Question: Did you know that Samukawa jinja Shrine in Chiba has a history stretching back over 1600 years? It is a place of deep cultural and spiritual significance. The current buildings of Samukawa jinja Shrine are fairly new. However, the origins of the shrine predate written records.
Samukawa jinja Shrine enshrines unique guardian deities. These deities protect against misfortune. People of all social classes have devoutly worshiped here. Warriors such as Minamoto-no-Yoritomo and Takeda Shingen also visited. The Tokugawa clan revered the shrine too.
Samukawa is a town of less than 50000 people. It is located on the shores of the Sagami River. For most, the town is unremarkable. However, the Samukawa jinja Shrine is large and important. Its foundations potentially go back to ancient times.
Legend says that Emperor Yuryaku visited the shrine. He reigned in the early and mid-5th century. This event is in an 8th-century Fudoki. It is a local cultural and historical text. While we can’t verify the story’s accuracy the shrine likely existed before the 700s. The first official mention of the shrine is in 9th-century Japanese historical books. These are called the Shoku Nihon Koki. Whatever the source, Samukawa jinja Shrine is old.
Many famous old shrines are dedicated to the Japanese Imperial household. Samukawa jinja Shrine is different. It has always been a local shrine. It is devoted to local gods. The shrine centers on a small natural pond. The pond still exists behind the modern shrine. Samukawa jinja Shrine has no connection to Imperial family shrines. The local deities aren’t mentioned in ancient historical texts. Samukawa jinja Shrine was once the primary shrine for the former Sagami province. It still retains the honorary title.
When the Shinto religion was reorganized, Samukawa jinja Shrine was listed as a mid-ranking nationally recognized shrine. The shrine has been rebuilt several times over the years. The most recent rebuild was almost 20 years ago. In Shinto, buildings are replaceable. The land is what is important. The pond and garden behind the shrine are a holy site. Until recently, the public was forbidden from entering. Only priests and acolytes were allowed.
Samukawa jinja Shrine isn’t geared toward tourism. It is a beautiful place to walk around. There are several great events throughout the year. The biggest highlights are the Torchlight Noh event in mid-August. There is also a festival in late September. It features traditional horse archery. Even without events, it is a peaceful place to explore.
Samukawa Daimyojin is the kami enshrined here. This is an amalgamation of the male Samukawa-hiko no mikoto and the female Samukawa-hime no mikoto. The origins of Samukawa jinja Shrine are unknown. The shrine was rebuilt in the year 727. Its name appears in the Shoku Nihon Koki entry for the year 846. By the time of the 923 AD Engishiki, the shrine was the only one in Sagami Province to be a Myojin-taisha.
After the Meiji restoration, the shrine was designated a National shrine in 1871. The main festival is held annually on September 20. It features yabusame performances. During the Setsubun festival in February, illuminated paper figures are hung from the main gate. Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York City has a Mikoshi donated by Samukawa jinja Shrine.
Stop. Seek the light within the darkness. Progress forward with a prayerful heart. Happo-yoke guides anyone in need of help to the right direction.