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Benten Island
Bentenjima," one of the "Eight Views of Senzaki" by Misuzu Kaneko
The shrine on Bentenjima is called Itsukushima Shrine, said to have been founded by Kibi-no-Makibi, a Japanese envoy to the Tang Dynasty. The three main deities are Ichikishimahime-no Mikoto (Benten), Tagitsuhime-no Mikoto, and Tagorihime-no Mikoto. They are gods of the sea who promote safety of sea routes and fishery. They are pure gods born from Susanowo-no-mikoto's ten-fist sword and tsutsuka no tsurugi when Susanowo-no-mikoto and Amaterasu-o-mikami made a pact (a ritual to check if the other party has no evil intentions).
Natural Wonders
Basic Information
| Address | Senzaki, Nagato, Yamaguchi 759-4106 |
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Map
Poem by Misuzu Kaneko
Benten Island Kaneko Misuzu
“It’s too pretty an island
to spare here, so
I’ll take it, with a rope.”
A sailor from the northern country
laughed one day and said, “No, no, I don’t believe it.
I thought it was a lie, but
the night was dark and I was anxious.
In the morning, my heart pounding, I
galloped to the beach.
Benten Island was above the waves,
bathed in a golden light,
and green as it had always been.
From “The Complete Collection of Misuzu Kaneko’s Children’s Songs” (JULA Publishing Bureau)
*The poems by Misuzu Kaneko are published with the approval of the Society for the Preservation of Misuzu Kaneko’s Writings.
Please obtain permission from the “Society for the Preservation of Misuzu Kaneko’s Works” before reprinting.
