Goō Shrine

Goō Shrine (護王神社 ごおうじんじゃ Goō Jinja)[1] is a Shinto shrine located in the Kamigyō-ku district of Kyoto, Japan.[2]

Goō Shrine
護王神社 (Goō Jinja)
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeityWake no Kiyomaro, Wake no Hiromushi
Location
Location385 Okakuenchō, Shimochōjamachi Sagaru, Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, JAPAN, 602-8011
Goō Shrine is located in Japan
Goō Shrine
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates35°01′19″N 135°45′54″E
Website
http://www.gooujinja.or.jp
Glossary of Shinto

History

The shrine began as a site to enshrine Wake no Kiyomaro, for its important contribution to the construction of the Heian-kyō. Originally it was located inside the grounds of the Takaosan Jingoji temple, but in 1886 by order of the Meiji Emperor, it was relocated to its current location on the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.[3]

Present Day

Nowadays the Goō Shrine is a popular site frequented by people who come to pray for the recovery from lower-body injuries.[4] This is due to a shrine legend that tells how during the travel on his way to exile to Usa, Wake no Kiyomaru was attacked and suffered a leg injury, but was saved by 300 wild boars that saved him and protected him until the end of his journey.[3][5]

For this reason, the Shrine is also known as the ''Wild Boar Shrine" and has statues of boars instead of the traditional komainu statues seen at Shinto Shrines.[5]

Wild boar statue at the Shrine.

The shrine is also known as a place to pray for the well-being of children and child rearing,[6] as Wake no Kiyomaru's sister, Wake no Hiromushi, is said to have taken care of 83 children who lost their families due to war.[6][7] Wake no Hiromushi is also enshrined at the site as a child-rearing deity.[7]

Around the Shrine

References
  1. "護王神社｜【京都市公式】京都観光Navi". 【京都市公式】京都観光Navi (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  2. "【護王神社】アクセス・営業時間・料金情報 - じゃらんnet". www.jalan.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  3. "護王神社（ごおうじんじゃ）｜寺社仏閣｜京都の寺社仏閣｜ほっこり京都生活｜わかさ生活". kyoto.wakasa.jp. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  4. Shimbun, The Kyoto. "Sports gods and victory prayers in Kyoto". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  5. "Goou Jinja Shinto Shrine". NOCTIVE. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  6. "【京さんぽ】"亥年"に大注目！ 「護王神社」参拝のススメ ～そうだ 京都、行こう。～". そうだ 京都、行こう。 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  7. Guide, Japan Hoppers Travel. "Goou-jinja Shrine | Kyoto | Japan Travel Guide - Japan Hoppers". Japan Hoppers - Free Japan Travel Guide. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
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