History and Blessings
Founding and History: With a history of about 1,300 years, the shrine was founded in 730 AD (Tenpyo 2). It's famous for being the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu prayed for victory before the Battle of Sekigahara. During the Edo period, it was revered by successive shoguns as the guardian deity protecting the "demon gate" of Edo Castle.
Deities and Blessings:
First Sanctuary: Onamuchi no Mikoto: Known as Daikoku-sama, this deity offers blessings for matchmaking, land development, and medicine.
Second Sanctuary: Sukunahikona no Mikoto: Known as Ebisu-sama, this deity provides blessings for business prosperity, health, and good fortune.
Third Sanctuary: Taira no Masakado no Mikoto: This deity offers protection from disasters and evil.
Shrine Features
Main Hall: The current main hall was rebuilt in 1934 using steel-reinforced concrete. Built with the latest technology of the time, it survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake and the bombing of Tokyo, making it a symbol of post-war reconstruction. It is characterized by its vibrant vermilion color and green roof.
Kanda Festival: One of Japan's three major festivals, the Kanda Festival is held every two years (in odd-numbered years) in May. It is a grand event where numerous portable shrines parade through the streets.
Fusion with Modern Culture: Due to its proximity to Akihabara, the electronics district, the shrine offers new services adapted to the times, such as charms for IT and information security. It also actively collaborates with modern subcultures like anime, attracting attention from younger generations.
History of Kanda Myojin
Kanda Myojin is a historical shrine with a long history spanning nearly 1,300 years. Its story has been shaped by several key events.
Founding
Nara Period (730 AD): The shrine's origins trace back to a clan from Izumo who enshrined their ancestral deity, Onamuchi no Mikoto (also known as Daikoku-sama). The original location was near present-day Otemachi, close to the Imperial Palace.
Enshrinement of Taira no Masakado
Heian Period (935 AD): After the rebellion led by Taira no Masakado was suppressed, his severed head was reportedly brought from Kyoto and buried near Kanda Myojin. This burial mound became a place of worship for samurai warriors in the Kanto region.
Late Kamakura Period (1309 AD): When an epidemic was believed to be caused by Masakado's curse, he was enshrined at Kanda Myojin to appease his spirit. Since then, he has been worshipped as a deity of protection from disaster and victory in competition.
The Edo Period and Tokugawa Ieyasu
1600 AD: Before the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu prayed for victory at Kanda Myojin. His triumph on the day of the Kanda Festival led to the Tokugawa family's deep reverence for the shrine.
1616 AD: As Edo Castle was expanded, the shrine was relocated to its current site, which was considered the "demon gate" of the castle. This made Kanda Myojin the "Grand Guardian of Edo," attracting worshippers from the shogun to the common people.
Modern Era
1923 AD: The shrine's main hall was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake.
1934 AD: The hall was rebuilt using the advanced technology of the time: a steel-reinforced concrete structure. This fireproof construction allowed it to survive the devastating Tokyo air raids of 1945, and it stands to this day.
1984 AD: After being removed from the list of enshrined deities during the Meiji era, Taira no Masakado no Mikoto was re-enshrined in the main sanctuary due to strong efforts from the parishioners.