User:Immanuelle/Iseyama Kotai Shrine

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This is a draft being worked on by Immanuelle. It may be too complex at the moment but she wants to get it ready to be an article someday. Others are free to edit it
This page was last edited by Auntof6 (talk | contribs) 5 months ago.

Immanuelle/Iseyama Kotai Shrine is a Beppyo shrine. It is located in Yokohama and worships Amaterasu.^[1] It is the main shrine of Yokohama.^[2]^[3]. It was the first shrine in the Jinja honcho to ever go bankrupt.

It was established in the century during the Meiji era reflecting the political changes of that time. The shrines history is intertwined with the dynamics of that era making it a site of significance for those interested in Japanese history.^[2]

The exact beginnings of Iseyama Kotai Jingu are clouded in mystery with information about its original location. In 1869 during the period of the Meiji Restoration the shrine was moved to its location at the behest of the Meiji government. This relocation was influenced by factors including socio changes and concerns over expanding foreign settlements and Christianitys growing influence perceived as a threat to traditional Japanese values and sovereignty.^[2]

The presence of missionaries ministering to foreigners in Yokohama under treaties enforced by powers posed a significant challenge to Japan. Christianity had been outlawed since 1614 due, to fears that it could undermine beliefs and authority.^[2]

History

Counteraction Against Christianity

The arrival of Christian missionaries and their allowed ministry to the foreign populace in Yokohama, under treaties imposed by Western powers, was a significant concern for the Japanese government. Christianity had been banned since 1614, regarded by the Japanese as a potentially subversive ideology. In response to this perceived threat, the Meiji government promoted an emperor-centric version of Shintoism as the state religion. Iseyama Kotai Jingu, strategically positioned on a hill overlooking the foreign settlement, was established as part of this initiative. The shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral deity of the imperial family and a paramount figure in the Shinto pantheon, symbolized a reaffirmation of national identity and resistance against foreign influence.^[2]

Political Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

The establishment of Iseyama Kotai Jingu was a deliberate political act, as acknowledged by the shrine's own historical accounts. It aimed to unify the nation, safeguard against foreign encroachments, curb the spread of Christianity, and foster loyalty to the emperor. The choice of Amaterasu Omikami as the shrine's deity was emblematic of these objectives.^[2]

In 1871, a significant ceremony transferred the divided spirit (bunrei) of Amaterasu Omikami from Ise Jingu to Iseyama Kotai Jingu, reinforcing its spiritual and political significance. Remarkably, the shrine introduced a hereditary system for its chief priesthood, a move that seemed at odds with the broader Meiji government's efforts towards modernization and Westernization.^[2]

Modern times

The shrine was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 but was rebuilt in 1928. ^[2]

In response, to the perceived threat the Meiji government endorsed a version of Shintoism centered around the emperor as the religion. Iseyama Kotai Jingu, strategically situated on a hill overlooking the settlement was established as part of this endeavor. The shrine dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the deity of the family and a significant figure in Shinto beliefs represented a reaffirmation of national identity and a stand, against foreign influences.^[2]

Iseyama Kotai Jingu is well known today for its inclusive atmosphere acting as a hub, for both community gatherings and religious events. It is especially renowned for hatsumiyamairi a ceremony marking the shrine visit of newborns. Also serves as a popular venue for weddings due to its proximity to a spacious wedding reception hall.^[2]