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Tourism - Iga Hachimangu: (Diese Seite in Deutsch lesen)
Location: http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/Map.nsf/MapMain?OpenForm&21
Dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, this shrine became a guardian shrine
for the Matsudaira family. Tokugawa Ieyasu's powerful great-grandfather, Matsudaira
Chikatada, is believed to have relocated this shrine from Mie. It was visited
to pray for victories in war and for the survival and prosperity of the descendants.
Despite being dedicated to a war deity, the shrine is peaceful and beautiful,
particularly when the iris are blooming. Most of the current buildings are national
important cultural properties, and were built by Ieyasu's grandson, Tokugawa
Iemitsu. The architecture is stunning and the ornamentation beautiful.
The Matsudaira and Tokugawa warriors used to visit this shrine to pray for victory before any major battle. One legend is that when praying for victory, the army would remain at the shrine until the torii gate at the entrance moved, signifying the blessing of Hachiman. Morale boosted, the army would then set off to war. Part of the legend also says that knowing that value of high morale, Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered ninja from the Iga province to secretly move the torii gate during the night to ensure the needed high morale.
Iga Hachimangu
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
Due to its location by the Iga River upstream from the castle, the shrine is the departure point for the popular Ieyasu Gyoretsu parade held in early April each year. The banks of the river are covered with cherry blossoms at this time.
Gate to Iga Hachimangu
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
Horse statue on the temple grounds
(Click on the picture to enlarge)
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