Ichikishimahime no Mikoto
市杵島姫命
Goddess of water, islands, music, eloquence, and wealth; one of the three Munakata goddesses
About
Ichikishimahime is one of the three goddesses (Munakata Sanjoshin) born from the ritual exchange between Amaterasu and Susanoo, when Amaterasu chewed and spat out the segments of Susanoo's sword. Together with her sisters Tagitsuhime and Tagorihime, she presides over the vital maritime routes between Japan and the Asian continent.
Of the three sisters, Ichikishimahime became the most widely worshipped individually, largely through her identification with Benzaiten (Sarasvati), the Buddhist goddess of water, music, and eloquence. This syncretic fusion made her one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune and the patron of musicians, artists, and those seeking material prosperity.
Munakata Taisha in Fukuoka—whose three shrines correspond to the three goddesses—was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, attesting to the ancient and continuous maritime worship tradition. Ichikishimahime is also the principal deity of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, one of Japan's most iconic sacred sites.
Mythology
Family Relationships
Animal Messenger
Snake (White serpent) (蛇（白蛇）)
White snakes are sacred to Benzaiten/Ichikishimahime, seen as her messengers and symbols of water and fertility. The snake's association with water deities is common across Asian mythologies.
Shrines Dedicated to This Deity
| Shrine | Prefecture | Network Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kushiro Itsukushima Shrine 釧路厳島神社 | Hokkaido | branch |
| Abashiri Shrine 網走神社 | Hokkaido | head |
| Tsurugaoka Hachimangu 鶴岡八幡宮 | Kanagawa | major_branch |
| Enoshima Shrine 江島神社 | Kanagawa | major_branch |
| Nukisaki Shrine 一之宮貫前神社 | Gunma | head |
| Iwashimizu Hachimangu 石清水八幡宮 | Kyoto | One of three major Hachiman shrines |
| Matsuo Taisha 松尾大社 | Kyoto | |
| Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 | Nara | Head shrine (souhonsha) |
| Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社 | Hiroshima | head |
| Usa Jingu 宇佐神宮 | Oita | head |
| Munakata Taisha 宗像大社 | Fukuoka | head |
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
Who is Ichikishimahime no Mikoto in Japanese mythology?
Ichikishimahime no Mikoto (市杵島姫命) is Goddess of water, islands, music, eloquence, and wealth; one of the three Munakata goddesses. This deity appears in Kojiki & Nihon Shoki and is enshrined at 11 shrines across Japan.
What shrines are dedicated to Ichikishimahime no Mikoto?
There are 11 shrines in our database dedicated to Ichikishimahime no Mikoto, including Kushiro Itsukushima Shrine, Abashiri Shrine, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and more.
What myths involve Ichikishimahime no Mikoto?
Ichikishimahime no Mikoto appears in 1 myths including The Cave of the Sun Goddess (Ama-no-Iwato). These stories come from Kojiki & Nihon Shoki.