User:DualPlay/Suwa Clan
Suwa Clan is a samurai and shake family inhabiting the area encompassing Suwa Lake.
History
Ancient
The exact date of the foundation of the Grand Shrine of Suwa is unknown. Nihon Shoki mentions that the shrine already existed in the late 7th century. This shrine is made up of two main shrine on two sides of the lake: Upper Shrine (上社; Kamisha), located in Suwa, and
Chino while Lower Shrine (下社; Shimosha) located in
Shimosuwa.
The local Suwa clan has controlled Suwa since ancient times. While ōhōri, a young boy considered to be a reincarnation of Takeminakata, was officially the chief priest of the Upper Shrine, de facto jinchōkan organized everything.
Legend about the war
The war happened in the Yamato period, approximately between mid-4th and late 6th century AD. Potentially, it was a conflict between the Moriya and Suwa clans.
Moreya is a god and mythical ancestor of the Moriya clan who controlled Mishaguji which curses and punishes those who disregarded him. He is sometimes compared with Mononobe no Moriya who fought against Prince Shotoku.
Takeminakata, on the other hand, is a god and a son of Ōkuninushi who was forced to exile in the "sea of Suwa in the land of Shinano". He is married to Yasakatome. Together, they founded the Suwa clan. Takeminakata was on Yamato side
Initially, Moreya dominated through iron weaponry (this can be seen through her iron rings). Everything changed when Takeminakata held a thin wisteria vine against Moreyan army, rusting the entire army. Moreya had no choice but to surrender.
After her victory, Takeminakata became the goddess of the Moriya community. However, people rejected the new goddess. Knowing people were unhappy, Takeminakata called the god Moriya. Without having to maintain the Moriya community, Takeminakata secretly became the goddess of the mountains.
Feudal
During Mongol invasions of Japan, Takeminakata supported Japan.
Takeda period
In the Siege of Kuwabara in 1542, the Takeda clan conquered the Kuwabara Castle which had previously belonged to the Suwa Clan. Suwa Yorishige, the last ruler of the Suwa Clan, has committed suicide, ending the main bloodline of the Suwa Clan. Takeminakata's authority in the Suwa temple was not lost, as the Takeda clan highly valued the god.
Edo period
When Takeda was destroyed by an alliance of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, Suwa Yoritada, Yorishige's younger brother, allied with the last one and returned to his domain in 1601.
Yorimizu, Yoritada's eldest son, became the first daimyō to rule Suwa Domain. Yorihiro was the first ōhōri in office. There were 10 generations of the Suwa clan until the abolition of the han system by Meiji reforms.
When State Shinto was introduced, the Suwa clan lost control over the shrine's traditional priestly offices (which defuncted after). Also when han system was abolished, Suwa Clan, like the others, lost their importance.
Modern
The Suwa Grand Shrine is located in the Suwa city and neighboring cities along Suwa Lake.
The last Suwa ōhōri, fifteenth after Yorihiro, died in 2002.
The story was heavily influenced into Touhou's lore when Mountain of Faith was released. It included
Kanako (based on Takeminakata),
Suwako (based on Moreya) and the shrine maiden
Sanae.
Relationship
Friends
Suwa - My native capital!
Touhou Project - You recultivated our traditions! Good job!
Enemies
Takeda Clan - You tried to conquer mine territory, but failed... (I got again)
State Shinto - You claimed mine shrine, but I got back again after WW2.