Mononobe Shrine

Overview

Mononobe Shrine is a Sukunomiya (式内社) and Ichinomiya (石見国一宮) shrine located in Ōda City, Shimane Prefecture. According to the shrine's traditions, Umashimazushi no Mikoto, a child of Ninshin Mikoto, after assisting Emperor Jimmu in the pacification of Yamato, led his clan to pacify Mino and Echigo Provinces before passing away in Iwami Province. Umashimazushi no Mikoto was buried in Yayoyama, behind the present shrine building. It is said that a shrine building was constructed at the southern foot of Yayoyama by imperial order in the 8th year of Emperor Keitai's reign (around 514 AD). The shrine's ranking was raised to Shogoinoge (正五位下) in 869 AD, Shogoinojo (正五位上) in 875 AD, Juyoinoge (従四位下) in 879 AD, and Juyoinojo (従四位上) in 941 AD. It is listed as a Kosha (小社, small shrine) in the Engishiki Jinmyocho (延喜式神名帳), and received the veneration of successive feudal lords as the Ichinomiya of Iwami Province. Regarding the shrine's priests, it is said that during the reign of Emperor Keiko, Mononobe Takeko no Muraji was appointed Iwami no Kuni no Miyatsuko (Iwami Provincial Governor), and his descendants, calling themselves Kawai Nagata-ko, performed the rituals for generations. However, in 1184 AD, when Kane Ko-tada assumed the position of Jito (地頭, land steward) of Ano County, his son Michiyoshi replaced them and became the shrine's priest, and the Kaneko family has been in charge of the rituals ever since. Before the war, the Kaneko family, along with the Senke and Kitajima families of Izumo Taisha Shrine and the Ono family of Himisaki Shrine (Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture), were among the fourteen families of Shasha Kazoku (社家華族, noble families associated with shrines), holding the rank of Baron.