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Kawai Shrine is located in the Tadasu-no-mori forest on the west side of the Semi-no-ogawa Stream. The shrine is dedicated to Tamayorihime-no-mikoto (the goddess associated with Emperor Jinmu thought to promote good child rearing) who is believed by many to be a guardian deity for women.
The historical figure Kamo-no-chomei was born to the family running the Kawai Shrine, but after a number of unfortunate circumstances, he decided to distance himself from the world and become a recluse. It is said that he wrote the famous historical document Hojoki in his despair. The Hojoki was written from Chomei’s portable hut located deep in the seclusion of the surrounding mountain forest. The hut covered about 2.73 tsubo, the equivalent of about 5 and a half tatami mats. From the entrance, the hut was about 3 meters deep and 3 meters wide, which is why it is known as the Hojo (a square unite of floor measurement). A replica of the Hojo-no-iori (Chomei’s hut) is on display on the grounds of the Kawai Shrine.
Furthermore, a ceremony dating from ancient times called the Kemari Hajime (a soccer-type ceremony) is still conducted at Shimogamo Shrine, and related to this ceremony, the Yatagarasu is enshrined at Kawai Shrine. The Yataragasu is a three-legged raven appearing in Japanese mythology and it is said to be an incarnation of the god Kamotaketsunumi-no-mikoto. Incidentally, the Japan Soccer Federation has used the Yataragasu as its symbol mark since the founding of the federation in 1931. |
