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Mekari Shrine

Coordinates: 33°57′39″N 130°57′44″E / 33.96083°N 130.96222°E / 33.96083; 130.96222
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mekari-jinja
和布刈神社
The honden, or main shrine
Religion
AffiliationShinto
DeityEmperor Chūai
Empress Jingū
Location
Location3492, Moji, Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū
Fukuoka 801-0855
Mekari Shrine is located in Japan
Mekari Shrine
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates33°57′39″N 130°57′44″E / 33.96083°N 130.96222°E / 33.96083; 130.96222
Architecture
Date establishedC.200 AD
Website
mekarijinjya.web.officelive.com
Glossary of Shinto

Mekari Shrine (和布刈神社, Mekari-jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan.

History

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The wife of Emperor Chūai, Empress Jingū, came here sometime during the legendary military invasion of Korea in the 3rd century. She had Mekari Shrine built as a way of giving thanks to the Kami. The present main shrine was rebuilt in 1767 by the Ogasawara clan from Harima.

Mekari Shinji Shinto ritual

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In the shrine's Shinto ritual called Mekari Shinji,[1] wakame seaweed is cut from the ocean at low tide and offered to an altar in a ceremony conducted in the early morning hours of the first day of the New Year according to the old lunar calendar. The ritual is thought to bring about good luck and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset by Fukuoka prefecture.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mekari Shinji (Shinto Ritual)". Fukuoka Prefecture. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
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