Materials Related to Konpira Folk Worship consists of various offerings dedicated at Kotohiragu Shrine. Kotohiragu Shrine is worshipped as a sea deity, and the majority of offerings dedicated to this deity are to pray for safe seafaring and to express gratitude for delivering shipwreck victims to safety. Many of these offerings include models or votive paintings of boats, barrels, anchors, fishing banners (tairyoki), and other nautical items, with the occasional tub of shrine water or block of wood for carving protective spells.
The overwhelming majority of these offerings are items made mostly of stone, such as shrine gates (torii) and fences, stone signposts, and guardian lion-dog (komainu) statues. Lanterns in particular account for a third of the designated items, and are seen not only on the pathways in the shrine precincts but within the town of Kotohira as well. In addition to the stone lanterns are ones made of ceramic and bronze, creating a striking sight. Lanterns have been offered from all over Japan, which shows the nationwide belief in the deity. Surviving records indicate that items made of bronze or large stones, offered to the shrine with people’s hopes and prayers, were for a time put to other uses.