The Main Hall of Oimatsu Tenmansha
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall (老松天満社本殿) is a shrine main hall of 1898 in Amagasemachi Ideguchi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber hall with a copper-sheet roof and a building area of 18 square metres, renovated in 1979; registration number 44-0179.
A Hall Facing East at the Back of the Grounds
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall stands at the rear of the grounds and faces east (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a three-bay hall in the Nagare-zukuri style, its roof sheathed in copper, with a raised veranda of kirime-en boarding and a lattice railing running all the way round and a flight of wooden steps at the front.
Round pillars carry bracket sets of the Degumi type, with Kaerumata braces between them. On each gable end two tiers of Kōryō tie beams step the structure outward, and the apex carries carvings that include a pair of Chinese lions (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency singles out the balanced proportions of the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall and the measured way its carving is placed, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape. The hall was built in 1898 and renovated in 1979.
What to Look For
Start with the gable ends of the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall. The two-tier tie beams build up to carved Chinese lions at the apex, a clear contrast with the plainer posts and walls below (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Under the eaves, compare the bracket sets on the round pillars with the single kaerumata set in each bay. The railed veranda that runs round all four sides gives the small hall a crisp outline.
Visiting
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall sits behind the worship hall, to which it is joined by a covered passage (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Because a nagare-style hall presents its long roof slope to the front, the carved gable ends face north and south. No official information was found on whether visitors can walk round to the sides or see inside. Directions to the shrine and general visiting conditions are covered on the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall built?
- In 1898; it was renovated in 1979 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What style is the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall?
- A three-bay nagare-style hall with a copper-sheet roof and a building area of 18 square metres (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for at the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall?
- The gable ends, stepped out in two tiers of tie beams and topped with carvings including Chinese lions.
- Can I see inside the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall?
- No official information on interior access was found.
- When was the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall registered?
- On September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall (老松天満社本殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1183 Nakamura, Amagasemachi Ideguchi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010/09/10 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, copper-sheet roof, 18 m² |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Oimatsu Tenmansha |
| Public Access | Grounds free to visit (Hita City Tourism Association); no information on interior access |
References
- Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008383
- Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Main Hall (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/179645
Last verified: 2026.11.05
