Overview

The Eight Shrines of Ryūkyū (琉球八社: Ryukyu Hassha) are eight shrines in the Ryukyu Kingdom that were shrines by the Ryukyuan government under the “Ryukyu Hasha (government-owned) shrine system.[1] Asato Hachiman Shrine is dedicated to Hachiman Daibosatsu, Emperor Ojin, Princess Tamayori, and Empress Jingu. while the other shrines enshrine Kumano Gongen.

History

It is not clear when or why they began to be called eight shrines. All of these shrines had a Shingon Buddhist temple attached to them[2].

The oldest one is thought to be the Okimiya, which is said to have been built during the time of Minamoto no Tematomo, who is believed to have been the father of Shunten.

In the Meiji era, the shrine was listed as Imperial shrines, 3rd rank, and considered as the Chinjugami of Okinawa, but it was damaged in the World War II. After the war, the main shrine and shrine office were rebuilt in 1953. In 1930, the main shrine building and other buildings were completed as part of the Heisei Era construction[3].

Futenma Shrine was torn down by the U.S. military after WW2 and rebuilt in 1950. The main shrine is located in a limestone cave[4].

List of 8 Ryukyu Shrines

Name of shrine Annexed temples Picture Address Principal deities
Naminoue Shrine Gokoku-ji 波上宮 拝殿 Wakasa, Naha

Kumano Gongen
kinogu Rinkai Temple 沖宮 鳥居と拝殿 Okubuyama, Naha Kumano Gongen
Shikinagu Jinoji 識名宮 拝殿 Shigetagawa, Naha
 Kumano Gongen


Futenman-gu Shrine Jinguji 普天満宮 拝殿 Futenma,Ginowan Kumano Gongen
Sueyoshigu Hensho-ji
Shuri Sueyoshi, Naha Kumano Gongen
Asato Hachiman Shrine Hachiman-ji
Asato, Naha Hachiman
Ameku-gū Amekuyamaseigenji
Tomari, Naha Kumano Gongen
Kin-gu Kin-Kannonji
Kotou-gun, Kimbu-cho, Kimbu Kumano Gongen
  1. ^ 袋中, 良定 (1605年). 琉球神道記 (in Japanese). Okinawa.
  2. ^ 沖縄大百科事典 [Okinawa Encyclopedia] (in Japanese). 沖縄大百科事典刊行事務局、沖縄タイムス社、. 1983. pp. 914–915.
  3. ^ "波上宮(なみのうえぐう)由緒". 波上宮. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  4. ^ "普天間宮". Mikumano.net. Retrieved 2025-03-08.

References

  • 鳥越, 憲三郎 (1965). 琉球宗教史の研究 [Research on the History of Ryukyuan Religions] (in Japanese). 角川書店. {{cite book}}: Text "和書" ignored (help)
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