Yatsushiro Shrine (Myōken Shrine)
Myōken Shrine has changed with the times as a jyōgū, or the building of a Shinto shrine complex built upon the highest ground, chūgū, or the building of a Shinto shrine built on middle ground, and a gegū, or the building of a Shinto shrine complex built upon the lowest ground.
Present-day Yatsushiro Shrine was built as Myōken Shrine on the lowest ground in its current location at the bequest of Emperor Go-Toba in the second year of the Bunji period (1186). In its heyday, there were 15 Tendai and Shingon sect temples surrounding it and it was called the “Myōken Shrine of the 15 monks”.
From the Middle Ages to the Edo period, the shrine was revered by the Sagara, Kato, Hosokawa, and Matsui families and the successive generations of Yatsushiro castle owners, who reconstructed the shrine and offered donations of land to be owned by the Shinto shrine.
The present-day shrine was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Genroku period (1699) and again in the second year of the Kan'en period (1749). The main shrine underwent a large-scale restoration for the first time in about 260 years in 2015.
