Tōzan Shrine
Shinto shrines in Saga Prefecture, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tōzan or Sueyama Shrine (陶山神社) is located in Arita, Nishimatsuura District, Saga Prefecture. The shrine has a porcelain archway and other items of porcelain which, at other shrines, are usually made of stone. This Shinto shrine was and still is particularly revered by Arita's ceramists.
| Tōzan Shrine | |
|---|---|
A porcelain torii archway | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shinto |
| Location | |
  Shown within Japan | |
| Coordinates | 33°11′19.9″N 129°53′57.9″E |
 Glossary of Shinto | |
The shrine was founded as Arita Sarayama Sōbyō Hachimangū (有田皿山宗廟八幡宮) in 1658, and dedicated to Emperor Ōjin and Nabeshima Naoshige, the latter known for known for re-settling potters from Korea in the area.[1] In 1871, the shrine was renamed Sueyama-Jinja (陶山神社), literally "ceramic mountain shrine"; Tōzan is an alternative reading of the kanji for Sueyama.[1] In 1917, a memorial to the semi-legendary potter Yi Sam-pyeong (Kanagae Sambee) was built on a hill overlooking the town of Arita to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Arita's porcelain.[1]
The 1888 torii (a Shinto shrine archway), uniquely constructed of porcelain,[1] was designated a Tangible Cultural Property on 28 April 2000.
