The shrine is very old, being listed in the Izumo Fudoki of 720, as well as the Engishiki.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Enya Shrine
The shrine is very old, being listed in the Izumo Fudoki of 720, as well as the Engishiki.
Labels:
aragami,
engi shiki,
inari,
Izumo,
Izumo Fudoki,
izumo33,
komainu,
kotoshironushi,
ojin,
oyamazumi,
Shrine,
tenjin,
yamuyahiko
Friday, September 6, 2013
Aiba Waterway Koi
The carp-filled Aiba waterway runs through a quiet neighborhood in the southern section of Hagi.
Originally a stream, it was canalized to prevent flooding and to provide irrigation to paddies. It was later widened and deepened to enable small boats to be used for transporting materials.
Houses along the waterway built "hatoba", allowing the water of the canal to come into the kitchens and bathrooms where it could be used without having to go outside.
Several of the houses are open to the public including the childhood home of Taro Katsura, Japans' longest serving Prime Minister.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Kando-ji Temple 5 on the Izumo Kannon Pilgrimage
It is located towards the hills to the south of downtown Izumo.
Labels:
izumo33,
jodo,
kobo daishi,
temple
Monday, September 2, 2013
Shikinaen Udun
Shikina-en is the royal garden of the Ryukyuan royal family near Shuri castle in Naha, Okinawa. The Udun is the palace within the garden, though villa might be a better word. It is a World Heritage Site.
The Udun was constructed in the 17th Century with the garden being made later.
It has 15 rooms with the traditional red tile roof that was only allowed for the highest levels of the society.
As well as being used as a second residence, it was also used to entertain visiting dignitaries.
It was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa and recontruction finished in 1995.
Labels:
garden,
naha,
okinawa,
shikinaen,
world heritage
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Kannon-ji, Izumo City temple 4 on the Izumo Kannon Pilgrimage
Temple 4 of the Izumo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is Kannon-ji located in downtown Izumo City just off old Route 9.
Therewere a couple of shrines in the grounds, and this structure which contains, I believe, statues of the Judges of Hell.
Prayer slips left by pilgrims. I was there in April and the cherries were in full bloom. There is a small bell tower, and possibly an Imperial Messenger gate which would indicate that the temple held some importance in earlier times.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Goh Shrine
Coming down the small hill on which lies Oh Shrine there is a second small shrine, Goh Shrine, which enshrines Wake no Kiyomaro, a government official in the 7th Century.
He is connected to the famous Dokyo Incident. Usa Shrine, now Usa Hachimangu, rose to power to a certain extent due to its oracles. One oracle in 769 suggested that the monk Dokyo should be the next emperor. Dokyo is often likened to Rasputin. He was very much in favor with Empress Koken after he cured her of an illness in 761. Wake no Kiyomaro was sent to Usa to check the oracle and came back with a second oracle refuting the first by saying that only descendants of Amaterasu, and not commoners could become Emperor.
Under Dokyos influence the Empress banished Kiyomaro, but after her death he was recalled and promoted. He undertook an investigation and found that more oracles were deemed fraudulent and the head priest of Usa was removed.
He is also credited with convincing Emperor Kammu to abandon Nagaoka and move to what is now known as Kyoto.
Labels:
dokyo,
kunisaki fall,
kyushu,
oita,
Shrine,
usa hachimangu,
wake no kiyomaro
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Izumo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. End of the first day.
Over the pass and Izumo can be glimpsed through the trees....
Once down, a look back at the mountains I had just crossed and then a straight line walk across the plain towards the town center with the paddies gradually being replaced by things urban....
Labels:
chugoku nature trail.,
izumo33
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Return of the Badger
Most evenings I hear the badger snuffling around just outside my house, so when I saw it yesterday afternoon I got out there with my camcorder and took a few shots....
other posts on the anaguma here
Labels:
anaguma,
Shimonohara,
video
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Kamagari Bridge
The Kamagari Bridge connects Shimokanagari Island with Kamagari (sometimes known as Kamikamagari) Island in the Akin Nada Island chain in the Inland Sea in Hiroshima.
It is a truss-style bridge with a span of 480 meters.
It was completed in 1979, which I believe makes it the first of the 8 bridges that now connect the Akinada Islands.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Contemporary Sacred Music & Dance at Mononobe Shrine
On Wednesday I came back one day earlier than planned from my Kyushu Pilgrimage because I found out that my friend Hiroki Okano and friends were performing at a local shrine. Part of their own Izumo Pilgrimage, they brought a flame from the Hiroshima Peace Park. On the previous night they performed at Gakuenji, and I would have loved to have been there but there was no way of getting back in time.
Leading the improvised performance was Hiroki Okano on native-american cedar flute, keyboards, voice, & native drum. Hiroki has recorded with the well known Navajo flute player R. Carlos Nakai, and even brought him over for a concert in a temple in Kyoto. One of his specialities is performing at sacred sites..... including Enryakuji on Hiezan. A full list of recent performances can be found here
On didgeridoo and kalimba was "Matsu" and the drummer was Kajiwara Tetsuya...... I'm fond of drum solos, so.....
Kajiwara was the drummer with The Blue Hearts, who, I am reliably informed, were one of the top Punk bands in Japan
On Taiko drums was Nobuhito Tomoka, and the dancer was Kunitomo Yuichiro. The dancer was excellent, but unfortunately my video cameras battery was flat.....
He is the son of Kunitomo Suga, generally regarded as the "mother of modern yosakoi dance". Since her death 2 years ago Yuichiro has taken over Sugaren, one of the top yoakoi dance groups in Japan.
Labels:
hiroki okano,
Iwami,
mononobe,
Shrine,
video
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Sanbe Dam
The second temple on the Iwami 33 Kannon pilgrimage (actually the first "extra" temple) is located on the mountainside above Sanbe Dam. Thats Mount Sanbe behind.
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