- Kamakura-gū
Infobox Shinto shrine
name = Kamakura-gū
width =
caption = The Haiden
type =
dedication = Prince Morinaga
founded = 1869
closed =
founder = Meiji Emperor
priest =
address = 154 Nikaido, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248–0002
phone = 0467-22-0318
website = http://www.kamakuraguu.jp/ Nihongo|Kamakura-gū|鎌倉宮| is a shrine in Kamakura,Kanagawa Prefecture ,Japan . It was erected byEmperor Meiji in1869 to worship the spirit ofPrince Morinaga , who was imprisoned and later executed where the shrine now stands in1335 . For this reason, the shrine is also known as nihongo|Ōtōnomiya or Daitōnomiya|大塔宮 from the Prince's full name (Ōtōnomiya Morinaga).Prince Morinaga had fought on the side of Imperial Rule in the 1330s, but was captured by
Ashikaga Takauji in1334 . Ashikaga's younger brotherAshikaga Tadayoshi is said to have held Morinaga captive for nine months in a small cave at the site of the present Kamakura shrine. When Tadayoshi was forced to retreat from the shrine in battle, he gave the order for Morinaga's execution. He was beheaded onJuly 23 1335 .The cave still exists today in the rockface behind the shrine, and is a tourist attraction. It is four meters deep and has an area of 12 square meters.
References
* A Guide to Kamakura, [http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t-kndu/kamakugu.htm Kamakura-gū] , retrieved on June 21, 2008
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