Kumano Taisha (Izumo)

Kumano Taisha, located in Yakumo-cho Kumano, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, is a Myojin Taisha listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho as Kumano-niimasu-jinja of Ou District in Izumo Province. Together with Izumo Taisha it is one of the ichinomiya of the former Izumo Province. The principal deity is Kaburogi Kumano-no-Okami Kushimikeno-no-Mikoto, identified with Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who appears throughout the upper book of the Kojiki from the slaying of the Yamata-no-Orochi onward as the chief deity of Izumo after his expulsion from Takamagahara. The element mike in the deity name signifies food and grain, so the deity is treated as the root spirit of fire and food. The shrine is the site of the rites of fire succession performed by the Izumo kuni-no-miyatsuko (the Senge and Kitajima families), and is counted among the three great Kumano of Japan. The annual Sankasai on October 15 is a major ceremony of fire transmission.