Chikubushima
Also written: 竹生島 · 竹部岛
An island in Lake Biwa regarded as a dwelling place of gods; it houses the National Treasure Hōgon-ji and Tsukubusuma Shrine, offering a mystical atmosphere and spectacular lake views.
An Illustrated Japan / Shiga / Famous Views
About this place
Chikubushima is a small holy island of about 2 km circumference, area 0.14 square kilometre, highest elevation about 197 m, situated in the northern part of Lake Biwa at Hayasaki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, renowned since ancient times as the island where the gods dwell and as an object of faith. Foundation legends attribute beginning of Chikubushima belief to monk Gyoki in Nara period enshrining four heavenly kings. In 724 Emperor Shomu dreamed Amaterasu instructed to build temple on island sacred to Benzaiten for state peace, grain richness and people happiness, ordering Gyoki to enshrine Great Benzaiten at Tsukubusuma Shrine dedicated to Asai Hime no Mikoto. Another tradition in Chikubushima Engi established 931 says Gyoki came in 738 building small hall enshrining Four Guardians, and Asai clan chief Asai Ata Umakai made Senju Kannon image in 753. Originally called Hongyo-ji under Todai-ji control, the temple entered Enryaku-ji umbrella from 10th century like many Omi temples, becoming Tendai training place. By late Heian, Asai Hime considered water deity controlling lake and clan deity merged with Benzaiten and Ichikishimahime, advancing shinbutsu shugo integration so that main hall of temple now Shinto main hall of Tsukubusuma Jinja remains directly connected via two corridor bridges called Funa-roka boat corridor Important Cultural Property, showing indivisible relation. Medieval fires in 1232, 1454, 1558 destroyed shrine-temple, revived each time; major revival 1602 by Toyotomi Hideyori through Katagiri Katsumoto reusing structures relocated from Toyokuni Mausoleum and Fushimi Castle Mimuro or Chokushi Palace: Karamon Chinese gate National Treasure, Hondo now Tsukubusuma Honden National Treasure, connecting corridor Important Cultural Properties, Kannon-do Important Cultural Property. After Meiji shinbutsu bunri separation order 1868, government forced renaming of Benzaiten-do historically Buddhist main hall to Shinto name Tsukubusuma Jinja, ordering Ho Gon Ji as Buddhist to abolish in 1871 crisis, but temple asserted Great Benzaiten is Buddhist not Shinto deity, and in 1874 boundary between temple and shrine was fixed, former main hall became shrine main hall while property divided 1883; present main hall of Hogon-ji rebuilt wartime 1942 again housing Honzon Great Benzaiten. The island counts as one of Japan Three Great Benzaiten alongside Enoshima Shrine in Kanagawa and Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima. In Sengoku Period, Asai Nagamasa father Asai Hisamasa was confined by retainers on island temporarily to coerce inheritance to son. Chikubushima is deeply connected to Toyotomi Hideyoshi whose Toyokuni Mausoleum elements were reused. North between Tsuzuraozaki cape lies lake bottom archaeological site Tsuzuraozaki Kotei Iseki where about 140 Haji ware and Sue ware pottery largely intact pulled intact by fishermen nets from up to 70 m deep, spanning Early Jomon to Middle Ages, suggested formation hypotheses include tsunami inundating settlement, ship sinking, ritual deposition, landslide moving, still a great mystery unique worldwide with robot exploration planned. Legends recount former Ibuki Mountains deity Tatarumi Hiko competing height with niece Asai Hime goddess of Mt. Kanekuso now 1317 m second highest in Shiga, losing, beheading her in anger, her head falling into lake forming Chikubushima, explaining why Ibuki minus Chikubushima height would originally be second. Otogi-zoshi Tamura Zoshi identifies shell Suzuka Gozen incarnation as Chikubushima Benzaiten linking to Sakagami Tamuramaro Eastern expedition. Medieval cosmology in Keiran Shuyoshu considered Chikubushima as golden gemstone pillar emerging from deepest golden wheel of earth, seat of Buddha enlightenment, true owner therefore Shakamuni, with a dragon hole called Ben no Iwaya where fish-dragon Tsukubushima Myojin with huge catfish coiled seven times around island biting tail stabilizes island against earthquakes, making island western Japan earthquake sacred site. Cultural arts include Noh play Chikubushima as part of waki-noh arousing deity category, Heikyoku and modern genres chronicling it as crystal wheel island with sound ryan ryan approaching by boat in medieval tales. On April 25 2016 Cultural Agency designated island Visitors should check official schedules before travel.
