宗像大社辺津宮の概要
一般的には宗像大社とも呼ばれる辺津宮は、九州本島にあり福岡市から公共交通機関で約1時間です。宗像大社を構成する3つの神社の中で、最大で最もアクセスしやすい場所にあり、4世紀まで遡る品々を所蔵する神宝館が敷地内にあります。
現在の社殿は、かつて九州北岸の一部を治めていた宗像氏により建てられました。本殿は12世紀以前に建てられましたが、ここでの信仰の歴史ははるかに前まで遡ります。初期の信仰は、本殿裏の森にある高宮祭場という古代の祭場に由来します。本殿は宗像三女神の一柱・市杵島姫神を祀っています。他の二柱は、本殿の背後にある2つの末社に祀られます。
神宝館は本殿の左側の境内にあります。神宝館は沖ノ島で発掘された8万点以上の品々を所蔵しています。金の宝飾品や陶磁器やガラス製品など儀式の奉献品として使用された貴重な品々が展示されています。
Hetsu-miya
Hetsu-miya, also commonly referred to as Munakata Taisha, is on the main island of Kyushu, about an hour by public transportation from the city of Fukuoka. It is the largest and most accessible of the three shrines that make up Munakata Taisha and has an on-site museum with artifacts that date from as early as the fourth century.
The current shrine was built by the Munakata family, who once ruled part of the north coast of Kyushu. The main shrine buildings were constructed sometime before the twelfth century, but the history of worship here dates back much further. Early worship can be traced to an ancient ritual site, Takamiya Saijo, in the forest behind the main sanctuary. The main sanctuary enshrines Ichikishimahime no Kami, one of the Three Female Deities of Munakata. The other two deities can be worshipped behind the main sanctuary, in two smaller subsidiary shrines.
The Shimpokan Museum is located on the shrine grounds, to the left of the main sanctuary. The museum holds more than 80,000 artifacts that were excavated on Okinoshima. Displays include gold jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, and other precious items that were used as ritual offerings.
