The emperor Ankan (534), Shotokutaishi
(574-622) and the others are enshrined in
this shrine. Ankan made a frequent visit
here and strove to develop this district
by putting cattle out to grass or so (by
Nihon Shoki). Shotokutaishi intended to found
the Shitennoji temple at this place at first.
The shrine has a portrait of Shotokutaishi
made in the earlier time of the Kamakura
period (1192-1333) and there is the name
of a place remained named Tennojisho (a part
of Tennoji village).
Once the shrine faced the Yodogawa river
and was surrounded by a dense forest called
Ohmiyanomori (the forest of Ohmiya). But
the shrine removed to this place because
it became situated under the cover of water
of the Shinyodogawa river by the reconstruction
of the Yodogawa river in the 33rd year of
Meiji. Before that time, the forest presented
a fine target of vessels crossing the river
because they made it a rule to raise and
lower down the sails at the sight of it. |
