Sacred place
Suga Shrine
Suga Shrine in Unnan, Shimane, claims status as Japan's first shrine, marking the site where Susanoo settled after slaying the Yamata-no-Orochi.
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Shimane shrine recorded in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki, claimed as the palace site Susanoo built after slaying the Yamata-no-Orochi.
Description
Suga Shrine (Suga-jinja) stands in Daito-cho Suga, Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, and claims the title of "Nihon Hatsu-no-Miya" (Japan's first shrine). It enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Kushinadahime-no-Mikoto, and their child Suganoyuyama-Nushi-Minasaro-Hiko-Yashimano-no-Mikoto. According to the Kojiki (712 CE), after slaying the Yamata-no-Orochi and marrying Kushinadahime, Susanoo arrived at Suga in Izumo and declared "My heart is refreshed (sugasugashi)," then built his palace there. The shrine is recorded in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (733 CE) as "Suga no Yashiro" in the Ohara district, and the wedded-rocks on Mount Yakumo behind the shrine serve as its okumiya (inner sanctuary), continuing an ancient iwakura rock-worship landscape.
Enshrined deities
Image credits
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