苗村神社
467 Ayado, Ryūō Town, Gamō District, Shiga Prefecture
Namura Shrine, located in Ryūō Town, Shiga Prefecture, is said to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Suinin, from 29 BC to 70 AD.
It is believed to have originated from ancestor worship, where the spirits of deceased ancestors were thought to have an influence on their descendants.
It serves as the main shrine for 33 nearby villages and is mentioned in the *Engishiki* records.
The shrine grounds are divided by a prefectural road, with the Eastern Shrine surrounded by a dense forest, and the Western Shrine located in a brighter, open area.
Originally, the Eastern Shrine served as the main shrine, but with the enshrinement of Kunisatsuchi-no-Mikoto from Mount Kimpusen in Nara, the Western Shrine was created.
The parking lot is located on the Western Shrine side, so visitors must cross the prefectural road to reach the Eastern Shrine by passing under a torii gate.
The approach path is flanked by tall trees, extending towards the shrine.
After about 50 meters, visitors arrive at the Eastern Shrine, where stone lanterns and komainu (guardian lion-dog statues) line up in front of the shrine, with small shrines situated on both sides of the main hall.
The Eastern Shrine is an *Ichimonsha Nagare-zukuri* style structure, said to have been rebuilt during the Muromachi period.
Although the original construction date is unknown, the stone lanterns bear an inscription from the 4th year of Eikyō (1432), suggesting a possible connection between the lanterns and the shrine's construction.
The front of the Eastern Shrine features lattice doors, with a wooden door just inside.
The right wall of the shrine also has a red-painted wooden door, contrasting with the white left wall.
Commonalities between this shrine and the Hachiman Shrine that stands alongside the Western Shrine include the use of beam brackets as connecting materials for the wooden doors.
Additionally, the ends of the roof trusses are decorated with floral brackets, a characteristic feature.
The Western Shrine features an *Irimoya-zukuri* style tower gate.
While the exact construction date is unknown, architectural elements such as *kyo-ogi* (frogs' legs braces) and *tokyō* (bracket arms) suggest it was built around the *Ōei* era.
The old-fashioned design is evident in the upper level's doors and lattice windows, and the slanted end of the roof rafters gives it a distinct Zen-style appearance.
The lower level has no walls and features a lattice framework, with even the small walls between the brackets being open.
It is rare to find a tower gate without fans in the central area.
Passing through the tower gate, visitors enter the shrine grounds from the east side of the Western Shrine, where the *Haiden* (worship hall) stands in front.
To the right is a *Mikoshi* (portable shrine) storehouse, said to have been built during the Muromachi period.
Within the *Mizugaki* (sacred fence) lie the Western Shrine, Jūzenji Shrine, and Hachiman Shrine, with two other small shrines in front of them.
The Western Shrine is believed to have been built in 1308, as indicated by the ridge tag.
It features a *Sangensha Nagare-zukuri* style structure, with a raised floor area in the front, forming an antechamber with diamond latticework.
The *Karahafu* roof, made of cypress bark, covers the front porch, and the two *Kyo-ogi* (frogs' legs braces) on the front are elaborately carved with openwork designs.
Inside the main hall is a *Zushi* (miniature shrine), and both the main hall and the *Zushi* are designated National Treasures.
The Hachiman Shrine, located to the west of the Western Shrine, is believed to have been built around the same time as the Eastern Shrine and the tower gate.
It features an *Ichimonsha Nagare-zukuri* style with a cypress bark roof, and like the Eastern Shrine, its side walls are fitted with wooden doors.
The Jūzenji Shrine, which stands alongside the Western Shrine and Hachiman Shrine, enshrines a division of Jūzenji, one of the Seven Shrines of the Sanno Twenty-One Shrines.
It features an *Ichimonsha Nagare-zukuri* style with a cypress bark roof, a simple structure with *Heigishi* wooden doors on the front and wooden walls on the sides and back.
The sacred fence surrounding the shrine has *Komori-zaru* (guardian monkeys) and *Yakuyoke-zaru* (guardian monkeys warding off evil) positioned to overlook the worshippers.
Despite being home to both National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, the shrine grounds are serene and exude a refined atmosphere.