Transcending Time in Kyoto
Exorcising the Capital's Plagues
Imamiya Shrine, located in Murasakino, Kyoto, has been a sacred site dedicated to the deity of epidemics since before the Heian period. The shrine is closely linked to Kyoto’s traditional textiles, such as Nishijin-ori, and many stories of deep faith have been passed down through the ages.
Now, we introduce Imamiya Shrine, a place of prayer that has dispelled the plagues of the capital.
The Origins and History of Imamiya Shrine, Which Calmed Epidemics
In ancient Kyoto, it was believed that epidemics were caused by unseen forces, curses, and spirits.
Spirits of those who died unjustly or political figures who fell from power were associated with disasters and feared as "goryo" (restless spirits).
And the festival to calm these spirits is called Goryoe (go-ryo-e).
When an epidemic or calamity occurred, festivals were held to calm these spirits.
Imamiya Shrine traces its origins back to 996 AD (Shoryaku 5), when a Goryoe was held to quell an epidemic that was ravaging Kyoto during the Heian period.
Offerings were made at the altar, and the spirits were soothed before being relocated from the center of Kyoto to the outskirts. To entertain the spirits, processions with mikoshi (portable shrines), performances of traditional music called hayashi, and dances were held.
In 1001 AD (Choho 3), another epidemic struck, leading to the relocation of the deity to the newly built Eki Shrine, which was surrounded by a sacred enclosure called "mizugaki" (a structure made of wood, stone, or bamboo).
The shrine became known as Imamiya Shrine, and it enshrines three deities: Onamuchi-no-mikoto, Kotoshironushi-no-mikoto, and Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto.
Since its founding, Imamiya Shrine has been known as a deity that protects against epidemics. The Yasurai Festival was initiated as a "Chinka-sai" (festival to calm the deities), a tradition that has continued through the centuries and is still celebrated today as the Yasurai Festival and Imamiya Festival.
To combat the spread of disease, white round mochi, shaped like sacred mirrors, were offered. Later, aburi mochi became a sacred offering to the deity of epidemics, which evolved into a famous gate-side treat along the shrine’s path. It has long been said that eating this mochi could ward off illness.
The Edo Period Story of "Riding in a Treasure Carriage"
Keishoin, the mother of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, had a deep connection with Imamiya Shrine and played a significant role in its restoration after it fell into disrepair due to warfare. Keishoin’s original name was "Otama."
Otama was born the daughter of a vegetable seller in Kyoto. She was later adopted by the Honjo family, a lower-ranked samurai family that her father supplied vegetables to, and served as an attendant to a noble nun. The nun visited Edo Castle to pay her respects to Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, and Otama accompanied her. This encounter would drastically change Otama’s fate. The shogun took a liking to the nun, who was brought into the inner chambers of Edo Castle as one of his consorts, known as "Oman no Kata," and Otama began living in the castle as well.
As Otama grew older, she caught the attention of Shogun Iemitsu, eventually becoming his concubine and bearing his child. This child would grow up to become the 5th shogun, Tsunayoshi. Thus, Otama, a greengrocer’s daughter, became the mother of a shogun and rose to the highest position available to women of that time.
In the Edo period, where strict as structures were in place, it was hierarchy for the daughter of a merchant to ascend to the highest rank a woman could achieve. The term "riding in a treasure carriage" (tamano-koshi) is said to have originated from Keishoin’s name, "Otama". And also Imamiya Shrine, which blessed her good fortune, is now known as the "Shrine of the Treasure Carriage."
Today, many female worshipers from afar visit this shrine for its blessings.
The Birth of Nishijin
Interestingly, Imamiya Shrine once stood in an area called Nishijin. When you hear "Nishijin," you might think of Kyoto’s famed textiles. Nishijin is an area in the northwestern part of Kyoto, renowned as a town of weavers.
The name "Nishijin" dates back to the Onin War during the mid-Muromachi period. The war divided Kyoto into the Eastern and Western armies.
The Western army set up its honjin (headquarters) at the residence of their leader, Sozen Yamana. From this "West" ("Nishi") army "headquarters" ("jin"), the area around Yamana’s former residence became known as Nishijin. Afterward, weaving flourished in the Nishijin area, and the name "Nishijin-ori" became known throughout Japan. This was the beginning of Kyoto’s famous Nishijin textiles.
Imamiya Shrine is home to many small shrines, including its main shrine and the Eki Shrine. Among these is the Orihime Shrine, dedicated to Takuhatachijihime-no-mikoto, the goddess who taught weaving to the weaving princess in the Tanabata legend. She is revered as the ancestral deity of weaving. The shrine is believed to bring blessings for good relationships and success in the arts, and it is deeply respected by those in the Nishijin weaving industry.
On the path to the shrine, you can also encounter "aburi mochi," a traditional sweet that has been preserved through centuries, reflecting the rich history and traditions of Imamiya Shrine. Visiting this place offers the chance to experience hidden stories from Japan’s past.
