The History of Niutsuhime Jinja Shrine 丹生都比売神社の歴史

In 1274, the Mongols’ first attempt to invade Japan failed due to a sudden violent typhoon. The shogunate deeply feared a second invasion, however, and sent emissaries to all of the major shrines to ask the gods for protection.

According to legend, this shrine received an omen prior to a second Mongol invasion in 1281. The four gods of Niutsuhime Shrine, accompanied by a great crow, took the lead and flew to the island of Kyushu, where the invaders were landing. The great crow beat its huge wings, creating a divine wind that scattered the Mongolian fleet. The invasion was once again turned back by a typhoon, and in recognition of the four gods’ intervention, the shogunate designated this as the main shrine of the Kii region (modern-day Wakayama).

Niutsuhime Shrine’s connection to Koyasan goes back even further. According to another legend, the goddess granted part of her sacred lands to the founder of Koyasan, the priest Kukai (posthumously known as Kobo Daishi; 774–835), to build his center for esoteric Buddhism. His first act upon establishing Koyasan was to raise a large Shinto shrine to thank the goddess for her generosity.

This kind of interreligious cooperation was common, as Buddhism and Shinto peacefully co-existed for over a thousand years after the former’s introduction to Japan in the sixth century. Niutsuhime Shrine and Koyasan are still deeply interconnected to this day, as those planning to climb up to Koyasan via the Choishi Michi (Stone Marker Route) pay their respects at the shrine.

The shrine was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.