View source for Nanba Yasaka Shrine

{{Distinguish|Nanba Shrine}}{{one source|date=May 2023}}{{Expand Japanese}}{{Infobox religious building|religious_affiliation=[[Shinto]]|image=Namba-yasaka-jinja haiden1.jpg|coordinates={{coordinates|34|39|40.4|N|135|29|48.1|E|region:JP-27_type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=難波八阪神社}}|deity=[[Susanoo-no-Mikoto]]<br>
[[Kushinadahime]]<br>
[[Yashimajinumi]]|type=[[Gion worship|Gion shrine]]}}

Nanba Shrine (難波八阪神社) is a [[Shinto Shrine]] in [[Osaka]]. It is a shrine for [[Gion worship]] dedicated to [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quin|first=Rebecca|date=2020-01-11|title=Namba Yasaka Shrine|url=https://travel.gaijinpot.com/namba-yasaka-shrine/|access-date=2023-05-13|website=GaijinPot Travel|language=en}}</ref>

It has a large lion-shaped building which is famous in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Namba Yasaka Shrine|url=https://insideosaka.com/namba-yasaka-shrine/|access-date=2023-05-13|website=Inside Osaka|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Namba_Yasaka-jinja.jpg|thumb|Lion head building]]

==History==
There is no longer any exact data as to the date of the first construction of this place of worship, but it is mentioned for the first time in the Annals of the Year 1069. Because of [[Bombing of Osaka|airstrikes on Osaka]], it burned to the ground in 1945. Its reconstruction and its current form date from mai 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Site du Namba Yasaka-jinja|url=http://nambayasaka.jp|access-date=18 juillet 2019|language=ja}}.</ref>

The deity [[Gozu Tenno]] (god of protection against epidemics) is honored in this temple.<ref name="Fierce">[http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811150004.html K. Imai, « Fierce lion head stage emerges as main attraction in Osaka shrine »] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225041706/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811150004.html |date=2020-02-25 }}, ''The Asahi Shimbun'', 15 novembre 2018.</ref>

== Special features ==
[[File:Gozutenno_tsunahiki.jpg|thumb|Gozu-tenno Festival (illustration from the end of the XVIII century century ).]]
In the central square of the temple there is a stage building 12 meters high, 11 meters wide and 10 meters deep, made of stone, in the shape of a lion's head. It is likely that the lion motif was influenced by the style of temples in [[Taiwan]] . <ref name="Fierce2">[http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811150004.html K. Imai, « Fierce lion head stage emerges as main attraction in Osaka shrine »] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225041706/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201811150004.html |date=2020-02-25 }}, ''The Asahi Shimbun'', 15 novembre 2018.</ref>

Every third Sunday in January, a rite inspired by [[Japanese mythology]] is performed there. It tells the story of [[Susanoo]], the god of Wind and Sea, and the dragon [[Yamata-no-Orochi]] . In 2001, this ritual was officially recognized as an element of the intangible heritage of the city of Osaka.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Namba Yasaka Shrine|url=https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/nanbayasakajinja|access-date=18 juillet 2019|website=osaka-info.jp|language=en}}.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Nanba yasaka shrine exterior.jpg|View of the complex from outside
File:Namba-yasaka-jinja Torii entrance.jpg|Entrance to the shrine
File:Nanba yasaka shrine 02.JPG|Look at the mouth from afar
File:Tabemas.jpg|Side view of the head
File:Interior of the Lion's Head Theater at Namba Yasaka Jinja, Osaka.jpg|Inside the Lion's Head Theater at Namba Yasaka Jinja
File:Roof of the Haiden at Namba Yasaka Jinja in Osaka.jpg|View of the roof
File:Komainu at the Namba Yasaka Jinja.jpg|A Komainu guarding Namba Yasaka Jinja
File:Chōzuya at Namba-Yasaka-Jinja, Osaka.jpg|[[Chōzuya]]
File:Lanterns on the Haiden at Namba Yasaka Jinja, Osaka.jpg|Lanterns at the Haiden
File:Namba-yasaka-jinja sasayama jinja.jpg|A subshrine
File:Namba-yasaka-jinja two subshrines.jpg|Two subshrines
File:Namba-yasaka-jinja Torii to subshrine.jpg|Torii of a subshrine
File:Namba-yasaka-jinja stele.jpg|Stone carving
File:Omikuji at Namba Yasaka Jinja, Osaka closeup.jpg|Omikuji
</gallery>

== Related pages ==
* [[Nanba Shrine]]

== References ==
{{Commons|Category:Namba-yasaka-jinja}}
{{Reflist}}

{{religion-stub}}
{{draft categories|
[[Category:Gion shrines]]
[[Category:Osaka]]
[[Category:Shinto shrines in Osaka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Gō-sha]]
[[Category:Shinto shrines]]
}}