Showing posts with label torii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label torii. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Yama Shrine Jobutsu

 


Many of the shrines scattered around the Kunisaki Peninsula are simply called Yama Shrine,.... Mountain Shrine.


This Yama Shrine is about 5oo meters west of Jobutsuji Temple, one of the temples of Rokugo Manzan, the religious system based on the mountains of the Kunisaki Pennsula and also temple number 3 on the Kyushu Fudo Myoo Pilgrimage I was following on this visit.


It's a fairly substantial local shrine, and fairly typical for the shrines in the Kunisaki Peninsula.


There was no shrine immediately adjacent to Jobutsuji, so I am guessing that is the shrine that is linked to that temple.


Unusually there were no Nio guardians, though there were a pair of wooden zuijin.


What was unusual was the relief carving that appears to show the Three Monkeys at the bottom and then an angry figure over a pair of men apparently engaged in cock fighting.


Cock fighting was common in Japan since ancient times, both among the elite and commoners. A statue showing cock-fighting is at Tokei Shrine in Tanabe on the Kumano Kodo.


The photo below shows an unusual carving on a fan-shaped rock in a wall. I have actually seen that before but am unaware of any meaning.


The previous post was on Jobutsuji Temple.


After leaving Yama Shrine my route was over the mountain ridge towards the next temple, Jinguji. The Kunisaki Hanto Minemichi Long Trail I was following roughly followed the historical shugendo pilgrimage route around the peninsula. In places the trail follows roads, but here it was literally invisible. I was able to guess where the route was through the  sugi tree plantation that now passes for forests in many places in Japan.. At the top it was necessary to use chains to climb over the top of the ridge.


Saturday, July 5, 2025

Osake Shrine

 


Osake Shrine is a big, ancient shrine on the coast of Hyogo near to Ako.


The main kami is the spirit of Hata no Kawakatsu, whose grave is on the sacred uninhabited island just offshore.


The Hata were an intriguing immigrant clan who have unknown but variously theorized roots. Some say they were descendants of a Chinese emperor. Others say they were a "lost" tribe of Israel. Some say they came to Japan from paekche in Korea, others say Sila. Some say they spent time in Izumo before moving to Yamato.


Like other immigrant clans at the time they settled near what is now Kyoto and quite a few important sites are attributed to them, including most famously Fushimi Inari Shrine, but also Matsuo Taisha. Kawakatsu no Hata was a known associate of Shotoku Taishi and is said to have had much influence over the founding and construction of Shitennoji Temple.


One noteworthy point about Osake Shrine is that along with the shitno zuijin guardians there is also a pair of Buddhist Nio.


Also noteworthy are the large number of Ema paintings, especially those of boats. One dated to 1722 is considered the oldest and most valuable in Japan.


Not on display, the shrine owns a 1,300 year old mask, said to have been either given to Kawakatsu by Shotoku Taishi or carved by Kawakatsu himself.


Kawakatsu is said to be the founder of sarugaku, and Zeami and many other notable figures from ancient theatre styles claim to be his descendants.


Following the death of Shotoku Taishi Kawakatsu set sail and ended up in this area and spent some time developing the land. Some say he was exiled, some say he left to avoid the political violence that was commonplace in the capital at that time.


When he died a few years later his tomb was made on Ikushima just offshore and the locals built the shrine and enshrined him.


The Sakoshi Boat Festival takes place every October and is considered one of the Three Great Boat Festivals of the Inland Sea along with the Osaka Tenjin Festival and the Kangen Festival at Miyajima.


One of the traditional boats used in the festival is on display in the shrine grounds.


Most of the current buildings at the shrine date back to the 18th century.


Within the shrine grounds are numerous secondary shrines, including a Shingu Shrine to Shotoku Taishi, a Sumiyoshi Shrine and a Kotohira Shrine, both shrines connected with safety at sea.


There is also an Inari Shrine, a Tenmangu, an Ebisu Shrine and an Awashima Shrine.


There are said to be 28 branch shrines of Osake Shrine in the area, indicating its importance locally.


The island is visited by the boast during the festival, but otherwise is still off-limits to everyone, so the woodland on the island is completely natural and is a National Natural Monument.


Though not as grand, I recommend a local sea festival from my local area.


The previous post in this series on the Ako area was on Fumonji Temple and its beautiful Kannon statue.


Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Suijin Shrine Saigo

 


This Suijin Shrine, is located on the waters edge in Saigo, the main port of Dogo, the largest of the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan off of Shimane.


Most locals refer to it as Tenjinsan, as since at least the 16th century Sugawara Michizane has been enshrined here.


However, towards the end of the Edo period it was decided that this was a Suijin Shrine that had been recorded in the tenth century, and Tenjin had been added later.


The main kami is now listed as Mizuhanome, though it is unclear if that was a renaming from the Meiji riod when many kami were renamed to fit with the "national" histories of the Kojiki and Nihonshoki.


The previous ost in this series on the Oki Islands was on Takuhi Shrine, one of the most important shrines in the Oki Islands.


Friday, June 27, 2025

Ako Oishi Shrine

 


Ako Oishi Shrine is located within the grounds of Ako Castle.


It is very much what I would consider a political shrine and was not built until 1912, though permission was granted in 1900 but right-wing nationalists were opposed to it.


It is known for the statues of the 47 Ronin lining the approach and was named Oishi Shrine after the leader of the group.


In the late 1940's a shrine enshrining the former daimyo of the castle was built nearby named Ako Shrine.


In 2000, the two shrines were merged together.


There are numerous secondary shrines in the grounds including an Inari, Awashima, Ebisu, Tenmangu, and a Hatta Shrine.


There are also statues of the 12 zodiac animals.


Notable are the komainu statues which are somewhat unusual.


I am not exactly sure of the story, but the shrine has some association with dogs, and visitors are allowed to bring dogs with them into the shrine.


I was wondering why therevwere such cute teddy bear ema votive tablets, before realizing that they are in fact dogs.


The shrine is built on the site of Oishi Kusunoke's residence, and the gatehouse still stands as well as a small garden.


There is a treasure house with swords and other artifacts connected to the 47 ronin.


The previous ost in the series was on nearby Fumonji Temple and its delightful Kannon statue.