Watatsumi Shrine (Kobe)

Watatsumi Shrine
Watatsumi Shrine
Religion
Affiliation	Shinto
Deity	Watatsumi
Website
	https://kaijinjya.main.jp/
	Glossary of Shinto

Watatsumi Shrine (海神社, Watatsumi Jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in Tarumi-ku, Kobe.^[1]^[2]^[3]^: 7 It is said to have been founded by the legendary Empress Jingu (169–269 AD).^[2]^[3]^: 7 It is one of the three major shrines of Harima Province.^[2] It has a festival on October 11.^[2]

It is colloquially called Sea Shrine (海神社, Umi Jinja) due to that being a more common reading of the characters.^[2] It is also read as Kai Shrine or called Tarumi Shrine.^[3]^: 7

History

According to the shrine's legend, Empress Jingū was nearly shipwrecked when returning to Japan from a military conquest in Korea. She survived thanks to praying to Watatsumi, and made the shrine to honor him.^[3]^: 7^[2] There are 22 Watatsumi shrines in the region that claim to have been founded by her in these circumstances.^[3]^: 7 Ikasuri Shrine and Ikuta Shrine were both also made at the same time by the Empress.^[2] The son of Tomomi no Sukune who accompanied the Empress on her expedition became the first priest of the shrine.^[4]

In 806 AD, the shrine was financially supported by taxes from ten households.^[2] It was listed as a Myojin Taisha, the highest rank of significant shrines in the 927 AD Engishiki.^[5]

In the Edo Period it gained a lot of significance for the rulers of the Akashi Domain, who visited it every February.^[2]

Originally its main Torii was located on the beach like Itsukushima Shrine, but due to land reclamation after WWII its torii is now a fair bit inland.^[2]