Anatama Shrine was built in a sacred land

Anahita-Hiwachi Shrine - A sacred place in Waseda, where history and faith liven up

Located in Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Anana Hachiman Shrine is located in the city center, surrounded by lush greenery, and has a tranquil atmosphere. It is close to Waseda Station on the Tozai Subway Line and easy to access, so not only local residents but also many visitors come to visit. Its history is long, and is coloured by numerous stories, including the theory that it was built on an ancient tomb, and the legend that it originated from a gilt-bronze statue discovered in the Edo period. In addition to serving as a guardian to protect the region, Anahamata Shrine is also known as the "Ichiyo Raire" amulet, which attracts strong faith from people who wish to improve their financial luck.

1. A sacred place that houses memories of ancient tombs

The site of Anahitachi Shrine is located on a small hill adjacent to Waseda University. It has been pointed out that there may have been a large group of ancient tombs in this area, and it is likely that the grounds of Anana Hachimangu Shrine were also built on a keyhole-shaped tomb. The ancient tombs were graves built by ancient people for powerful and powerful people, and the fact that a shrine was built on top of them shows that this place has been recognized as a sacred place since ancient times.

Examples of shrines being built on ancient tombs can be seen all over Japan. This is thought to have been the case that ancient people worshiped the ancient tomb as a place where the spirits of their ancestors resided, and built a shrine to harness the spiritual power of their ancestors. In the case of Anahitachiman Shrine, by erecting a shrine on an ancient tomb, it can be said that it has inherited the spiritual powers of ancient times and has played a role as a guardian deity for the region.

The reason why the shrine was built on an ancient tomb also lies in the fusion of ancient beliefs and Shinto. The ancient people believed that gods resided in nature, and worshiped mountains, rivers, and giant stones. The ancient tomb was one of them, and was worshiped as a sacred place where the spirits of ancestors resided. On the other hand, Shinto is an endemic religion in Japan and is based on nature worship and ancestral spirit worship. Shinto has successfully adopted the ancient beliefs that worship ancient tombs, and by building shrines on top of them, it has succeeded in bringing more people into the object of their faith.

2. The story of the beginning of the gilt-bronze statue tells

According to the Anana Hachiman Shrine's legend, the event that led to its name was said to have occurred in 1641 during the Edo period. At that time, in order to build the hermitage of the Miyamori, Ryoaki, a shrine monk, had cut open the foot of the mountain on the south side, when he happened to discover a side hole. It is said that a gilt-bronze statue appeared from the side hole. Yoshiaki and other people were very pleased with the incident and said "it's starting to germinate." It is reported that since then, this place has come to be called "Anahachiman Shrine."

The horizontal hole where this gilt-bronze statue was discovered was likely a stone chamber of an ancient tomb. The stone chambers of ancient tombs are places where the people buried are enshrined, and are often housed with a variety of grave items. The gilt-bronze statue of the god was also thought to have been one of the grave items.

The discovery of the gilt-bronze statue brought great surprises and joy to the people of that time. This is because the gilt-bronze statue is a Buddhist object of worship, and its discovery showed that the power of Buddhism was extending to this land. The gilt-bronze statue of the god also captivated people's hearts and helped to raise faith because of its beauty.

3. Protecting the Tokugawa Shogun's family and Takadanobaba Yabusuma

During the Edo period, Anahamata Shrine was developed under the protection of the Tokugawa Shogunate family. In particular, the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, made Anahita-Himangu Shrine the general guardian of Johoku, the shogunate's prayer. As a result, Anahamata Shrine established its position as an important religious facility for the Edo Shogunate.

It is believed that the reason why Anahitachiman Shrine was protected by the Tokugawa Shogunate's family was that it was hoped for its spiritual feat. At that time, the Edo Shogunate used various religions to control the people. Anana Hachiman Shrine is one of them, and its spiritual power was used to raise the faith of the people and increase the authority of the shogunate.

Anahachimangu Shrine is also closely associated with Takadanobaba. It was once known as Takada Hachimangu Shrine as the guardian deity of Takadanobaba. In 1636, a Matoba was created in this area, and Anahita-Himangu Shrine was used as the guardian deity.

Yabusame, dedicated by the eighth shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, continues to be the Takadanobaba Yabusame, and is dedicated to Anahamata Shrine on Sports Day (formerly Physical Education Day, the second Monday of October). Takadanobaba Yabusame has been designated as an intangible folk cultural property designated by Shinjuku Ward, and its tradition is still passed down to this day.

Takadanobaba Yabusame was held as part of samurai's martial arts training, and its offerings indicate that Anahaiman Shrine also attracted faith from samurai. Takadanobaba Yabusame also attracted many people due to its gorgeousness and also helped to raise the popularity of Anahitachiman Shrine.

4. Faith to bring back to money and

Anahaiman Shrine is also known as the amulet for Ichiyo Rai Resurrection, which attracts strong faith from people who wish to improve their financial luck. Every year, for about a month and a half from the winter solstice to Setsubun, the normally quiet temple grounds are so busy that there is a line of people seeking this amulet.

"Iyang Raifu" was originally a Chinese Yi term, and refers to the lunar calendar, or the winter solstice, as yin is evident in October and yang first occurs on the winter solstice in November. From there, it came to mean "the end of winter and spring," "the coming of the new year," and "the turning of good fortune after bad things have continued."

The custom of giving the amulet of "Ichiyo Raire" at Anahamata Shrine has been going on since the Edo period. This amulet is said to be effective in improving your financial luck, and many people visit Anahita-Himangu Shrine in search of its benefits. The date and direction of the amulet to display on the wall is specified, and it is said that by following the instructions, you can achieve a higher effect.

It is thought that the meaning of the word is deeply related to the reason why the amulet of "Ichiyo Raire" is said to be effective in improving financial luck. "Ichiyo Rai Rein" means to go to good fortune after something bad has continued, and the word itself has the power to give people hope and courage. Furthermore, since the custom of giving the amulet for "Ichiyo Raire" has been ongoing since the Edo period, its history and traditions give people a sense of security and trust.

Faith that lingers in modern times

Anahachiman Shrine has undergone various changes over its long history, but its faith has not waned even in modern times and supports the hearts of many people. In particular, in recent years, as society as a whole has been covered in anxiety and sense of stagnation due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Anahaiman Shrine's "Ichiyo Raire Back" charm has been attracting even more attention.

The words "Ichiyo Rai Resurrection" are words that fit the current situation, and many people find hope and courage in this charm. Anahachiman Shrine will continue to play its role as a place of mind for people in modern society, while preserving its long history and tradition.

summary

Anahamata Shrine is a mysterious place enshrined on an ancient tomb, and is a shrine that lives on history and faith, with tradition originating from a gilt-bronze statue discovered in the Edo period. Under the protection of the Tokugawa Shogun family, he is known for his amulet of Ichiyo Raire, which has connections with Takadanobaba Yabusame, and has a strong faith from people who wish to improve their financial luck. Even in modern times, Anahaiman Shrine continues to support the hearts of many people, without waning its faith, and its existence teaches us the weight of history and the power of faith.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.