Toyokuni-jinja Shrine (Kyoto City) (豊国神社 (京都市))
Toyokuni-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. It enshrines Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI.
Other shrines with the same name enshrining Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI as the main deity are also located in areas that he governed as Daimyo in Osaka-jo Castle Park (Chuo Ward [Osaka City]), Osaka City; Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture; and Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture; as well as his birthplace of Nakamura Ward, Nagoya City (refer to associated articles).
History
In 1599, the year after his death, Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI's remains were buried at the summit of Mt. Amidagamine near Hoko-ji Temple in accordance with his will, and Toyokuni-jinja Shrine originated from the mausoleum that was constructed to serve as the guardian shrine of Hoko-ji Temple at the foot of the mountain. Emperor Goyozei granted the shrine the rank of Shoichii (Senior First Rank) and bestowed upon the deity the name Hokoku Daimyojin in a lavish enshrinement festival. However after the destruction of the Hashiba clan in 1615, the Edo bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) revoked this name and confiscated the shrine's land, after which the shrine buildings fell into decay and the sacred object within the shrine was secretly relocated to Ima Hie-jinja Shrine.
Emperor Meiji proclaimed the restoration of Toyokuni-jinja Shrine during a visit to Osaka in 1868 when it was deemed that Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI was a loyal retainer who revered the emperor, united the nation and did not establish the bakufu. Toyokuni-jinja Shrine was classified as a Bekkaku Kanpeisha (a special government shrine) in 1873. In 1880, the construction of a shrine building was completed at the site on which the Great Buddha of Hoko-ji Temple once stood and the shrine was relocated.
Cultural properties
National Treasure
Kara-mon gate
Important Cultural Properties
Six-panel folding screen with color paintings on paper depicting festivals of Toyokuni; painted by Naizen KANO
Ouchi-kikugiri montsuki saaya dofuku (vest garment decorated with a gold chrysanthemum motif)
Three decorated Chinese-style chests (kiri karakusa makie, kiri hoo emaki, kiri-susuki makie)
Iron lantern cage
Naginata blade Honebami ("Bone-eater"); no inscription; attributed to Yoshimitsu AWATAGUCHI