Munakata Shrine and Okinoshima’s Mysteries: UNESCO Considers Japanese Island As World Heritage Site
This week, UNESCO will consider Japan’s proposal to nominate “Okinoshima Island and Related Sites in the Munakata Region” as a World Heritage Site.
So why the new nomination is so important, and what the ancient rituals of Okinoshima mean to the priests who uphold them.
JAPAN Forward reporter, Avery Morrow tries to find out the Okinoshima's mysteries and its secrets.
Avery Morrow is a graduate student in religious studies at the University of Tokyo.
Munakata Taisha 2018
[ Maniac Japan Travel -Kyushu ]
Munakata (宗像) is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture and home to the three Munakata Shrines (Munakata Taisha), the head shrines of several thousand Munakata shrines found across Japan. The original shrine stands on the remote, sacred island of Okinoshima which is off-
limit to the public. Lying along the sea route to Korea, the island has served as a place to pray for safe travel since the fourth century. The other two, later established shrines stand on the Kyushu mainland and on an island near the coast. Okinoshima Island and the Munakata Shrines received world heritage status in July 2017.
Due to its proximity to the Asian mainland, the Munakata area enjoyed considerable wealth and power from the fourth to the ninth century when economic and cultural exchange with the mainland was at its peak. The governing Munakata Clan controlled the trade routes and presided over the religious rites practiced in the area. Its influence declined when trade diminished due to political unstability on the mainland towards the end of China's Tang dynasty.
Okinoshima Island is the original and most notable site of worship. This sacred island is located in the Sea of Japan, about 60 kilometers off the coast of Kyushu or roughly one third into the journey to Busan on the Korean Peninsula. The island can be seen from Kyushu when visibility is good. However, stepping onto Okinoshima is strictly prohibited to all but the shrine's priests. The only chance for the public to visit used to be during an annual festival in May, and even then, the selected, male-only visitors had to fully undress and purify themselves in the sea before stepping onto the island. However, there are plans to discontinue this annual event. Thanks to strict rules and the island's remoteness, the centuries-old ritual sites remain well-preserved.
Nakatsu-miya Shrine is located on the island of Oshima, just off the coast of Kyushu. Rituals on the island were initially held atop Mount Mitake, and the present shrine buildings were constructed at the foot of the mountain around the 16th century. The shrine is located up some steps on a small hill near the ferry port, its secluded location providing for a peaceful experience. Behind the shrine is a path leading up to the summit of Mount Mitake.
Last but not least, Hetsu-miya Shrine (commonly simply referred to as Munakata Taisha) on the Kyushu mainland is the biggest, most-easily and most-popularly visited of Munakata's three shrines. Shrine buildings were built here around the 12th century, but an ancient ritual site in the woods behind the main buildings is believed to date back to the times of early Shinto when buildings were not yet used for religious purposes and worship took place outdoors.
Also within the shrine complex stands the Shinpokan Museum, a three-story treasure house that contains thousands of offerings and other artifacts unearthed on Okinoshima and elsewhere in the area. They include jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, equestrian-related tools and more, and some originate from as far as Persia. The collection is impressive, but information in English is scarce.
【Quality of 9】Munakata Taisha Shrine
Four months have passed since the Kumamoto Earthquake which occurred in April 2016. Ten representatives from Japan and other countries who took part in Miss International Pageant 2015 and 2016 traveled around Kyushu as restoration support. This is a video that shows they gradually find charm of Kyushu with their own sensitivity through people they met, the foods they savored and the scenery they were impressed by.
(4K)京都御苑・宗像神社 Munakata Shrine,Kyoto Japan - 京都寺社巡り2015
本社は宗像三女神、即ち多紀理姫命、市岐嶋姫命、多岐津姫命を主祭神として祀る。宗像三女神は別名「道主貴」といい、これは全ての道を司る神の尊称である。道の神(交通・運送の神)、また海の神(出産、生産、産業・文化の神)として信仰されている。
4Kカム導入につき高画質4K映像でお届け。
Cam:SONY FDR-AX100
Shrine and Temple at Kyoto 2014
寺社巡りリスト
Authentic Japan - Ooshima Island (Fukuoka prefecture, Munakata). World Heritage
English below↓↓↓
[Fançais]
Juillet 2017, le Grand sanctuaire de Munakata, fondée il y a plus de 1500ans est reconnu par l UNESCO comme patrimoine mondiale de l Humanité. Ce sanctuaire, situé dans la ville de Munakata, préfecture de Fukuoka (Kyushu) honore en réalité 3 déesses, filles de la déesse du Soleil Amaterasu, chacune d'entre elle occupe un des 3 sanctuaires situé à Munakata même, sur l Île d Ooshima et sur l île sacrée d Oki-no-shima.
Ooshima offre a ces visiteurs de magnifiques paysages naturels et un village pittoresque de pêcheurs.
Pour plus d information, rendez-vous sur :
adomunakata.wordpress.com
[English]
July 2017, the Great Munakata Shrine, founded 1500years ago, has been registered at Unesco World Heritage. This shrine, located in Munakata city, Fukuoka prefecture (Kyushu) actually honours 3 goddesses, daughters of Amaterasu. Each of them is located in one of the 3 shrines located in Munakata, Ooshima island and the sacred Oki-no-shima island.
Please, come in Ooshima island to enjoy great natural scenery and an authentic japanese fishermen village.
Find more information on the following website :
adomunakata.wordpress.com
Music :
Easy Lemon par Kevin MacLeod est distribué sous la licence Creative Commons Attribution (
Source :
Munakata Taisha Shrine, Fukuoka
Fantastic Places in Cool Japan :
Munakata, located in the northern part of Kyushu, has been an area where many exchanges have been linked since ancient times as the gateway between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. The shrine “Munakata Taisha”, which is positioned as the center of the shrine, is a collective term for Okinoshima and other two islands floating off the coast of Munakata, Okitsu-miya and Nakatsu-miya and Hetsumiya on the mainland. These were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2017 as “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region”. This world heritage may be attracting attention as sacred places because of the natural beliefs that have been passed down since the ancient times of Munakata Taisha, which appears in “Kojiki” (The Records of Ancient Matters).
references
Photos :
wikipedia.org
faithjp.com
knulp.sblo.jp
jtb.co.jp
yokanavi.com
Music : otowabi.com
The Mysterious World Heritage in Japan Episode 1:Munakata Taisha Shrine ~Hetsu-miya~
Japanese culture expert Robert Campbell and Lemi Duncan visit a mysterious Japanese Shinto shrine Munakata Taisha Hetsu-miya on the mainland Kyushu, a component site of UNESCO World Heritage “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region”.
The Mysterious World Heritage in Japan Episode 3:Munakata Taisha Shrine ~Okitsu-miya~
Japanese culture expert Robert Campbell and Lemi Duncan explore the mysterious value of Okinoshima i.e. Japanese Shinto shrine Munakata Taisha Okitsu-miya, a component site of UNESCO World Heritage “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region”.
Best Attractions and Places to See in Munakata, Japan
Munakata Travel Guide. MUST WATCH. Top things you have to do in Munakata. We have sorted Tourist Attractions in Munakatafor You. Discover Munakataas per the Traveler Resources given by our Travel Specialists. You will not miss any fun thing to do in Munakata.
This Video has covered top Best Attractions and Things to do in Munakata.
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List of Best Things to do in Munakata, Japan
Munakata Grand Shrine Shimpokan
Michi-no-Eki Munakata
Munakata Taisha Nakatsugu Shrine
Miyajidake Shrine
Munakata Taisha Hetsugu Shrine
Munakata Taisha Okitsugu Yohaijo
Umi no Michi Munakata Hall
Global Arena
Chinkokuji Temple
Munakata Yurix, Honkan
【Munakata-taisya (Hetsumiya) | ศาลเจ้ามุนาคาตะ | 宗像大社(辺津宮】- ขอพรสำหรับการเดินทาง by Japan Travel
คลิปแนะนำการเดินทางไปยังศาลเจ้ามุนาคาตะ สามารถเดินทางโดยรถบัสประมาณ 20 นาทีจากสถานีโทโง (Tougo Station) ครับ
ศาลเจ้ามุนาคาตะมีชื่อเสียงในเรื่องขอพรให้ปลอดภัยบนท้องถนน รวมทั้งการท่องเที่ยวอย่างปลอดภัยด้วย
มีการขุดพบหลักฐานทางศาสนามากมายที่เชื่อกันว่าเป็นที่ประดิษฐานของศาลเจ้า Munakata ทั่วญี่ปุ่น ประกอบด้วยที่ศาลเจ้า Nakatsu-miya ในโอชิมะ, โอคิชิมะ ที่ศาลเจ้า Hetsu-miya ในทาจิมะ , Guardian of traffic.
Munakata-taisya (Hetsumiya) Shrine is famous for its road safety.
Including safety tourism.
A lot of religious articles were excavated.It is the head shrines of several thousand Munakata shrines found across Japan.
It consists of Okinoshima, Nakatsu-miya shrine in Oshima, Hetsu-miya shrine in Tajima. Guardian of traffic.
ดูรูป และดูวิธีการเดินทางไปศาลเจ้ามุนาคาตะได้ที่ลิ้งค์ด้านล่าง
See photos and How to travel to the Munakata-taisya Shrine at the link below.
#Munakata-Taisya #ศาลเจ้ามุนาคาตะ #Hetsumiya #เที่ยวญี่ปุ่น
The Mysterious World Heritage in Japan Episode 2:Munakata Taisha Shrine ~Nakatsu-miya~
Japanese culture expert Robert Campbell and Lemi Duncan visit a mysterious Japanese Shinto shrine Munakata Taisha Nakatsu-miya on Oshima Island in Kyushu, a component site of UNESCO World Heritage “Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region”.
HAPPY NEW YEAR from Munakata shrine, Japan
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
It's fun to walk in a shrine in the first 3days of the year.
I've been to Munakata shrine from Shikanosima shrine.
Munakata shrine is the one of the oldest shrine located in Munakata city, Fukuoka, and known as the first shrine of traffic safety that released lucky charm of safety driving in Japan.
So, I shall pray here for safety riding and wonderful motorcycle life of all you guys who love motorcycle in the world.
Munakata Taisha Shrine
Provided to YouTube by TuneCore Japan
Munakata Taisha Shrine · Oshiro Music
Munakata Taisha Shrine
℗ 2019 Oshiro Music
Released on: 2019-07-04
Composer: Oshiro Music
Auto-generated by YouTube.
HOT NEWS Munakata 2017 Best Of Munakata Japan Tourism
Munakata Japan Tourism. Munakata (宗像市 Munakata-shi?) is a city in Japan, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, in the north Chikuzen region of the prefecture. The city was founded on April 1, 1981.
As of April 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 94,660 and a population density of 791 persons per km 2. The total area is 119.66 km².
dji osmo action 4K 60fps Munakata shrine 宗像大社
map
RGJ7+CP 宗像市、福岡県
Happy New Year from Munakata shrine, Japan
この動画はAndroid搭載端末からアップロードされました。
櫟谷宗像神社 嵐山 京都 / Ichitani munakata Shrine Kyoto
櫟谷宗像神社
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P-ZONE Munakata – Fukuoka, Japan
The illuminated façade of the P-ZONE Munakata, one of the iconic and dazzling malls in Fukuoka, is appealing like a beautiful rainbow over the building, designed to draw the attention to all even they are far from distance. The mall façade shines glamorously with a dynamic LED light installation from Traxon & e:cue dynamic lighting solution. The LED illumination façade is comprised of 130 Traxon Dot XL-6 RGB, featuring versatile color-changing LEDs to illuminate the exterior of the mall. The Dot XL-6 system is also the perfect solution for vivid accent, text, graphics and video replay for the outdoor environments during the daylight viewing. Various dynamic lighting sequences are controlled via 2 e:cue Video Micro Convertor (VMC). The 360 degree of stunning and dynamic façade gives a unique character to P-ZONE Munakata, turning it into a more attractive and eye-catching urban landmark for its citizens and visitors.
See more:
【Munakata Shrine】歴史ある宗像大社へ行ってきました
This shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture, Munakata City.
Here is called Munakata-Taisha.
Here is a very historic shrine, is a precious place that has
been designated as a national treasure.
Three of you have worshiped God.
Widely quiet and very nice place.
福岡県宗像市にある、宗像大社へ行ってきました。
交通安全のお守りの発祥とも言われ、
宗像三神を祀っている歴史ある神社です。
国宝・重要文化財にも指定されています。
広く、静かで心落ち着く癒される場所です。
E-mail:mootoko29@gmail.com
九州YouTubersコミュニティ:
お気軽にどうぞ!!!
Munakata, Fukuoka Japan
Wanted to make a movie with both videos and pictures from Munakata where I live. Enjoy.
The video is taken with a Nikon D7100. If you like the video, please subscribe. More videos to come!
Music: bensound.com