Yanagawa | Resurrection God Tachibana Muneshige, the Strongest Man in Western Japan, Servant of Yanagawa Sanbashira Shrine
We just happened to arrive during the Yanagawa Hinami Festival, and the Mitsuhashi Shrine was decorated with cute tsurushi ornaments everywhere, and even the water pavilion had a strong festive atmosphere. Speaking of the Mihashira Shrine, the main deities enshrined are Tachibana Muneshige, the first lord of Yanagawa Domain, who was praised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as "unparalleled in the West", his wife Achiyohime, and his father-in-law Totsugu Michisetsu.
Speaking of the strongest man in the West, Tachibana Muneshige, who is also known as the strongest man in the Warring States Period, not only had an active performance in the Seven Years' War between China and Korea, also known as the Bunroku and Keicho War, but he was most praised for being punished for the siege of Otsu Castle in the Battle of Sekigahara, and his territory was taken away. He lived like a ronin with a few retainers. Later, he was appreciated by Tokugawa Hidetada and regained his lost territory for his meritorious service, so he was called the God of Resurrection.
In fact, at the beginning, Totsugi Dosetsu was enshrined in Sannomaru Nagakuraji Temple, while Muneshige was revered as Shoin Reijin and his wife Mizutama Reijin were worshipped in Hiyoshi Shrine. After they were jointly enshrined in 1820, it became the current Mitsuhashi Shrine. There is an urban legend that the location of the shrine is the ghost gate of Yanagawa Castle, so the strongest man was sent to guard it and protect the people.
The three pillars of the shrine pray for victory, achievement, and the removal of evil. Limited edition goshuin will be released according to the season, and there will also be special eel lottery draws.
It is worth mentioning that in a fire in 2005, only the main hall was spared, and the Karamon Gate and the corridors like the Iwashima Shrine were completely destroyed. Efforts are currently being made to rebuild it.
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