The land of Yakegami, where Kunimi Shrine is located, appears in the third volume of the Nihon Shoki (Chapter on Emperor Jimmu). After completing his eastern expedition and ascending to the throne in Kashihara, Emperor Jimmu climbed Mount Kunimi (described in the Nihon Shoki as "Wakigami no Hohoma no Oka") to "see his country."
At that time, he is said to have exclaimed, "What a wonderful country I have obtained. It may be a small country, but it is surrounded by mountains that line up like dragonflies mating." Dragonflies are a symbol of good harvests, and Emperor Jimmu exclaimed that the land they had obtained may be small, but it was a blessed land with thriving rice farming. This incident at Mount Kunimi is the final record of Emperor Jimmu's achievements in the Nihon Shoki.
Kunimi Shrine enshrines Ninigi-no-Mikoto as its main deity. This deity descended from heaven at the command of Amaterasu Omikami and is also the great-grandfather of Emperor Jimmu. Eventually, as the capital moved north to Nara and then Kyoto, the shrine was forgotten and left behind by the times.
However, since the reign of Emperor Jimmu, the thoughts of Emperor Jimmu have been protected, served and worshipped by the parishioners living in Yokugami. The shrine was once located at the top of Mount Kunimi, and parishioners included the people of the Tomita district of Akitsu Village, but at some point it was moved to the eastern foot of the hill and is now worshipped as the guardian deity of the people of the three districts of Haratani, Imazumi and Kamigata. There are records that the shrine was renovated with donations from the neighboring Takatori and Kushira domains during the Edo period, and there is an inscription on the bell from September 1768 (the bell was stolen and is now used instead), and the year of reconstruction is 1836 (the year of Tenpo 7).
In addition to Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the shrine also enshrines two other deities, Amenokoyane-no-Mikoto and Tagorihime-no-Mikoto. Since ancient times, he has been revered not only for the development of the country, but also for the relief of colic (back pain and stomach pain), and it is said that many people come from far and near to pray for his divine virtue, such as offering millet to pray for recovery from illness.
From the history of Kunimi Shrine
Translated by Google •
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