Kamo-mioya Shrine (Shimo-gamo Shine)

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	Brief Explanation
	Legends
	The Nature of Tadasu no Mori forest
	Aoi-sai festival

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Brief Explanation

Across the Kamo river, there is a thick forest. This is called the "Tadasu-no-mori forest", and inside this forest stands the Kamo-mioya Shrine. Kamo-mioya Shrine is often called Shimogamo Shrine, and with the Kamigamo Shrine, they are called the Kamo no Yashiro. One day, when Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto (princess) was doing laundry in the river, an arrow came floating down the stream. When the princess slept that night with the arrow by her pillow, she became pregnant, and gave birth to Wake-ikazuchi-no-kami (god). The god was worshipped in the Kamigamo Shrine and the shrine was renamed as Kamowake-ikazuchi Shrine. The Shimogamo Shrine worshipped the princess and her father, Kamo Taketsu-no-mikoto, so it was renamed as Kamo-mioya Shrine (Mioya means the grandfather and mother). These gods were the ancient Kamo family's tutelary deities, and this shrine is the oldest shrine in Kyoto along with Kamigamo Shrine. The main shrine with the two ridges in the east and west, is designated as a national treasure. Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine were worshipped for guarding the nation when the capital moved to Heian-kyo. The shrines have deep connections with the Imperial family, and the Emperor often visited the shrines when something had occurred. In the 11th century, both shrines were remodeled almost to their form we see today, and in 1629, they were revived. The Higashi Honden and Nishihon-den, both rebuilt in 1863 are national treasures. Several places in the precinct are enclosed as places for purification.

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Legends

By some historical materials, it is said that Kamo Taketsu-no-mikoto descended upon the foot of Mt. Hiei at the time of Emperor Jinmu, several minutes later than the Kamowake-ikazuchi Shrine.

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The Nature of Tadasu no Mori forest

The nature of the Tadasu no Mori forest is still protected, and many citizens occasionally go there to rest. The forest is called "Tadasu", from the story of Kamo Taketsu-no-mikoto solving a dispute among the populace and forming a judgement. This forest is located on the delta where two rivers meet. Because zelkova and kusu grow thickly in this forest, this place was often used in many poems and wakas.

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Aoi-sai festival

At the Aoi-sai festival on May 15th every year, oxcarts and Goshogurumas go out of the Imperial Palace and parades from Shimogamo Shrine to Kamigamo Shrine. Participants present mallows before the deity, and all stick mallows in their hair. The heroine of this festival is Saio-dai. This is an unmarried Imperial princess who used to visit shrines such as the Kotai-jingu shrine in Ise, and Kamo Shrines in Kyoto instead of the Emperor. Today, she is selected from the citizens.

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