Murahi Jinja Shrine

Overview

Murahi Jinja Shrine is located in Onodera, Iwafune-machi, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, and is known as the Third Shrine of Shimotsuke Province. According to the shrine's traditions, it was founded on September 29th, 646 (the second year of the Taika era), dedicated to Kumano Gongen and Hieda Gongen (Oyamagui no kami). Hieda Gongen is the deity of Mount Hiei, and the shrine's location suggests a connection to the nearby Onodera Yama Daiji Temple. This area was known as "Onodera Jukogo," and the shrine is said to have been built as its main guardian shrine. Later, in 807 (the second year of the Daido era), the enshrined deity of Hachiman-gu Shrine in Minagawa-mura Onoguchi, Honta Wake no Mikoto, was incorporated into the shrine. During the reign of Emperor Seiwa (858-876), Hachiman Gongen, enshrined in Hachiman-zawa, Minagawa village, was moved to Murahi Jinja Shrine because its original location was deemed impure. In 939 (the second year of the Tenkei era), it is said that Fujiwara no Hidesato prayed for victory here before defeating Taira no Masakado. There's also a theory that Hidesato himself founded the shrine. Kawano Mamoru Hiro's "Shimotsuke-koku-shi" states that Hidesato, after becoming the lord of Karasayama Castle, built Murahi Jinja Shrine about a mile away to the north, considered the "evil direction", to protect the castle. Some texts describe this as a "rebuilding." From the medieval period onward, Murahi Jinja Shrine received devotion from the Shimotsuke Onodera clan and the Sano clan, lords of Karasayama Castle. During the Edo period, it also gained followers among the merchants of Tochigi-juku in Tochigi town. Before the shrine, a pair of Oribe lanterns donated by the Noguchi family, hemp merchants of "Mokujyo-machi" (present-day Manmachi, Tochigi City), remain from December 1726 (or January 1727). Murahi Jinja Shrine was designated a village shrine in 1872. Besides the main shrine, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, it boasts a historically significant sacred grove. The main shrine was built in 1533 (the second year of the Tenbun era). A melon carving, said to have been embedded by the Gifu craftsman, Hidari Jingoro, remains on the upper part of the side pillar southwest of the shrine. The shrine's sacred grove is designated as a Natural Monument of Japan, offering beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. The peaceful atmosphere of the shrine grounds provides a space for quiet contemplation.