貴船神社
180 Kurama Kibune-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto
The head shrine of all Kifune Shrines nationwide.
According to shrine tradition, it was founded around the year 410 AD, when Tamayorihime-no-Mikoto traveled upstream to Kifune in a yellow boat and enshrined the water deity.
Nearby is Kurama-dera Temple, and it is said that in 796, the deity of Kifune Shrine appeared in a dream of Fujiwara Iseto, who was engaged in the construction of To-ji Temple, and commanded him to build Kurama-dera Temple.
Passing through the torii gate of the main shrine, stone steps flanked by lanterns continue.
The main shrine, rebuilt in 2007, stands beyond the gate.
Behind the hipped roof worship hall is the main hall in the nagare-zukuri style.
The current location of the main shrine was moved from the site of the current inner shrine during the reconstruction of the shrine buildings in 1055.
The Yui Shrine, located between the main shrine and the inner shrine, is also called the middle shrine.
It enshrines Iwanaga-hime-no-Mikoto and is worshipped as a deity of matchmaking.
In the past, it is said that people would tie together long blades of grass, such as pampas grass, to make wishes.
Renovation work has been ongoing since December 2011.
The large stone placed within the shrine grounds is said to have been mined from deep within Mount Kifune and is kept as the "Heavenly Rock Boat."
Boats, as ancient means of transportation, have connected people and cultures, and are thus associated with the belief in matchmaking.
The inner shrine is built on the original site of the main shrine, and a nagare-zukuri style main hall is constructed here.
Under the main hall, there is said to be a large dragon hole.
During repairs in the Edo period, it is said that a carpenter dropped a chisel into the hole, causing the sky to cloud over, a gust of wind to blow, and the chisel to be blown into the air.
Beside the shrine building, there is a stone mound called "O-funagata-ishi." This is said to have been the yellow boat that Tamayorihime-no-Mikoto used to come to Kifune, covered with small stones to keep it out of sight.
The shrine has appeared in various stories and anecdotes since ancient times, and is mentioned in the "Gosen Wakashu" by Izumi Shikibu and in the Noh play "Kanawa" from the Muromachi period.
While it is worshipped as a deity of matchmaking, it is also known for the practice of "Ushi no toki mairi," and is thus referred to as a shrine for cutting ties.
| Location | 180 Kurama Kibune-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto |
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| Website | http://kibune.jp/jinja/ |
| Deities | Main Shrine: Takaokami-no-Kami Yui Shrine: Iwanaga-hime-no-Mikoto Inner Shrine: Kurakami-no-Kami |
| Main Hall | 1-bay nagare-zukuri, copper roof |
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