Kotohira Shrine, Imbe Shrine, & more Tanuki Shrines

 

The Kotohira Shrine on the hillside overlooking the southern part of Tokushima City was relocated to this spot in 1616 by Hachisuka Iemasa as a tutelary shrine of Tokushima Castle.

At the bottom of the hill by the steps leading up to the shrine is the largest stone lantern in all of Japan. Standing 9.8 meters tall, 10.24 including the base, it was created in 1839.

It was donated  primarily by Indigo merchants.

In the grounds of the shrine are a couple of ceramic lanterns which reminded me of Tozan Shrine in Arita.

Like all Kotohira Shrines, it was called Konpira until Meiji when the name and the kami were changedto fit the new national ideology. All Konpira/Kotohira shrines are branches of the original not too far away in Kagawa.

There are numerous secondary shrines within the grounds, including several shrines to Tanuki, including Oyotsu Daimyojin which seems to be the most well known.

There are dozens of shrines to Tanuki in the Tokushima area, including several I visited earlier in the day at the Hachiman Shrine.

All the structures on the hillside were burned down during bombing raids of WWII and so are fairly recent, concrete, reconstructions.

A little above the Kotohira Shrine is an Imbe Shrine, which has ancient roots but was only located here in the late 19th century.

The Imbe were a powerful clan in ancient Japan and ruled over this part of Shikoku.

They were producers of hemp and nowadays still produce hemp for use in Imperial rituals.

The original shrine was lost in history, but several nearby shrines claimed to be the original.

The government made a decision and established the shrine here, although it was temporarily located within the Kotohira Shrine.

Soem sources claim the kami enshrined is Futodama, but other sources say it is Amenohiwashi. The Imbe wrote the 9th century Kogoshui, which offers an alternative version of some of the history written by the Nakatomi in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.

The previous post in this series on Tokushima City was on the large Kannonji Temple down below the shrines.

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Yanai. White Walls & Goldfish Lanterns

 

Yanai, near the southern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture, has an historic area that retains much of its Edo Period history and features.

Since 1984 it has been registered as a Group of Traditional Buildings, which I prefer to refer to as Historic Preservation District.

Called Shirakabe Street, the view of the charming white-walled storehouses and merchant properties is not spoiled by the unsightly profusion of power poles and cables of most Japanese streets.

The town prospered due to its port, situated a short distance up the tidal Yanai River.

The unique feature of this historic merchant quarter is the colourful goldfish lanterns seen hanging from most properties.

A visit in the evening with all the lanterns lit up is a unique experience....

The locals started making the kingyo chochin, goldfish lanterns, about 150 years ago and they have now become the icon of the town.

Covered with traditional Japanese washi paper over a frame made of thin strips of bamboo, it is possible for visitors to take a class and make one.

Once a year during the Kingyo Chochin Matsuri, even more lanterns are on display, including some huge examples made by different local teams.

If you want to see some evening shots or maybe even purchase a golfish lantern, please check this other post.

I've been to Yanai several times before and still enjoy it. In general, I prefer my preservation districts less gentrified, but Yanai is far enough away from a Shinkansen station that it is not overcrowded like Kurashiki...

Some of the side alleys and streets are more intriguing to me....

Among the shops and cafes are quite a few  traditional properties open to the public.

I will cover those in the next post in the series....

The previous post in this series on day 19 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage was on the displays and interiors of the nearby Muruya no Sono Merchant House Museum.

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Ushitora Shrine Fukuyama

 

Ushitora Shrine is said to be the oldest shrine in Fukuyama.

It is said to have been founded as Gozu Tenno Shrine in the early 12th century when the area that is now Fukyama was a big estate of the Fujiwara Clan.

In  1334 it was moved to its current location and renamed Akitsushima shrine after Izanagi was also enshrined here.

When Fukuyama Castle was constructed the shrine was in the NE direction of the castle and so was supported by the lords of the castle as a kimon, demon gate to protect from the NE. 

Gozu Tenno would seem to be originally of Hindu origin and in Japan became known as the god of plagues, both as cause and prevention. The origin of the Gion Matsuri , Gozu Tenno was widely enshrined throughout Japan and equated with Susano. Gion Shrines, Yasaka Shrines, and others were all originally devoted to Gozu Tenno but in Meiji officially became shrines to Susano.

Fukuyama Ushitora Shrine appeared in a 2022 TV program and has since become even more popular as a shrine for seeking protection.

The previous post was on the temple immediately adjacent, Kannon-ji, also functioning as a kimon of the castle.

Jizoji Revisited

On Friday 16th December, 2016 I began my walk along the Shikoku 36 temple Fudo Myo-o pilgrimage. At times the route is the same as the 88 Henro, but at other times it is quite different.

Some of the 36 temples are actually bangai temples from the Henro. In fact the first temple is Taisanji which is the first Henro bangai.

I decided to start walking from Jizo-ji, the fifth of the henro temples and the closest one to Taisanji, because I wanted to revisite the Rakan Hall.

I was there a long time before the Hall opened so hung out in the days first light and snapped some pics.