Encyclopedia of Shinto

詳細表示 (Complete Article)

カテゴリー1: 2. Kami (Deities)
カテゴリー2: Kami in Classic Texts
Title
Akaruhime
Text [Akaruhime no kami](Kojiki)
Other names: Himekoso no kami (Nihongi)

According to the Suinin Tennōki, called Himekoso no yashiro no kami (deity of the Himekoso shrine), and wife of Amenohiboko. According to the Kojiki account, a woman of low rank in the Korean kingdom of Silla was impregnated by a ray of sunlight and gave birth to a red ball, which came into the possession of the king's son Amenohiboko. The ball turned into a beautiful young woman, which the prince then made his wife. But the prince insulted the young woman, with the result that she returned to her "original home" (Japan), landing at Naniwa (near present-day Ōsaka), where she remained.

The Jinmyōcho of the Engishiki lists an Akaruhime Jinja in its section for the Sumiyoshi District of Settsu Province, and the shrine was likely one dedicated to this same kami. The Engishiki entry regarding the Festivals of the Seasons (shijisai) includes a note to the effect that the shrine Shitateruhime no Yashiro is "also called Himekoso no Yashiro."

Since Kojiki mentions "Akaruhime no kami residing in the Himegoso Shrine of Naniwa," it is likely that Akaruhime later came to be known as Shitateruhime.

-Nishioka Kazuhiko

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

No movie/映像なし