smallpox shrine

Hoso means smallpox, and in the past it was feared as a fatal disease. It is said that this Hoso Shrine was built on the ground where the daughter of Tokiwa Gozen, a concubine of Taira no Kiyomori, who died of smallpox, was buried. The daughter of father Taira no Kiyomori and mother Tokiwa Gozen was very cute and was called "Tenninhime" (heavenly maiden princess). However, she was often sick from a young age, and when she reached a certain age, she was infected with smallpox, which was feared as an incurable disease. In an attempt to cure her illness, Kiyomori gathered doctors from all over Japan, but to no avail. Deciding that the only thing left to do was to turn to the gods, he took her by boat from Kyoto to Itsukushima Shrine, where he had a particular faith. After praying to all the gods and Buddhas on Miyajima and preparing to return home, the princess's illness became increasingly severe, and despite all efforts, she passed away in vain, despite everyone's prayers. At the time, the princess was only 14 years old. It is said that he asked the gods for a place to bury the body, buried it at the place he was told, and built a smallpox shrine.