Myokyoji Rokusha Tennosha Daigenki Tennosha Shrine

One of the Rokusha six

The Myokyoji Rokusha Tennosha Daigenki Tennosha Shrine (妙教寺六社天王社大元鬼天王社, Myōkyō-ji Rokusha Tennōsha Daigenki Tennōsha) is a mid-Meiji one-bay shrine, third from the north in the Rokusha Tennosha south of the Reioden at Saijo Inari Myokyoji in Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2009/01/08. Its name is read Daigenki.

The Rokusha Tennosha, the "six Tenno shrines", are a row of six one-bay shrines of nearly identical size and form, set a little south of the Reioden buildings and running from north to south as Ichitomi, Yomori, Daigenki, Shiraito, Fukuyoshi and Fukusaki. The Agency for Cultural Affairs writes that the six, standing in an orderly line, create a solemn space.

How it differs from the 1895 trio

The Myokyoji Rokusha Tennosha Daigenki Tennosha Shrine is a one-bay shrine with a nagare-style roof of cypress bark and a building area of 1.3 square metres, its sills on a rounded stone base over a cut-stone plinth. Round columns are tied by tie beams at three levels and a thin plate, with three-part brackets on top.

Compare it with the 1895 shrines to the north and the details differ. The gable has a simple post standing on the beam instead of a curved tie beam and inverted-V strut. The rafters are single at front and back. The front step rests on bracket arms, and instead of a tie beam linking porch and body there is only a triangular carved bracket, a tebasami, above the porch post.

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Fukusaki shrine at the southern end of the row is built to a similar specification. From outside the six look almost identical, but their details split them into two types according to when they were built.

What to look for, and visiting

The Myokyoji Rokusha Tennosha Daigenki Tennosha Shrine is third from the north, near the middle of the Rokusha row. It can be seen at any time, free of charge; the interior is not open.

Compare its gable with that of the Yomori shrine next door: one has a curved tie beam and inverted-V strut, the other just a post on a beam. Look closely, too, at the carved bracket above the porch post. Opening hours and directions are on the Saijo Inari Myokyoji page.