Aekuni Shrine

Aekuni Shrine (, Aekuni-jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is the Ichinomiya of the former Iga Province and claims to have been founded in the seventh century. It is classified as a Beppo Shrine by the Association of Shinto Shrines.

Prince Ōhiko , son Emperor Kōgen, deployed to Hokurikudo as one of the Shido Shogun. Sukunabikona , kami of agriculture, healing, magic, brewing sake and knowledge Kanayamahiko , kami from the Nangū Taisha

According to the Engishiki, there used to be only one deity enshrined at Aekuni Shrine. According to the Rikkokushi, the name of this deity was Aekuni-tsu-kami . This deity ruled over the entire region, together with the Abe clan's patron god, with Mt. Nangu being their place of worship. During the Muromachi Period, a theory arose that Kanayamahiko was assigned to Aekunishin as a personal deity. Soon after, a secondary theory arose stating that the deity assigned was actually Sukunabikona. The Kanayamahiko assignment theory, in relation to Mt. Nangu, is rooted in religious documents, as it is mentioned in both the Dainipponkoku Ichinomiyaki and the Engishiki Jinmeicho from the late Muromachi Period. There is also literature written down of folklore related to Mino Province's ichinomiya, Nangu Taisha (modern day Gifu Prefecture, Fuwa District, Tarui), but the evidence and details are lacking. On the other hand, Sukunabikona, also known as the pioneer deity, resembles the Iga Province's Osanakichigo-no-Miya from the Ryojin Hisho. This theory is believed to have been established around the end of the Heian Period. After that, from the end of the Muromachi Period to the mid. Edo Period, the two theories of Kanayamahime and Sukunabikona, and the three theories introducing Koga Saburo were established. In the third year of the Shotoku Era (1713 AD), it was advocated that Prince Ohiko was actually the deity enshrined at Aekuni Shrine. This proposition was based on the fact that in both the Nihon Shoki and the Shinsen Shojiroku, Prince Ohiko is described as the founder of the Aya clan. Afterwards, the Prince Ohiko theory was adopted, and Koga Saburo was abolished from the pantheon.

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