middle Ages, there have been more than 1,200 offerings from emperors, retired emperors, shogun families, and feudal lords, and it was established as a facility to store and display them.

  • The shrine suffered from disasters many times, and the main building was rebuilt after it burned down in 1883.
  • The current Shinhokan is the first museum facility after the war, and all of its collections are designated as national treasures and important cultural properties.
  • Right in front of the Kumano Shinhoden is a statue of Musashibo Benkei.
  • See more at Benkei - Wikipedia.

Water ablution pavilion (Chozuya) with dragons.
The Chinese dragon, also known as the loong, long or lung, is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture at large.

  • Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs.
  • They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water.
  • The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture.
  • In Chinese culture, excellent and outstanding people are compared to a dragon, while incapable people with no achievements are compared to other, disesteemed creatures, such as a worm.
  • The impression of dragons in a large number of Asian countries has been influenced by Chinese culture, such as in Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.
  • See more at Chinese dragon - Wikipedia.

Main gate.
Kumano Hayatama Taisha is the main shrine of Kumano shrines nationwide.


Panoramic view of the entire courtyard.
From the right, the Eight Shrine Halls, the Upper Three Halls (Seisei Hall, Wakamiya, and Kamikura Shrine), the Haiden and the Assembly Hall in the back.


Kumano Ebisu Shrine.
Ebisu, also transliterated Webisu or called Hiruko or Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami, is the Japanese god of fishermen and luck.

  • He is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichifukujin), and the only one of the seven to originate purely from Japan without any Buddhist or Taoist influence.
  • See more at Ebisu (mythology) - Wikipedia.

Shingu Shrine.
This city got its name “Shingu” because of Kumano Hayatama Taisha. The gods of Kumano Hayatama Taisha were originally enshrined in nearby Kamikura Shrine, but during the reign of Emperor Keiko, he relocated the shrine to its current location and renamed it “Shingu”.


Worship hall (Haiden).
The shrine's main deities are Kumano Hayatama no Ohkami and Kumano Fusumino Ohkami, who are husband and wife.

  • The Kumano gods descended onto the mountain where Kamikura Shrine is located. They were first worshiped there during the era of Emperor Keiko.

Worship hall and the Eight shrines.
Worship hall (left) and the Eight shrines (right).


Shrine shop, assembly hall and worship hall.
Shrine shop (left), assembly hall (center) and worship hall (right).

  • The shrine shop is on the left just after passing through the gate.

Small kamidana with ofuda.
A household kamidana is typically set up in one's home to enshrine an ofuda, a type of charm. Both kamidana and ofuda can be obtained at any large Shinto shrine.

  • Kamidana (lit. 'god/spirit-shelf') are miniature household altars provided to enshrine a Shinto kami.
  • The kamidana is typically placed high on a wall and contains a wide variety of items related to Shinto-style ceremonies.
  • Worship at the kamidana typically consists of the offering of simple prayers, food (e.g., rice, fruit, water) and flowers.
  • See more at Kamidana - Wikipedia.
  • In Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, an ofuda (honorific form of fuda, 'slip [of paper], card, plate') is a talisman made out of various materials such as paper, wood, cloth or metal.
  • Ofuda are commonly found in both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and are considered to be imbued with the power of the deities (kami) or Buddhist figures revered therein.
  • A specific type of ofuda is a talisman issued by a Shinto shrine on which is written the name of the shrine or its enshrined kami and stamped with the shrine's seal. Such ofuda are often placed on household Shinto altars (kamidana) and revered both as a symbol of the shrine and its deity (or deities) – containing the kami's essence or power by virtue of its consecration – and a medium through which the kami in question can be accessed by the worshiper. In this regard they are somewhat similar to (but not the same as) goshintai, physical objects which serve as repositories for kami in Shinto shrines.
  • In a similar vein, Buddhist ofuda are regarded as imbued with the spirit and the virtue of buddhas, bodhisattvas, or other revered figures of the Buddhist pantheon, essentially functioning in many cases as a more economic alternative to Buddhist icons and statuary.
  • See more at Ofuda - Wikipedia.

Votive plaques (Ema).
Ema (lit. 'picture-horse') are small wooden plaques, common to Japan, in which Shinto and Buddhist worshippers write prayers or wishes. Ema are left hanging up at the shrine, where the kami (spirits or gods) are believed to receive them.

  • Typically 15 cm (5.9 in) wide and 9 cm (3.5 in) tall, they often carry images or are shaped like animals, or symbols from the zodiac, Shinto, or the particular shrine or temple.
  • Once inscribed with a wish, ema are hung at the shrine until they are ritually burned at special events, symbolic of the liberation of the wish from the writer.
  • See more at Ema (Shinto) - Wikipedia.

Leaving Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine.
Leaving Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine through the northeast entrance.

  • The car park is located here.

Sacred rock (Gotobiki Iwa).
Behind the mountain there is a huge rock called Gotobiki Iwa. It looks like it's about to fall, but it's stayed that way for thousands of years.

  • Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine is said to have been built as a place to worship the gods who had descended to earth on Gotobiki Iwa Rock in Kamikura Jinja Shrine.
  • The Kamikura shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Shingu, Wakayama prefecture, on the side of Mount Gongen. According to legend, when they descended from heaven, the deities of Kumano landed on Gotobiki Rock (Gotobiki Iwa) which became the object of the shrine.
  • See more at Kamikura-jinja - Wikipedia.

See also

Source

Location

Location: 1番地 Shingū, Shingu, Wakayama 647-0081, Japan