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【Hodosan Jinja Shrine】

Hodosan Jinja Shrine, located on Mt. Hodo in the north of Chichibu, is one of the district’s three major Shinto shrines. According to legend, it was founded in 110 CE by the folk hero Yamato Takeru no Mikoto after his life was saved from a raging fire.

Yamato Takeru was a son of Keikō, Japan’s legendary twelfth emperor. He had been dispatched from the powerful Yamato court, in what is now Nara Prefecture, to suppress uprisings in the northeast. On his return, the prince and his retinue passed near Mt. Hodo, and he decided to climb it. On their way up the mountain, they were trapped by a sudden wildfire. Just as their lives seemed lost, black and white wolves appeared as if from nowhere and put out the fire. The wolves guided the prince and his men to the summit before vanishing as mysteriously as they had come.

Recognizing the creatures as divine messengers, Yamato Takeru established a simple shrine on the mountaintop in gratitude. He dedicated the shrine to Emperor Jinmu, Japan’s legendary first emperor, to Ōyamazumi no Kami, one of the Shinto mountain deities, and to Homusubi no Kami, the Shinto fire deity.

In reference to his miraculous rescue, Yamato Takeru named the mountain “Hodo”—written with the characters for “fire” (ho) and “stop” (do)—but those characters were changed several centuries later, after a second miracle occurred. During the Kōnin era (810–824 CE), a shining sacred gem (hōju no tama) was seen soaring over the mountain’s summit. Subsequently, the name “Hodo” came to be written with its current name, “treasure” (ho) and “ascending” (do).

In the twelfth century, the Buddhist monk Kūen (d. 1121) established Gyokusenji at the base of Mt. Hodo. That temple was eventually incorporated into the existing shrine complex, merging Shinto and Buddhist practices on the mountain. This form of worship, in which Shinto kami were regarded as manifestations of Buddhist deities, was common throughout Japan for many centuries. It continued until 1868, when new national policies of the Meiji era (1868–1912) mandated the separation of all Buddhist and Shinto institutions and practices.

The main shrine complex now lies at the base of Mt. Hodo. The worship hall, main sanctuary, and offering hall are laid out in the shape of an “H,” an architectural style known as gongen-zukuri. The current buildings, including their stunning carvings, date to renovations completed in 1874. The carvings depict Chinese mythological figures such as the “24 Filial Exemplars” (on the right-side transom of the worship hall) and “Queen Mother of the West” (on the transom of the main sanctuary), as well as auspicious creatures like dragons and cranes.

The inner shrine remains on the summit, at the site established by Yamato Takeru. It can be reached by foot in about an hour, or by a cable car that departs just outside the main complex.

Over one million worshippers visit Hodosan Jinja Shrine each year. Prayers to its deities are considered particularly effective against fires and other disasters, but people also pray for their families’ safety, success in school or business, and protection from traffic accidents and theft. The main annual festival, Reitaisai, takes place on April 3, and other festivals are held throughout the year.

寶登山神社

寶登山神社是秩父三大神社之一，位於秩父北部的寶登山。相傳是由日本萬眾敬仰的民族英雄日本武尊所建。西元110年時日本武尊途經寶登山，偶遇大火卻大難不死，故心懷感激建造了神社。

日本武尊是日本傳說中第十二代天皇景行天皇之子。彼時大和朝廷在現今的奈良縣擁有強大的勢力，皇子受朝廷指派，遠赴東北地區平亂。歸朝時率家臣途經寶登山一帶，決意遊山。不料一行人在登山途中突遇山火，生死交關之際，不知從何處冒出一黑一白兩隻神狼，為眾人熄滅山火，並引領皇子和家臣登至山頂，之後就如出現時一樣，悄然不知所踪。

皇子意識到兩隻野狼是神的使者，為表感恩在山頂建造了一座小型神社，以供奉傳說中第一代天皇神武天皇，以及神道教中的一位山神「大山祗神」和火神「火產靈神」。

為紀念此次生還神蹟，日本武尊以「火（讀音Ho）」「止（讀音Do）」為此山命名。而數世紀後，山中再顯神蹟，山名亦隨之改變。弘仁天皇（810-824）統治時期，曾有人目睹光芒閃耀的寶珠飛過山頂。自此，「火」「止」二字被改寫為如今的山名「寶（讀音Ho）」「登（讀音Do）」，人稱「寶登山」。

12世紀時，佛教僧侶空圓（1121年卒）在山麓建造了玉泉寺。此寺院後來被納入現有的神社內，最終神道教與佛教的山岳修行融合為一。爾後的幾個世紀裡，神道的神都被視作佛教中佛的化身，這種信仰一直持續至1868年。明治時代（1868-1912）政府頒布新令後，佛教和神道教的所有場所和習俗才徹底分離。

現今，神社建築群均集中於寶登山山麓。拝殿、正殿和幣殿無不遵從「權現造」的建築式樣，呈H字排列。雕刻精美的現存建築重建於1874年。其上雕有「二十四孝（拜殿右側欄杆）」「西王母（正殿欄杆）」等中國神話人物及遊龍、仙鶴等象徵吉祥的生靈。

奧宮存留於日本武尊在山頂所建神社的舊址。步行約一小時即可到達，也可在山麓神社外乘坐纜車前往。

每年會有超100萬人造訪寶登山神社。相傳在此拜神可得免遭火災、祈福避禍之庇蔭。此外人們亦會祈求家人康健、學業有成、生意興隆、出行平安、免遭盜竊。按照慣例，神社每年4月3日會舉行「例大祭」，另有各種祭典活動分布於全年各個時節。

宝登山神社

宝登山神社是秩父三大神社之一，位于秩父北部的宝登山。相传是由日本万众敬仰的民族英雄日本武尊所建。公元110年时日本武尊途经宝登山，偶遇大火却大难不死，故心怀感激建造了神社。

日本武尊是日本传说中第十二代天皇景行天皇之子。彼时大和朝廷在现今的奈良县拥有强大的势力。皇子受朝廷的指派，远赴东北地区平乱。归朝时率家臣途经宝登山一带，决意游山。不料一行人在登山途中突遇山火。命悬一线之际，不知从何处冒出一黑一白两头神狼，为众人熄灭山火，之后引皇子和家臣登至山顶，最终就如出现时一般，悄然不知所踪。

皇子意识到两头野狼是神的使者，为表感恩在山顶建造了一座小型神社，以供奉传说中第一代天皇神武天皇，以及神道教中的一位山神“大山祗神”和火神“火产灵神”。

为纪念此次生还神迹，日本武尊以“火（读音Ho）”“止（读音Do）”为此山命名。而数世纪后，山中再显神迹，山名也随之变换。弘仁天皇（810-824）统治时期，曾有人目睹光芒闪耀的宝珠飞过山顶。自此，“火”“止”二字被改写为如今的山名“宝（读音Ho）”“登（读音Do）”，人称“宝登山”。

12世纪时，佛教僧侣空圆（1121年卒）在山麓建造了玉泉寺。寺院不久就被纳入现有的神社内，神道教与佛教最终融合为山岳修行。尔后的几个世纪里，神道的神都被视作佛教中佛的化身，这种信仰一直持续至1868年。明治时代（1868-1912）政府颁布新令后，佛教和神道教的所有场所和习俗才彻底分离。

现今，神社建筑群均集中于宝登山山麓。拝殿、正殿和币殿无不遵从“权现造”的建筑式样，呈H字排布。雕刻精美的现存建筑重建于1874年。其上雕有“二十四孝（拜殿右侧栏杆）”“西王母（正殿栏杆）”等中国神话人物及游龙、仙鹤等象征吉祥的生灵。

奥宫存留于日本武尊在山顶所建神社的旧址之上。步行约一小时即可到达，也可在山麓神社外乘坐缆车前往。

每年会有超100万人造访宝登山神社。相传在此拜神有免遭火灾、祈福避祸之效。此外人们亦会祈求家人康健、学业有成、生意兴隆、出行平安、免遭盗窃。按照惯例，神社每年4月3日会举行“例大祭”，各种祭典活动更是贯穿全年。