Gods of Ise Province - 1. Tado Taisha

Ninomiya and Tado Taisha Shrine in Ise Province - A pilgrimage to the sacred places where you can feel the breath of the gods

Ise Province has been celebrated as a "divine kingdom" since ancient times and has been nurtured by its rich nature and history. The area houses Ise Shrine, which supports Japan's spiritual culture, and has attracted strong faith from people as a spiritually powerful place where many gods live. This time, I visited a place located in the eastern part of Mie Prefecture, which once flourished as a great power on the Tokaido, and to get to experience the essence of this, I set out on a journey to shrines dedicated to the gods.

The journey begins at Tado Taisha Shrine, Ninomiya, Ise Province, located in Kuwana City. It is about 20 minutes by car from Kuwana Station, and its majestic appearance is revealed at the foot of Mt. Tado, a deep greenery. Tado Taisha is also known as the Kita Ise Daijingu Shrine, as the general deity of the Kita Ise region, and is gaining strong trust and respect from local people.

The origins and history of Tado Taisha Shrine, the legend of dragon gods, and the deep connection with the Imperial family

Tado Taisha Shrine's history is said to have been founded in the second half of the 5th century, in the reign of Emperor Yuryaku. According to the shrine legend, the first dragon once lived on Mt. Tado, and the origin of Tado Taisha Shrine was when it enshrined the dragon god. This legend of dragon god suggests that Tado Taisha Shrine has been deeply connected to nature worship since ancient times.

Tado Taisha also has a deep connection with the Imperial family, and in 717 (3rd year of Reiki), Emperor Gensho washed his hands and face at the Tado Mountain spring, which smoothed out his skin and healed the pain. To commemorate this event, it is said that the year was changed to "Yoro," indicating that Tado Taisha was recognized by the Imperial family as a special presence.

Tado Taisha Shrine as the Ninomiya of Ise Province, and its presence as the Ise Province, effectively Ichinomiya

Tado Taisha Shrine is considered to be the Ninomiya of Ise Province, but it has also been pointed out that it was a de facto Ichinomiya due to its historical background, size, and depth of its beliefs. In ancient times, Mount Tado was worshiped as a god-like mountain, and it is recorded that many Japanese stones and sacred stones existed on the middle side of Mount Tado. These facts show that Tado Taisha Shrine played an important role as the center of ancient rituals.

Furthermore, it enshrines Amatsu Hikone Mikoto, the founder of Kuwana no Otoko, the powerful clan that ruled this region, and its relationship is deep with Ise Shrine, and it is sung by the song "If you visit Ise, go to Ise, go to a lot more. If you don't go to a lot more, go to a lot more, go to a little more, go to a little more, see the importance of this.

"Ise Asakumayama Pass Teahouse" from Utagawa Hiroshige, "Azumasu, Over 60 Provincial Landmarks"

Touring the grounds of Tado Taisha Shrine: A harmony between sacred spaces and nature

The grounds of Tado Taisha Shrine are surrounded by rich nature, and every step you step into is filled with a sacred atmosphere. When you climb the long stone steps, the first thing that catches your eye is the image of the Shinma Kinzan. The beautiful white horse body creates a divine atmosphere and captivates visitors.

Mt. Tado has a deep faith as a mountain where God is located since ancient times, and people have prayed for it. Hakuba, which is said to have lived in Tado Taisha for 1,500 years, plays the role of an envoy that delivers this wish to God. As the legend says that God descends on horses, the relationship between God and horse is deep, and the lifting horse ritual held at Tado Taisha Shrine is carried out to predict the good harvest and bad harvest of the year.

With the temizuya purifying your body and mind, and as you pass through the torii gate, the air becomes even clearer and you are invited to a sacred space. A haiku monument by Matsuo Basho stands quietly inside the temple grounds. The poem, "My name is scattered, Fallen River," is engraved when Basho visited Tado Taisha Shrine in 1689, and shows how Basho was impressed by the natural beauty of Tado Taisha Shrine. This haiku is a graffiti from when Basho visited Tado Shrine along with his sect of Mino, along with Tanigi Ino, and is also included in the haiku book "Oinikki."

Hakubasha houses a Hakuba, which is derived from the ancient legend of Hakuba. Horse are animals with very strong teeth, and "Tooth Grinding Beans" have been released, which is a bit of a mystery to them, and is gaining popularity among visitors.

A prayer for the goddess who controls beauty

Before the Obukimon, there is the Utsukushigozensha, which worships Ichikishimahime Mikoto. Since ancient times, there has been a belief that it provides blessings to diseases of the ear, nose and mouth, as well as diseases unique to women, and many people offer stones with holes to pray for the relief of illnesses. It is also popular for its physical and mental health to make worshipping beautiful, and as the name suggests, it is a very beautiful shrine.

The main shrine and the Betsu-miya, a sanctuary where the power of the gods gathers together.

After passing through the Obukimon, the gate behind the torii gate, you will enter the sacred area where the main shrine and Betsuya Shrine are celebrated. The greenery deepens, the sacred atmosphere flowing from the mountains, and the pure river flows, creating a solemn and mysterious atmosphere worthy of being called a sacred area. It feels like I've come to another world, isolated from the lower world.

The Okiwa River, an ancient Mitarashijo, purifies the mind and body with a pure flow, and welcomes people who head to worship with a sacred feeling.

The Betsu-miya enshrines the founder of the metal industry, Tenmoku Ichika Mikoto. Tenmoku Ichikamei has gained a strong faith from people involved in the metal industry as the god of steel and gold-making. Originally, it was a dragon god with one eye collapsed, and in modern times it has become synthesised and identified.

The shrine where the Hongu Shrine and Hikone Michi are located is

The main shrine enshrines Amaterasu Hikone Michi. Amajin Hikone Michi has long been worshiped as a god who rules over the rain and wind, protects agricultural and fisheries, which are the source of life, destroys difficulties, and fulfills his wishes.

The main shrine of Tado Taisha Shrine is a rare temple with no doors. This is said to represent that Amajin Hikone Michi is a being who manipulates rain and wind and brings blessings to people's lives, and that God is always close to people and treats everyone equally.

It is also said that the gods of the main shrine and the Betsu Shrine will control the weather by combining forces, and prayers for rain and welcoming adorable days are also held. There is also a belief that sometimes becomes a dragon god and fly into heaven and blesses with a blessing for a rain, and has been a rare construction since ancient times, with no doors set up in the temple.

What I felt through visiting Tado Taisha Shrine: Coexistence between God and man

After visiting Tado Taisha Shrine, what I felt was that God and humans coexist in the past and now. The temple without a door felt like it was indicating that God was always close to people and treated equally to all.

A refreshing and gentle sacred atmosphere flows from the main shrine and Betsuya Shrine, providing peace and soothing to the hearts of visitors. Tado Taisha was a place where you could feel the breath of the gods and reaffirm the connection between God and man in harmony with nature.

Through this visit to Tado Taisha Shrine, I was able to experience the faith of nature worship and Shinto, which is at the root of Japan's spiritual culture. I was also able to experience the deep connection between the gods and people firsthand, and have a valuable experience that will enrich my heart. I felt that Tado Taisha Shrine is not just a tourist destination, but a sacred place, and a special place that gives visitors peace of mind and hope.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

Contact

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.