Origins Takeminakata

1 origins

1.1 misogi-hōri
1.2 king of india
1.3 kōga saburō

origins
the misogi-hōri


the crest (kamon) of suwa clan, used suwa kamisha emblem.

before abolition of suwa grand shrine s traditional priestly offices during meiji period, boy suwa clan served ōhōri (大祝 great priest ; ōhafuri) of upper shrine or kamisha. boy, aside being shrine s head priest, considered during term of office living god, incarnation of suwa myōjin himself.

legend states office instituted when suwa myōjin - here portrayed entity lacked physical body - appeared in vision young boy aged 8 , appointed boy become priest , living manifestation. child clothed god s own garments, turning him misogi-hōri (御衣着祝), priest (who wears) sacred garment , precursor position of ōhōri of kamisha.

most sources identify child semi-legendary figure arikazu (有員), claimed have either lived in 9th century, somewhere during reigns of emperors kanmu (781-806), heizei (806-809) or saga (809-823), arikazu being purported son of kanmu. however, 1 of number of surviving genealogies of suwa clan (大祝家 神氏系図 Ōhōri-ke jinshi keizu) discovered in suwa ōhōri s residence government-appointed priest nobukawa kazuhiko (延川和彦) in 1884 (meiji 17), , genealogy of aso (阿蘇) clan of aso shrine in kyushu (異本阿蘇氏系図 ihon aso-shi keizu) both claim first ōhōri/misogi-hōri instead individual named otoei (乙頴), known kumako (神子 or 熊古), son of kuni-no-miyatsuko of shinano province during time of emperor yōmei (585-587), mase-gimi (麻背君), a.k.a. iotari (五百足). jinshi keizu refers arikazu descendant of otoei/kumako.

the testimony of these 2 genealogies has led number of authors believe historically, arikazu more heian period descendant of otoei/kumako, first ōhōri, revived priestly office began ancestor. however, recent reappraisals of 2 genealogies (particularly concerning aso genealogy) have cast doubt on authenticity , reliability historical sources.

king of india

a heavily-buddhist medieval legend portrays suwa myōjin have been ruler of indian kingdom later achieved enlightenment , went japan become native kami.

a version attached suwa kamisha monoimi no rei no koto (諏訪上社物忌令之事, hereafter monoimi no rei), record of upper shrine s regulations or taboos (物忌み monoimi) enforced in 1238, portrays suwa myōjin have been king of hadai (波堤国 hadai-koku; hatthipura?) in india survived coup attempt led rebellious minister named moriya (守屋 or 守洩), took advantage of king s absence during deer hunting trip, , later became emperor of persia after defeating evil dragon there. after cultivating seedling of virtue , realizing buddhist path , emperor suwa (陬波皇帝 suwa kōtei) traveled eastward japan, became deity known takeminakata myōjin (武御名方明神).

suwa enchū s suwa daimyōjin ekotoba tells different, fuller version of first half of story. here, killed troops dispatched rebel bikyō (美教), king of hadai rings bell , shouts heaven 8 times, declaring hunting of deer means lead them enlightenment. god brahmā dispatches 4 heavenly kings quell rebellion. version explains name of sacred bell yasaka no suzu (八𠮧鈴), 1 of treasures of suwa kamisha, derived king s eight-fold (八度) shout (𠮧) heavens, 4 onbashira symbolize 4 kings came aid, , suwa shrine s hunting festival known misayama (御射山, written here 三斎山 - because ritual said cleanse (斎) 3 (三) evils: evil thoughts, evil speech , evil actions) reenactment of king s hunt, said have been done out of compassion save sentient beings.

by contrast, suwa daimyōjin kōshiki (also enchū) focuses on slaying of dragon in persia , emperor suwa s subsequent pursuit of enlightenment , migration japan. story, introduced alternative if unprovenanced , therefore less credible origin story suwa myōjin nevertheless cannot ignored, adds in few details such king being grandson of king sihahanu (獅子頬王), gautama buddha s grandfather, , villainous bikyō - here called bikyō daijin (美教大臣) - going japan , becoming evil outlaw moreya (see below).

kōga saburō


mount tateshina on border of municipalities of chino , tateshina in nagano prefecture.

a popular story promulgated wandering preachers associated shrines of suwa during medieval period claimed suwa myōjin have been man turned dragon after journey underworld. many variants on basic story exist; following summary based on earliest literary version of tale found in shintōshū.

the third son of local landlord of kōka district in Ōmi province, distinguished warrior named kōga saburō yorikata (甲賀三郎諏方) searching lost wife, princess kasuga (春日姫 kasuga-hime) in cave in mount tateshina in shinano, 2 elder brothers. second brother, jealous of saburō s prowess , fame , coveted kasuga, traps latter inside cave after had rescued princess.

with no way out, saburō has no other choice go deeper cave, entrance various underground realms filled many wonders. after travelling through these subterranean lands long period of time, finds way surface, find himself transformed giant snake or dragon. of buddhist monks, saburō regains human form , reunited wife. saburō becomes suwa myōjin, god of upper shrine (kamisha) of suwa, while kasuga becomes goddess of lower shrine (shimosha).

this version of legend explains origin of name suwa (諏訪 or 諏方) via folk etymology being derived saburō s personal name, yorikata (諏方).

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