is an important Shinto sanctuary on the banks of the Kamo River in north Kyoto, first founded in 678.Kyoto Prefectural Government Tourism Division: Kamigamo ; Iwao, Seiichi et al. (2002). Dictionnaire historique du Japon, p. 1712. Its formal name is the .Richard, Ponsonby-Fane. (1964) Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan, pp. 119–175.

It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The term Kamo-jinja in Japanese is a general reference to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, the traditionally linked Kamo shrines of Kyoto.Terry, Philip. (1914). Terry's Japanese empire, p. 479. The Kamo-jinja serve the function of protecting Kyoto from malign influences.Miyazaki, Makoto. "Lens on Japan: Defending Heiankyo from Demons," Daily Yomiuri. December 20, 2005.

The jinja name identifies the Kamo family of kami or deities who are venerated. The name also refers to the ambit of shrine's nearby woods, which are vestiges of the primeval forest of Tadasu no Mori. In addition, the shrine name references the area's early inhabitants, the Kamo clan, many of whom continue to live near the shrine their ancestors traditionally served.Nelson, John K. (2000). Enduring Identities: The Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan, pp. 92–99.

Kamogamo Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Kamo Wake-ikazuchi, the kami of thunder.

History

The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period.Breen, John et al. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami, pp. 74–75.

Records from the reign of Emperor Heizei (806–809) mention that Kamo-mioya jinja was amongst a select number of establishments which had been granted a divine seal for use on documents. The seal would have been enshrined in its own unique mikoshi (Oshite jinja). This granting of a special seal and the practices associated with its use and preservation conformed to a pattern established by Emperor Kōnin (770–781) in 778 (Hōki 9).Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1963). The Vicissitudes of Shinto, p. 206.

In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to Japan's guardian kami, including Kamo Wake-ikazuchi.Ponsonby-Fane. Studies in Shinto and Shrines, pp. 116–117.

Kamigamo, along with the Shimogamo Shrine, was designated as one of two chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) for the former Yamashiro Province."Nationwide List of Ichinomiya", p. 1. ; retrieved 2011-08-010

From 1871 through 1946, Kamigamo was officially designated one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 124.

Imperial visits 794 (Enryaku 13): Emperor Kanmu came as part of a grand progress.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1964). Visiting Famous Shrines of Japan, pp. 47, 131. 942 (Tengyō 5, 29th day of the 4th month): Emperor Suzaku visited to offer thanks for restoration of peace. 979 (Tengen 2, 10th day of the 10th month): Emperor En'yū decided that an Imperial visit Hachiman at Iwashimizu Shrine should be paired with a visit to Kamo.Ponsonby-Fane, Visiting, pp. 48, 131. 1711 (Hōei 8): Emperor Nakamikado took refuge in the Hosodono when the palace had become uninhabitable.Ponsonby-Fane, Visiting, p. 132.

Structures The jinja is famous for its haiden (worship hall), rebuilt in 1628–1629 (Kan'ei 6).

A number of priests' residences are situated on its grounds, and one, the Nishimura House, is open to the public.

Gallery

See also List of Shinto shrines Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines Twenty-Two Shrines Yurihonjo hinakaido, an annual traditional doll display festival held in part of the shrine

Notes

References

Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Iwao, Seiichi, Teizō Iyanaga, Susumu Ishii, Shōichirō Yoshida, et al. (2002). Dictionnaire historique du Japon. Paris: Maisonneuve & Larose. ; OCLC 51096469 Nelson, John K. (2000). Enduring Identities: The Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887 ____________. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 399449 ____________. (1963). Vicissitudes of Shinto. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 36655 ____________. (1964). Visiting Famous Shrines in Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby-Fane Memorial Society.

External links

Kamigamo Shrine website