Insights into Kego Shrine and Munakata Shrine
You've noticed an interesting point here. The main deities enshrined at Kego Shrine are Yasokazuhino-kami, Kaminahibino-kami, and Ohonahibino-kami. According to the Kojiki, these gods were born when Izanagi-no-mikoto performed a purification ritual to cleanse himself after returning from Yomi. The reason these three particular deities were chosen is linked to the meaning of the shrine's name. The word "Kego" in ancient times referred to guarding, protecting, and defending against external threats. As Fukuoka served as a gateway to the continent in ancient Japan, being the forefront against foreign expeditions, pirates, and invasions, the gods enshrined at Kego Shrine were believed to prevent calamities and cleanse impurities. Specifically, Yasokazuhino-kami is thought to receive misfortunes, Kaminahibino-kami to correct them, and Ohonahibino-kami to purify them completely. This sequential pattern—calamity arises, is corrected, and fully purified—is also reflected in the mythology.
Thus, Kego Shrine is not so much a "shrine of martial fortune" as a "sanctuary of purification and boundary protection" for Fukuoka. Additionally, the shrine's location near Tenjin has a historical connection to the "Kego-sho" defense site, reinforcing its nature as a defensive hub. Considering this, it aligns well with Fukuoka's historical role as the boundary protecting Chikuzen and Hakata from continental threats, symbolically worshiping the initial gods born from purification.
Although deities such as Takenotsunumi-no-mikoto, Empress Jingu, Toyotamahime-no-mikoto, and Emperor Ojin are enshrined as auxiliary deities, Kego Shrine prioritizes Yasokazuhino-kami, Kaminahibino-kami, and Ohonahibino-kami as its main deities. In general perception, Empress Jingu and Emperor Ojin may be more commonly recognized, but at Kego Shrine, these figures are auxiliary to the central role of the gods who embody the shrine's essence of cleansing and protection. This is a decision based not on historical fame but on the shrine's intrinsic nature.
Historically, numerous shrines across Kyushu enshrine Empress Jingu and Emperor Ojin, but Kego Shrine takes on a distinct character, tied to the notion of defense and purification unique to its local tradition. Furthermore, ancient records suggest Kego Shrine was associated with a defense site or land deity worship, emphasizing local protective traditions over royal connections.
One fascinating auxiliary deity is Takenotsunumi-no-mikoto, considered a guiding, pioneering, and guardian figure of ancient times, possibly connecting to older Kyushu traditions, as suggested by researchers. Therefore, Kego Shrine is better understood as a shrine protecting Hakata and Fukuoka through purification, with royal deities layered on top later—a pattern often seen in other ancient shrines nationwide.
Shifting to Munakata Shrine, Okinoshima stands as a sacred island entirely regarded as a divine body. Though the current shrine, Okinomiya, resides there, general access is heavily restricted. The main deities worshiped at Munakata Shrine are not Izanagi and Izanami but the "Munakata Three Goddesses"—Tagorihime-no-kami, Tagitsuhime-no-kami, and Ichikishimahime-no-kami. According to Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, these goddesses were born from the pledge between Amaterasu Omikami and Susano-o no Mikoto.
Izanagi and Izanami, who play central roles in the creation myth, are not the primary deities here. Additionally, labeling Munakata Shrine as "the oldest shrine in Japan" is debatable. Japan has numerous ancient shrines claiming mythical origins, such as Ise Shrine, Izumo Taisha, Omiwa Shrine, and Munakata Shrine itself.
Munakata Shrine's unique features lie in its role as a protector of maritime routes on Genkai-nada and its continuous Okinoshima rituals spanning the 4th to 9th centuries. Its related properties, recognized as World Heritage under "Sacred Island Okinoshima and Related Site Clusters," further highlight its significance. Munakata Shrine's importance as a maritime guardian deity within ancient Japanese, Korean, and Chinese interactions underpins North Kyushu’s historical narrative.
Both Tenjin and Kego Shrine emphasize regional guardianship.