Takeda Shrine

Takeda Shrine 武田神社
Takeda Shrine
Religion
Affiliation	Shinto
Deity	Takeda Shingen
Location
Location	2611 Kofuchū-machi, Kōfu Yamanashi
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates	35°41′12.75″N 138°34′38.9″E
Architecture
Date established	1919
Website
www.takedajinja.or.jp
Glossary of Shinto

Main gate to Takeda Shrine

Takeda Shrine (武田神社, Takeda Jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, dedicated to the kami of Takeda Shingen. The shrine's annual celebration is on April 12, Shingen's death anniversary.

History

Following the defeat of the Takeda clan during the Sengoku period, the Tsutsujigasaki fortified residence of Takeda Shingen was allowed to fall into ruins, and the center of Kōfu shifted south to surround Kōfu Castle, the center of administrative power under the Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration, the Tsutsujigasaki ruins came under government protection for their historic value and were eventually made a National Historic Monument of Japan. Following the visit of Emperor Meiji to Yamanashi Prefecture in 1880, a local movement developed for a shrine to honor the loyalists who had served in the Boshin War. This dovetailed with the State Shintō projects to erect shrines dedicated to historic figures noted for their martial prowess and with the need for a shrine to honor the war dead of the Russo-Japanese War. In 1915, Emperor Taishō commissioned the shrine, which was completed in 1919. The shrine was ranked as a Prefectural Shrine under the Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines before World War II.

Treasures

The shrine grounds contain a museum, in which numerous artifacts pertaining to Takeda Shingen, including armor, weapons, battle standards, and personal effects, are displayed. It also houses a Kamakura period sword presented to Yamanashi Prefecture by Sanjō Sanetomi to commemorate the visit by Emperor Meiji in 1880. The sword had passed into the Sanjō family as part of the bridal gifts from the Takeda clan when Lady Sanjō married Takeda Shingen. The sword is a National Important Cultural Property.

See also

• Takeda Shingen

External links

• Official site (Japanese)