Kamowake-ikazuchi Shrine
[God] Kamowake-ikazuchi-no-mikoto
[Location] Kamigamo-motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi
Brief Explanation Legends Garden
Brief Explanation
It is the oldest shrine along with Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. This shrine began when the powerful Kamo family's tutelary deity was worshipped, and in the late 7th century in Emperor Tenmu's time, a sanctuary was built. The son of Shimogamo Shrine's god, Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto whose name was Kamo-ikazuchi, is worshipped here, and the temple is often called Kamigamo Shrine. Also, because the shrine worships a thunder (ikazuchi) god, believers come here for protective charm. After the capital transferring to Heian-kyo, this shrine was worshipped from the Imperial court for protecting the nation from evil spirits, and in 810, on the basis of the Ise Shrine, Emperor Saga made the system of choosing a princess who will serve to the Kamo Shrines. Princess Uchiko became the first to be this. After that, Imperial Visits were often held, and also the event of the Sessho Kanpaku visiting the shrine became a customary one.
The sanctuaries are solemnly standing in a row, using the complicated geographical features between the rivers. Also, there stands the Roh-mon gate which has corridors on the left and right sides. Inside the gate are the Main Shrine and Gon-den, both designated as national treasures. This shrine is where the famous festival continuing from ancient times called the Aoi festival is held. The festival is held just the way it was drawn in picture scrolls. It is also described in the Tale of Genji which Murasaki Shikibu wrote. The Main Shrine and Gon-den of the Kamo-ikazuchi Shrine are the representatives of the Nagare-zukuri style architecture. Historical materials tell us that in the 11th century, the shrine was almost like the shrine we see today. Though later on, the shrine declined, and was revived in 1628. After this, the Main Shrine was reformed seven times, and the Main Shrine and Gon-den was rebuilt to the shrine we see today in 1863. Even when the shrine was being rebuilt, there was a tradition to keep the old style of architecture. That is why we are able to see the atmosphere of the Monarchical Age.
Legends
This is a legend before the Heian-kyo was built. Kamo Taketsu-no-mikoto is the ancestor of the powerful Kamo family. One time, when his daughter, Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto was playing in the river, an arrow came floating down the river. When she put the arrow beside her pillow that night, she became pregnant, and gave birth to Ikazuchi-no-mikoto. This arrow was called Otokunimasuhono-ikazuchi-no-mikoto. One day after Ikazuchi-no-mikoto had grown up, Kamo Taketsu-no-mikoto gave him a glass of sake and said to give that to his father. Thereupon, Ikazuchi-no-mikoto threw the glass into the sky, and with that glass, he also rose up to the sky. From this, he was proven as God's child.
The sanctuaries are solemnly standing in a row, using the complicated geographical features between the rivers. Also, there stands the Roh-mon gate which has corridors on the left and right sides.
Garden
In front of the sanctuary of the Kamigamo Shrine are two sand cones. These are the original forms of the salt heaped up in front of Japanese houses to pure the atmosphere. The sand cones are called Tatesuna. Tatesuna is the place where god descends upon, and is in the shape of the Kami-yama (god) mountain. In the precinct, runs a stream from Nara, and the two sand cones give out a mysterious, pure atmosphere.
