“Six places”. Does this ring a bell? Today we find ourselves before a special place. It is the \u60e3\u793e. You see, the term S\u014dja refers to a Shinto shrine. At a S\u014dja, the kami of a region are brought together. They are collectively worshipped in a single sanctuary.
What does “region” mean? It can be a sh\u014den, a village, or a geographic area. More often, it means an entire province. Sometimes, S\u014dja shrines are called “s\u014dsha”. These shrines are often near the provincial capital. These capitals were established during the Nara period. This was under the ritsury\u014d system. A S\u014dja can be new or an existing shrine given a new purpose.
Sometimes, the S\u014dja is also the ichinomiya of the province. The ichinomiya is a shrine of great ritual importance.
There was a custom for newly appointed kokushi. The kokushi were officials sent by the central government. They had to visit every shrine in their province. This was to complete inauguration rites. Gathering all kami in one place made this easier. The first mention of “s\u014dja” was in the Heian period. It was in Taira no Tokinori’s diary. The diary entry was written on March 9, 1099. It talked about Inaba province.
The name “S\u014dja” also appears in place names. A good example is the city of S\u014dja in Okayama Prefecture. Also, Rokusho shrine is a very common S\u014dja shrine name. Rokusho means “six place”.
Now look around. Imagine the kokushi arriving here. He is ready to perform his inaugural rites. He visits this \u60e3\u793e. He pays respect to all the gathered kami. This act ensured his successful governance. Think of the pilgrims who came here. They sought blessings from all the deities at once.
Today, the \u60e3\u793e continues to be a place of worship. It is still a place of historical significance. It reminds us of ancient traditions and beliefs. It connects the community with its past. Take a moment to appreciate the \u60e3\u793e. It represents unity and reverence. It embodies the spiritual heart of the region.