Chikubushima
Chikubushima (竹生島, Chikubu Island) is an island in the north of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, made up of granite monoliths and surrounded by steep rocky walls. Since ancient times, the island has been known for its scenery and its Buddhist and Shinto temples and shrines.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Mythology[edit | edit source]
According to Omi folklore, Tatamihiko-no-mikoto, the god of Mount Ibuki, participated in a height contest with his niece, Asai-hime-no-mikoto, the deity of Mount Asai. Having lost the contest, a furious Tatamihiko cut off Asai's head which fell into the lake, thus forming Chikubushima. Subsequently, a shrine worshipping Asai was established.[1]
Chikubushima was also noted as a sacred place in Western Japan in connection with earthquakes. According to legend, the island has a dragon pit called Ben no iwaya, where a dragon-fish (a large catfish) called Takefu Myōjin is said to emerge and circle the island seven times before wrapping its tail around the island to protect it from earthquakes.[1]
The island also gave name to a 10th century Noh play which takes place on the island and celebrates the goddess Benzaiten.[1]
Sengoku period[edit | edit source]
Around 1560, Azai Hisamasa, the daimyo of Odani, was temporarily imprisoned on Chikubushima and forced to live in seclusion by his retainers, hoping to pass the reigns of power to his son Azai Nagamasa. After defeating the Azai clan in 1573, Oda Nobunaga was noted to have visited the island.[1]
In 1582, the Shinbakufu member known as "The Wheel" organized a meeting on the island after changing the location from Shiotsu on the mainland to Chikubushima. The Iga kunoichi Fujibayashi Naoe and samurai Yasuke, in pursuit of The Wheel, traveled to the island in order to uncover their identity. At the Hogonji Temple, the two confronted The Wheel, revealed to be Oda Nobunaga's sister Oichi, who explained her reason for joining the Shinbakufu, prompting Naoe and Yasuke to ultimately spare her life.[2]
The pair would later return to the island to retrieve lost pages at Hogonji and visit the nearby Kannonji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine.[3]