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Higashi Ward:
Ruins of Najima Castle
Najima Castle is
surrounded by the sea in three directions and was made at the time of the civil
war (1500-1575). Feudal lord Tachibana Akitoshi used this as his branch castle.
The prominent central government lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi bestowed this castle
on a local feudal lord, Kobayakawa Takakage, who then renovated it. Although,
Kuroda Nagamasa, the first lord of Fukuoka also stayed at this castle, he
started building the Fukuoka Castle in Fukusaki in 1601 since Najima Castle was
too small and was geographically inconvenient for the development of a castle
town.
Hakozaki Shrine
Emperor Ojin, Empress
Jingu and Princess Tamayori are enshrined at this shrine which was established
in 923. It is one of a trio of Hachiman shrines along with Usa and Iwashimizu
Shrines. The Fukuoka area has also been the site of many important events. The
famous Heike family fled here; battles against the Mongolian troops took place
here; the famous warrior, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, stayed here to send troops to the
Korean Peninsula; and a tea ceremony by Sen-no Rikyu, a tea master, was also
held here.
Procession of the Hakozaki Shrine Deity
This
procession is held once every two years from September 12 to 14 during the
autumn festival, "Hojo-e." In olden times, the holy palanquin on
which the deity sat used to cross the sea and proceed all the way to a temporary
shrine at Ebisu town in Hakata. Although many festivals similar to this are
held throughout the nation, the processions only proceed between the main shrine
and the temporary shrine during the daylight hours. The deity procession of
this shrine, however, keeps its original tradition by making a long procession
during the night around the land governed by the deity.
Najima Mast Stones
There are nine
cylindrical stones jutting out of the water at Shirohama beach in Najima which
disappear at high tide. These mast stones and the trees in the adjacent hills
belong to the oak tree family peculiar to the third chronicle stratum and
consist of shale, sand stone and conglomerate. The stones were named after the
legend of the Kashii family. Supposedly, when Empress Jingu made a triumphal
return from abroad, her vessels were left here and their masts were said to have
become fossilized.
Anchor of a Mongolian Ship
Nearly 40
anchors which were used by ships of the Mongolian troops that were sunk when
invading Kyushu and struck by a huge typhoon, which was later referred to as a "divine
wind" (Kamikazi) have beenfound in western Japan, mainly around Hakata Bay.
Square pillar-shaped stones 2 to 3 meters in height, wide at the center, narrow
at both ends and roughly made with a chiseled surface, were framed in wood and
used as anchors for the ships.
Magemono
Magemono are the items made
from the technique of bending wooden sheets of cedar and cypress which are bound
together with cherry bark. The seam and the grain of these items are
well-balanced making the technique very appealing. This box making was later
developed when Hakozaki Shrine produced commercial vessels using the same
method.
Kareno Mound
"Sick was i during my
trip. It is not I myself any more, but only my dreams. That run around Kareno
(a desolate field)." On his deathbed, Basho (a famous "haiku"
poet) composed the above-mentioned poem which was noted by his apprentice,
Donshu. This memorial mound was errected in 1700.
"YO" School of Flintlock Use
This
is a rifle handling martial art school which originated with the Kuroda family
of Fukuoka.
Nine-Story Stone Tower
This 4.2
meter-high tower has nine roofs made out of granite and is assumed to have been
built at the end of the Kamakura era (mid 1300's). Images of Buddha are
inscribed on the four sides of the square pillars. The tower was erected for
the resting of the soul of a tragic hero, Yoneichimaru, who killed himself in
the pine field in Hakozaki after beingbetrayed by his master. |
Shikano-Umi Shrine
Eminent sea gods
like Sokotsu Watatsumi, Okitsu Watatsumi and Uwatsu Watatsumi are worshipped in
this shrine. The Azumi family who took control over the fishermen in ancient
times came from this area and the gods mentioned above are the one that the
Azumi family had paid thier respects to. Located on Shikanoshima near the ferry
landing.
Mai-Matsubara Ancient Tomb
This ancient
tomb is located on the top of a hill east of the Mai-Matsubara
apartmentdevelopment and the hill is located within a natural park. The tomb is
round, 4 meters high, and 25 meters in diameter. There is a chambered corridor
in which bodies were preserved. The chamber, however, can not be seen nowadays
since it is buried. The tomb is estimated to have been built in the 6th century
and a powerful leading clan in the Kashii district is allegedly buried here.
Monuments to Manyo-Ka
Fukuoka City
built eighteen monuments to Manyo-ka within the city from 1967 to 1976 in
locations where poems from the Anthology of Calasical Verse are closely
connected to the local history. Ten ourt of the eighteen monuments are located
on Shikanoshima Island.
Miya-No-Mae Ancient Tomb
This tomb
comprises of three mounds. Two were found within the precints of Ogami Shrine
when an investigation was conducted in 1970 for construction of an apartment
complex in the area. One of them is round, 10 meters in diameter, and contains
a main chamber room which is approximately a 2.3 meter cube. Unglazed ceramic
ware and redish pottery found in the area date this tumb from the 6th century.
Kinin Park
Kinin is the golden seal
presented to a messenger from Japan by the Chinese Late-Hang Dynasty King
Kobutei in 57 A.D. and was later discovered on Shikanoshima Island in 1784. It
is designated as a national treasure and is on display at the Fukuoka Are
Museum. The place where the kin-in was excavated is now a park. nearby there
is a monument for the resting of the soldier's souls who died in a typhoon at
the time of the first Mongolian invasion int he 13th century, and another
monument to thank those who prayed for a Japanese victory during the second
Mongolian invasion to Japan.
Ruins of Tachibana
Otomo Sadatoshi
built this castle on the top of Mt. Tachibana. He, however, lost in battle to
Bekki Akitsura, who later ascended to the Tachibana family, to take control of
the castle. In 1586, Akitora, the son of Akitoshi, fought against the Shimazu
family who was on a northern expedition to conquer Kyushu Island. The tachibana
castle was later destroyed when Kuroda Nagamasa came to poere in this area.
There are several stone walls remaining on the top of the Mountain.
Hayama Ceremony
The Hayama ceremony,
offered annually on November 19 at Shishiki Shrine in Nata at the time of the
autumn festival, according to a legend started when Empress Jingu held a big
banquet while staying here before dispatching her troops to Korea. For the
ceremony, the local village is divided in two and a youngster from each group
competes to see who can cook a fish the fastest to serve to god. The group
which wins the competition is granted a big catch of fish throughout the year.
Kashii Shrine
Emperor Chuai, Empress
jingu, Emperor Ojin and God Sumiyoshi are enshrined here. Emperor Chuai passed
away here when he was on an expedition to western Japan. Treated in a different
way compared with other shrines, this shrine (pictured above) doed not appear in
the "Engi-shiki" (legal records of the Heian era). Kashii had been
more prosperous as a trade port than Hakata Port, since the 12th century when
trade at the Korokan (ancient guest house) declined. When the Mongolian troops
invaded Kyushu, in the 13th century, the Otomo family of Bungo kept guard on the
Kashii and Tatara district and since that time reined in these districts.
Ceremonial Lion Dance and Music
The
lion dance and music is dedicated to the Kashii Shrine twice a year on April 17
and on October 17 by local parishoners. This ceremony is recoreded in the
Emperor's message of 1744 and the date "1798" is inscribed in the
large drum, indicating that the dance and music were dedicated in the Edo
period. The lion and lioness dance to drum music while a flute gives a feeling
that the two of them are really having fun. |
