Hii Shrine

Overview

Hii Shrine is an ancient shrine in Unnan, Shimane, also known as Miyazaki Daimyojin. The Nara-period Izumo no Kuni Fudoki records two shrines called Hi no Yashiro, both under the jurisdiction of the office of divinities. These two are thought to have merged into one by the era of the Engishiki code in the Heian period, forming today's Hii Shrine. Both the Hii Shrine and the Hiinohayahikono Shrine named in the Engishiki are identified with this site, a listed Shikinaisha of Izumo Province.

Highlights

• ●A listed Shikinaisha with origins going back to the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki
• ●A witness to the history of two Hi shrines merging into one
• ●Its makeup as a shrine including the Hiinohayahikono Shrine
• ●A setting in the Hii River basin famed for the Yamata no Orochi legend

History

Tradition holds that the two Hi no Yashiro shrines recorded in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki were consolidated into one by the time of the Engishiki. The Hii Shrine listed in the Engishiki register of deities, together with the Hiinohayahikono Shrine enshrined on the same grounds, is identified with the present shrine, counted among the Shikinaisha of Izumo Province. Its continuous presence in ancient records reflects the enduring faith of this land.

Map

35.3049, 132.9034 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Reach the Hii River basin of Unnan by rail or car
2. 2Worship at Hii Shrine and touch its ancient Izumo lineage
3. 3Walk along the Hii River and take in the mythic river scenery
4. 4Tour the villages of Unnan and nearby Izumo-linked shrines and temples

Did you know?

💡 The alternate name Miyazaki Daimyojin has long been used affectionately by locals. What makes this shrine historically intriguing is how it preserves, across two different eras of sources, the process by which two shrines became one between the Fudoki and the Engishiki, offering a window onto the administration of shrines in ancient Izumo.

Nearby spots