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Ryushi Shrine

Ryushi Shrine is dedicated to Kuninotokotachi no Kami, a primordial deity in the Shinto pantheon revered for establishing the foundation of the terrestrial world. The deity symbolizes the beginning of all things and bestows good fortune and prosperity. Eight other deities, including the sun deity Amaterasu Omikami, are enshrined alongside the main kami.

The shrine’s name literally means the “shrine for establishing a goal.” Since ancient times, people have come here to seek divine support in achieving their goals. At the shrine, worshippers express their intent and resolve through prayer before the deities.

While the exact origin of the shrine is unknown, the shrine is mentioned in historical records from the sixth century. During the reign of Emperor Kinmei (509–571), the shrine was selected as one of twelve sites across the country for prayers to be offered on behalf of the emperor during a great famine. The prayers expressed the emperor’s fervent desire to save the suffering populace. These actions established the shrine as a site for making serious, life-affirming declarations.

The Deities Worshipped at Ryushi Shrine

Kuninotokotachi no Kami

According to the eighth-century Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), Kuninotokotachi no Kami was the first deity to come into existence after the emergence of the five heavenly divinities. This primordial kami is revered for establishing the foundation of the terrestrial world, which led to the creation of the Japanese islands by the creator deities, Izanagi and Izanami. Kuninotokotachi no Kami is venerated as the source of the earth, the guardian of the safety of the country, and the bestower of good fortune and prosperity. The kami is the principal deity enshrined at Ryushi Shrine.

Taga no Okami

Taga no Okami represents the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami, who according to legend were among the earliest deities to emerge after heaven and earth separated. To create the Japanese archipelago, they stood on the floating bridge of heaven and stirred the primeval ocean with a jeweled spear. Worshipping Taga no Okami brings fulfillment in love and prosperity for one’s descendants.

Atsuta no Okami

Atsuta no Okami is the sun deity Amaterasu Omikami manifested as the sacred sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi. The legendary weapon is one of the three Imperial Regalia, a set of three treasures that represent the divine authority of the Emperor. The others are a mirror and a jewel. Worshipping Atsuta no Okami is believed to grant courage, longevity, and protection from calamity.

Hachiman no Okami

Hachiman no Okami is the deified spirit of the fifteenth Emperor Ojin (201–310), who, as a fetus within the womb, is said to have supported his mother’s military campaign to pacify the ancient kingdoms of the Korean Peninsula. As a result, Hachiman no Okami is worshipped as the deity of war and the protector of Japan.

Ebisu no Okami

Often depicted with a fishing rod over the shoulder and a sea bream in hand, Ebisu no Okami has a strong association with the sea. The kami was born to the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami and set adrift on the sea in a boat made of reeds. Washed ashore without harm, Ebisu no Okami came to be revered by fisherfolk as a deity of maritime safety and bountiful catches. The deity bestows blessings such as business prosperity, good fortune, and happiness.

Amaterasu Omikami

Amaterasu Omikami is the sun deity and the ancestral kami of the imperial family, as well as the chief tutelary deity and protector of the Japanese people. The kami protects the peace and tranquility of the country and confers blessings of household safety. Amaterasu Omikami illuminates the world and bestows the divine virtue of abundant harvests.

Konpira no Okami

Konpira no Okami is another name for Omononushi no Kami, who, according to the eighth-century Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan), was responsible for laying the foundations for everything, such as life, nature, and land. The deity guides people toward peace and happiness, grants recovery from illness, and offers protection for seafarers.

Atago no Okami

Atago no Okami is the deity of fire, the lastborn child of the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami. Legend holds that he caused his mother’s death during his fiery birth, for which he was beheaded by his father. The deity’s resulting blood and body gave rise to new deities who embodied various forces of nature, particularly mountains, volcanoes, and thunder. Atago no Okami is worshipped as the patron deity of blacksmiths and potters and is also associated with family safety and protection from fire.

Ukanomitama no Kami

Ukanomitama no Kami is worshipped at Inari shrines, which are often associated with their multiple red torii gates and statues of foxes. The deity governs food and harvests of grain, particularly rice, the nation’s staple food and the economic basis of its pre-modern society. Praying to Ukanomitama no Kami brings bountiful harvests and business prosperity.

Purification Font

Visitors to Ryushi Shrine stop at the purification font to wash away misfortune and impurities before entering the main sanctuary to pray. The shrine’s font is further adorned with sacred floral displays that mark the changing seasons. From colorful heads of hydrangea set afloat in the basin in early summer to a harvest scene of cosmos flowers bobbing alongside autumn squashes, the arrangements reflect the deep reverence for the natural world found in traditional Shinto beliefs.

To purify yourself before visiting the main sanctuary, take one of the ladles resting on the font in your right hand. Without disturbing the flowers in the central section of the basin, fill the ladle with water and pour it over your left hand outside the font. Transfer the ladle to your left hand and rinse your right hand. Next, pour a little water into the palm of your left hand, and use that to rinse your mouth. Be careful not to touch the ladle to your mouth, and spit the water out into the drain at the base of the font, not into the font itself. Finally, rinse your left hand again. When finished, return the ladle.

Goshuin Seals

Stamped amulets called goshuin seals are bestowed at shrines and temples throughout Japan. These sacred items typically feature bold calligraphy brushed by a priest over a site-specific vermilion stamp. They serve as proof of worship and tangible evidence of a spiritual bond formed with an enshrined deity.

At Ryushi Shrine, the seals are linked to the shrine’s core concept: to encourage visitors to set goals and declare their resolutions to the venerated kami. This purpose is reflected in the name of the shrine, the Chinese characters of which mean “establish one’s will.” Since the shrine’s founding in the sixth century, people have visited to declare their resolves, report on their progress, and express gratitude upon fulfillment. For those wishing to periodically reinforce their commitment, Ryushi Shrine offers specialized seasonal and monthly goshuin seals. The monthly seals have floral designs printed on clear sheets. The variation and limited availability of these seals are designed to encourage sustained, continuous devotion and facilitate the achievement of spiritual goals.

■About

Ryushi Shrine

■Address
1353 Mikumo, Konan City
Shiga 520-3221

Japan

Tel 0748-72-3797

Email info@ryushijinjya.com