Overview of Imbe Shrine
The shrine was historically classified as a village shrine and was once designated a Kanpei Chūsha, a mid-ranking government-supported shrine. It is also known as Yamasaki Imbe Shrine, reflecting its connection with the Yamasaki area of Yoshinogawa.
With its ancient origins and enduring religious traditions, Imbe Shrine offers visitors an opportunity to explore the history of Shinto worship and the cultural legacy of the Awa region.
Ancient origins and the Awa Imbe clan
The history of Imbe Shrine reaches back to ancient Japan. According to the Kogoshūi, an early historical text, Ame no Tomi no Mikoto, a grandson of the deity Ame no Futodama no Mikoto, traveled to Awa Province in search of land suitable for cultivating grain-producing trees and hemp. His settlement is associated with the development of the Awa Imbe clan.
The clan became known for its role in supplying yū, a ceremonial fiber material, and hemp cloth for the Daijōsai, the Great Thanksgiving Ceremony held in connection with an emperor’s accession. This tradition established a lasting connection between the Awa region, the production of sacred textiles, and imperial ritual.
Behind the shrine, on a mountainside known as Kuroiwa, are groups of circular burial mounds believed to date from the latter half of the sixth century. These archaeological remains suggest that an established community lived in the area in ancient times.
Foundation and relocation
According to shrine tradition, Imbe Shrine was founded on the 25th day of the second month in the second year of Emperor Jimmu’s reign. Its origins are attributed to the Awa Imbe clan, which enshrined its ancestral deity, Ame no Hiwashi no Mikoto.
The shrine is said to have originally stood at Kuroiwa before being relocated to its present site following an earthquake during the medieval period. Although the details of its earliest history are rooted in tradition, these accounts reflect the shrine’s longstanding importance to the local community.
Worship by medieval warriors
During the medieval period, Imbe Shrine reportedly received the devotion of prominent warriors, including Kōno Michinobu, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and Nasu no Yoichi. Swords, bows, and arrows were offered as prayers for victory in battle.
Historical records also describe the donation of farmland to provide offerings and support for the shrine, reportedly on the orders of Minamoto no Yoritomo. These traditions illustrate the shrine’s religious significance and its association with the warrior class.
Decline and revival
During the early modern period, military conflict and natural disasters contributed to the shrine’s decline. Eventually, even its exact location became uncertain. In 1801, local residents petitioned for its restoration, helping revive worship and reestablish the lineage of its priests.
Following the Meiji Restoration, Imbe Shrine was classified as a village shrine. However, uncertainty over the location of the original shrine led to a dispute over its recognition as a government-supported shrine. In 1881, Gosho Shrine was identified as the shrine corresponding to the ancient Imbe Shrine recorded in the Engishiki, and the shrine at the present site returned to village-shrine status.
Historical names and court rank
Before the Meiji period, Imbe Shrine was also known as Ame no Hiwashi Shrine. During the early modern period, it was associated with the grounds of Ōji Gongen and was sometimes referred to by that name.
Historical records indicate that the shrine’s deity received successive promotions in the traditional system of court ranks. The deity was awarded the rank of Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, in 849; Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, in 878; and Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade, in 885. By the time of the Engishiki, the shrine was listed among the major government-supported shrines of its era.
The main sanctuary and sacred grounds
The main sanctuary features a gabled roof and a front-facing entrance, with a wooden-shingle roof. Its ridge is decorated with chigi, forked ornamental roof beams, and katsuogi, short horizontal logs traditionally associated with Shinto architecture. A ridge plaque records that the building was reconstructed in 1722, during the Kyōhō era.
Within the grounds is the site known as the Aratae Ori-dono, or the former hall for weaving sacred cloth. It is traditionally associated with the production of aratae, a coarse but sacred hemp textile woven by descendants of the Awa Imbe clan for the Daijōsai ceremony.
This connection with imperial ritual gives the shrine particular significance in the history of Japanese ceremonial textiles and the religious traditions of the Awa region.
Deities enshrined at Imbe Shrine
The shrine venerates several deities connected with the Imbe clan and ancient traditions of textile production. Its principal deity is Ama no Hiwashi Kakeruya no Mikoto, regarded as an ancestral deity of the Awa Imbe clan. Other deities enshrined here include the following:
Ii-rame no Mikoto: Traditionally described as the consort of the principal deity, although details about this deity remain unclear.
Ame no Futodama no Mikoto: An ancestral deity of the Imbe clan.
Hirino-me no Mikoto: Traditionally regarded as the consort of Ame no Futodama no Mikoto.
Tsukuimi no Mikoto: A child deity of Ame no Hiwashi and a deity also associated with Ōasahiko Shrine.
Nagashiraha no Mikoto: An ancestral deity of the Asōmi clan of Ise Province.
Yufutsunushi no Mikoto: An ancestral deity of the Awa Imbe clan’s counterpart in Awa Province, traditionally described as a grandson of Ame no Hiwashi.
Iorihime no Mikoto: A deity whose historical background is not clearly documented.
Seven affiliated shrines
Imbe Shrine has seven affiliated shrines outside its main grounds, located in the former Yamasaki Village area. Together, they preserve a network of local traditions and worship connected with the region’s ancient religious heritage.
Shirayamahime Shrine: Located on Mount Imbe in Yamakawa-cho and dedicated to Izanami no Mikoto.
Kunushi Shrine: Also located on Mount Imbe and dedicated to Ōkuninushi no Mikoto.
Iwato Shrine: Located in Iwato, Yamakawa-cho, and dedicated to Ame no Iwato-wake no Mikoto and Ame no Futodama no Mikoto.
Tatemi Shrine: Located at the same site as Iwato Shrine and dedicated to Ame no Sokodachi no Mikoto and Takeminakata no Mikoto.
Amamurakumo Shrine: Located in Iwato, Yamakawa-cho, and dedicated to Amamurakumo no Mikoto and Ijiwayahime no Mikoto.
Wakamiya Shrine: Located at the eastern foot of the mountain and dedicated to Omoikane no Mikoto and Nagashiraha no Mikoto.
Oto-yama Shrine: Located in Gion, Yamakawa-cho, and dedicated to Susanoo no Mikoto and Kushinadahime no Mikoto.
Imbe Shrine and the Daijōsai ceremony today
The shrine’s ancient role in the production of sacred textiles continues to be remembered through modern imperial ceremonies. For the Daijōsai held in 1990, aratae woven within the shrine grounds from hemp cultivated in Tokushima was presented for the ceremony.
For the Daijōsai held in 2019, hemp grown in Koyadaira, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, was likewise used in the production of the sacred textile. These events demonstrate the continuing cultural importance of the Awa region’s traditional hemp cultivation and weaving practices.
Discover the ancient traditions of Tokushima
Imbe Shrine is an important destination for travelers interested in Japan’s ancient history, Shinto traditions, and the origins of ceremonial textile production. Its association with the Awa Imbe clan and the Daijōsai ceremony links the local landscape with rituals that have been passed down through generations.
From its traditional sanctuary and affiliated shrines to the archaeological remains on Mount Imbe, the site offers a glimpse into the spiritual and cultural heritage of Tokushima. A visit provides a deeper appreciation of the region’s role in preserving ancient Japanese religious traditions.