Most people would come up with Izanagi (イザナギ) and Izanami (イザナミ) at Imado Shrine (今戸神社) when talking about matchmaking gods in the Asakusa area of Tokyo.
According to Japanese mythology, Izanagi and Izanami are the first god couple. These two gods give birth to many gods. Therefore, people believe Izanagi and Izanami are gods of happy marriage and matchmaking.
In Asakusa, you can find other places that enshrine a matchmaking god other than Izanagi and Izanami. Kume no Heinaido Hall (久米平内堂) at Sensoji Temple (浅草寺) is one example. This small hall enshrines Kume Heinai (久米平内), a samurai who existed in the early Edo period (17th century).
This blog post will introduce where Kume no Heinaido Hall is, who Kume Heinai is, and why he became a matchmaking god.
If you would like to know more about Sensoji Temple or Imado Shrine, please refer to the following blog posts:
Where is Kume no Heinaido?
Kume no Heinaido Hall is on the right side in front of the Hozomon Gate (宝蔵門). After passing through Kaminarimon Gate (雷門), you will find Nakamise Dori Street (仲見世通り). Hozomon Hall is just past this street.
Who is Kume Heinai?
According to Sensoji Temple, Kume Heinai was a samurai and swordsman who existed in the early Edo period (1616 – 1683).
Kume Heinai was a master of swordsmanship and taught swordsmanship in Edo. He tried to slash a thousand people to test his skills. That is why he sacrificed many people.
In his later years, Kume Heinai deeply reflected on his actions. He devoted himself to Zen training to pray for his victims at Kongoin Temple (金剛院). Kongoin Temple is a subordinate temple to Sensoji Temple.
At his death, Kume Heinai asked to carve himself into a stone. Then, he had the stone statue buried near the Hozomon Gate. By having many people trample the statue, he tried to atone for his own sins even after his death.
Currently, the stone statue of Kume Heinai is housed in Kume no Heinaido Hall.
Why Kume Heinai became a matchmaking god?
It was the middle of the Edo period when Kume Heinai became a matchmaking god. As mentioned in the previous section, Kume Heinai wanted many people to trample his stone statue.
A Japanese phrase for “trample” is “Fumi Tsukeru (踏み つける).” And a phrase for “sending a love letter” is also “Fumi Tsukeru (文つける)” in the old days.
For this reason, people in the Edo era played on words linking “trample” and “sending a love letter.” Then people started believing Kume Heinai as a matchmaking god.
Other matchmaking god at Sensoji Temple
You can find another matchmaking god at Sensoji Temple. That is Washima Myojin (淡島明神) at Awashimado Hall (淡島堂). This god is known as a salvation god for women.
If you would like to know more about Awashima Myojin at Awashimado Hall in Sensoji Temple, please refer to the following blog post:
