View source for Gosha Suwa Shrine

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{{Infobox religious building|image=24gosya.jpg|coordinates=34° 42′ 23″ north, 137° 43′ 30″ east|location=[[Hamamatsu]]|province=[[Shizuoka Prefecture]]|type=[[Sanctuaire shinto]]|website=www.gosyajinjya-suwajinjya.or.jp}}
'''Gosha-Suwa-jinja''', is a [[Shinto shrine]] located in [[Hamamatsu]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture]], Japan.  It  is  in Naka Ward, which is in the central part of [[Hamamatsu]] City.<ref name="GSI_2016"><span class="ouvrage" id="Institut_d'études_géographiques_du_Japon"><abbr class="abbr indicateur-langue" title="Langue : japonais">(ja)</abbr> [[Institut d'études géographiques du Japon]], <span lang="ja">[http://maps.gsi.go.jp/#17/34.706411/137.724964/&base=std&ls=std « <cite style="font-style:normal;">GSI Maps</cite> »]</span>, sur <span class="italique">www.gsi.go.jp</span> <small style="line-height:1em;">(consulté le <time datetime="2016-11-29" class="nowrap" data-sort-value="2016-11-29">29 novembre 2016</time>)</small></span>.</ref> It is located about 6.5 kilometers away from the right bank of the Tenryū River, in a straight line. The shrine is also near the railway station, approximately 1 kilometer away, and the city's castle, which is about 500 meters to the north.

== Description ==
[[File:Goshajinjya_Haiden.jpg|alt=Photo couleur de l'intérieur du bâtiment du culte d'un sanctuaire shintō (couleur dominante : orange).|left|thumb| View from inside the ''haiden'' .]]
The Gosha-Suwa religious complex consists of typical architectural elements commonly found in Shintō shrines, including an entrance gate called [[torii]], a building for worship called [[haiden]] which is guarded by a traditional pair of creatures, a main building known as [[honden]], an ablution pavilion called [[temizuya]], a temple office referred to as shamusho, and supports for hanging [[Ema|votive plaques]]. The main axis of the shrine's enclosure is an alley that runs from the entrance torii to the haiden, oriented east-west parallel to the Enshū Sea and [[perpendicular]] to the [[Tōkaidō (road)|ancient Tōkai road]] that leads north to the castle entrance in Hamamatsu. The shrine is distinguished by the presence of two [[hokora]], one dedicated to ancestor worship and the other honoring [[Inari Okami|Inari]]. Additionally, there is a shed used for storing [[mikoshi]], which are portable shrines used during religious processions.<ref name="Officiel_2016_About">{{Cite web|title=五社神社 諏訪神社について|url=http://www.gosyajinjya-suwajinjya.or.jp/about.php|access-date=2016-11-30|language=ja}}.</ref>

Gosha-Suwa Shrine is affiliated with Kasuga-taisha in Nara City, [[Nara Prefecture]], and Suwa Grand Shrine near [[Lake Suwa]], Nagano Prefecture. It venerates Shinto deities such as [[Takemikazuchi]], the "thunder god", Ama-no-Koyane-no-mikoto, Futsunushi, [[Takeminakata|Suwa Myojin]], and [[Kotoshironushi]], who are considered as the sons of Ōkuninushi. Devotees visit the shrine to convey their wishes for various blessings, such as prosperity, happiness, finding a soul mate, successful fishing, abundant harvests, or safe childbirth.<ref name="ICPA_2016">{{Cite web|last=International culture promotion association|title=五社神社・諏訪神社|url=http://jinjajin.jp/modules/newdb/detail.php?id=9780|access-date=2016-11-30|language=ja}}.</ref>
== History ==

=== Gosha Shrine ===
In the early 16th century, the leader of the [[Imagawa]] clan built a castle called Hikuma Castle in the [[Tōtōmi Province|province of Tōtōmi]], which also had a shrine within its enclosure. Later in the same century, [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], who would become the ruler of unified Japan, seized the castle, expanded it, and renamed it Hamamatsu Castle. In 1579, after the birth of his son Tokugawa Hidetada, he converted the shrine into a place of worship for the Shintō deity [[Futsunushi]]. The following year, he had the holy place rebuilt outside the castle's enclosure.<ref name="Officiel_2016_About" />

In 1914, the Gosha sanctuary was classified as a national treasure. However, on June 18, 1945, an air raid by the American army destroyed all the buildings.<ref name="ARAAR_2015">{{Cite web|year=2015|title=戦災による焼失旧国宝建造物|url=http://aomorikuushuu.jpn.org/kokuhou.html|access-date=2016-11-30 |language=ja |archive-date=2016-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329060328/http://aomorikuushuu.jpn.org/kokuhou.html|url-status=dead}}.</ref><ref name="Officiel_2016_About"/>

=== Suwa Shrine ===

In 761, [[Sakanoue no Tamuramaro]], a general in the service of Emperor [[Emperor Kanmu|Kammu]], had a Shintō shrine built in Tōtōmi province. This shrine was later moved in 1556 to the foot of Hikuma Castle, and then in the 1580s it came under the control of the [[Tokugawa shogunate|Tokugawa dynasty]]. In 1641, the sanctuary was rebuilt stone by stone near the Gosha-jinja.<ref name="Officiel_2016_About" />

In 1938, the Suwa sanctuary was classified as a national treasure. However, on June 18, 1945, during an aerial bombardment, several buildings of the religious complex were reduced to ashes.<ref name="ARAAR_2015"/><ref name="Officiel_2016_About"/>

=== Gosha-Suwa Shrine ===
In 1962, in the city of Hamamatsu, two Shintō shrines, Gosha-jinja and Suwa-jinja, merged to form the religious complex Gosha-Suwa. The construction of Gosha-Suwa was completed in 1982, including the opening of its honden (main hall) to the faithful.<ref name="Officiel_2016_About" /> During [[World War II]], the shrines of Gosha-jinja and Suwa-jinja were heavily damaged by bombings, resulting in the loss of their national treasure status. Unfortunately, the damage could not be repaired.

== Events ==
On November 15th, during the traditional annual festival called [[Shichi-Go-San|shichi-go-san]], parents come to Gosha-Suwa Shrine as a family to pray for the good health of their children. The shrine's enclosure is crowded with families who participate in this festival.<ref>{{Cite web|title=七五三詣も近づいて|url=http://www.gosyajinjya-suwajinjya.or.jp/news.php#a36|access-date=2016-11-30|language=ja}}.</ref>

== Related pages ==

* [[Hamamatsu]]
* [[Hamamatsu-juku]]
* [[Hamamatsu Castle]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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== Other websites ==

* {{Official website|http://www.gosyajinjya-suwajinjya.or.jp}}
[[Category:Ken-sha]]
[[Category:Pages with unreviewed translations]]
[[Category:Shizuoka Prefecture]]