2025.04.13

Gods of Hitachi / Visit to the Three Shrines of the East Country, Walk in Kashima / Daisei Shrine / Daisei Tombs

vibration

A journey through the ancient beliefs and history of Ibaraki Prefecture. On the way to visit the three shrines in Higashikoku, this time we visited the Daisei Shrine in Shiorai City, not far from Kashima City, and the Daisei burial mounds that spread around it. This is a place that can be said to be the source of Kashima Jingu Shrine, and it is a special sacred place that conveys the breath of the ancient royal family to the present day.

Article Contents

Daisei Shrine / Daisei Ancient Tombs ~ A journey through a sacred place beyond time
- Daisei Shrine (814 Daisei, Shiorai-shi, Ibaraki)
  - The Resting Place of the Ancient Noble Family ・ Daisei Tombs

Daisei Shrine / Daisei Ancient Tombs ~ A journey through a sacred place beyond time

The main shrine of Kashima Jingu Shrine – To Daisei Shrine
I left Kashima City and drove for a while. In the midst of the idyllic countryside, you will step into Shiolai City. The goal is the Daisei Shrine. This place is called the main shrine of Kashima Jingu or the former Kashima Shrine, and it is said that it was enshrined here until Takemi Kazuchi Ogami moved to Kashima Jingu.

Daisei Shrine (814 Daisei, Shiorai-shi, Ibaraki)

Tucked away in a secluded and quiet place. The surrounding area is densely wooded, and a single road that is dark even in the daytime is the approach to the sanctuary. The solemn atmosphere makes my heart tighten even before I step foot in it.

Shrine

Ken Mirai no Ogami (Takemi Kazuchi no Ogami)

According to the legend, this area was once ruled by the Iitomi tribe (Ofu clan), and it is said that it was enshrined as a clan god when moving from Yamato to Hitachi. The name of the place "Oo" is also derived from the "O" clan who ruled this area.

The Oh, which can be written in various ways such as Dai, Tai, Wang, Ta, Tontomi, Iitomi, Obitomi, and Daisei, was a clan with considerable power in ancient Japan. It is believed that a large cultural area was built around the Daisei Shrine.

Of note is the Heavenly Goddess of Kashima (Kashima no Ame-no-Okami), which I introduced last time. It is also said that this may be the god of heavenly Ojo, that is, the clan god of the Daisei clan.

The place where the gods dwell – the precincts of Daisei Shrine
"The Daisei Shrine, called Motokashima, is a very divine place, and there are many spirits."

Fukutaro's words accurately describe the atmosphere of this place. Certainly, it is not only quiet, but it also gives the feeling that there is some special power in it.

【Daisei Shrine and Worship Hall】

This shrine itself is the oldest shrine in the region, and the current main shrine was built in the 18th year of Tensho (1590) during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It is built in the style of Sankensha and has a frontage of 6 meters and a depth of 7 meters. It is a large regional shrine building, the oldest shrine building in the region, and is designated as a cultural property of Ibaraki Prefecture.

【Daisei Shrine / Main Shrine】

It is said that the god who once lived in this place later enshrined in Kashima Jingu. There is no doubt that the place shrouded in tranquility is a special sacred place, just like Sakado Shrine and Numao Shrine.

What makes Daisei Shrine different from other shrines is that it is surrounded by ancient burial mounds. It is as if the energy of the burial mounds scattered around the shrine gathers in the shrine and is filled with that energy. There is no doubt that it is a powerful power space.

Its sense of holiness sets it apart from other shrines. The spiritual power of the Holy Land surrounds this shrine. I can't help but feel that way.

【Sacred Tree】

The sacred tree that towers over the temple grounds is also a symbol of its power. Thick, powerful, and stretching toward the heavens, it is the very tree in which God dwells.

The Resting Place of the Ancient Noble Family ・ Daisei Tombs

Daisei Kofun Group (Shikamizuka Kofun: 890-2 Daisei, Shiorai-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture)

After visiting the shrine, we headed to the Daisei Tombs, which are very close to the shrine. The energy of the surrounding burial mounds flowing into the precincts of the shrine was very strong, and my feet were naturally drawn to it.

With a large area and an open view, everything here can be said to be a sacred place. It's not often that you get the chance to walk through such a vast power spot.

It's refreshing and very pleasant. It's more like a sacred shrine than a grave.

There are no unborn Buddha spirits, no floating spirits. By the spiritual power of the Holy Land, everything must have been purified and Buddhahood had become.

This area is now maintained as a park, and there are more than 110 burial mounds of various sizes scattered around, including front and rear mounds, square mounds, and circular mounds. The overwhelming number of burial mounds is the largest in Ibaraki Prefecture.

It is believed to have been built in the middle of the Kofun period (5th century).

The people buried in these burial mounds are believed to be the Ou clan (Taji, Iitomi clan), the Hosai clan of the Daisei Shrine.

It has also been pointed out that each anterior and posterior mound faces the Daisei Shrine and Kashima Shrine. This is probably the result of a combination of respect for ancestors and faith in the gods.

Kamizuka Tomb

The Kamizuka Tomb is one of the almost complete anterior and posterior mounds in the Daisei Nishi Kofun Group, with a total length of 58.1 m, a width of 32 m in the front part, and a diameter of 34 m in the rear circle and a height of 6 m.

It is a shape called a one-ear anterior-posterior mound, and is characterized by a particularly high protrusion of the posterior circle. Was this peculiar mound an indication of the authority of those in power at the time?

I will also walk the back side of the Shikamizuka Tomb. A lush forest surrounds the burial mounds, and its tranquility creates an even more sacred atmosphere.

Let's also take a look at the burial mound in the forest next to it. The burial mounds that emerge from among the trees seem to have fallen asleep for a long time.

The Daesheng Tombs are sacred power spots where you can take a leisurely stroll. Please come and experience the spiritual power of this sacred place.

Conclusion – The Power of the Holy Land Beyond Time
The trip to visit the Daisei Shrine and the Daesheng Tombs was a special experience to feel the breath of antiquity and experience the power of the gods. By tracing the roots of Kashima Jingu Shrine and experiencing the history of the ancient royal family, I was able to feel the depth of Japan's history and culture once again.

The Daisei Shrine is a place where divine power dwells in the silence, and the Daisei Tombs are a place where you can feel the lives and beliefs of ancient people. By visiting these two places, you will be able to refresh your body and mind and gain new energy.

When you visit the three shrines in the eastern part of the country, be sure to visit the Daisei Shrine and the Daisei Tombs and feel the power of the timeless sacred place.