tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29809832437220857262024-02-20T11:36:11.345+01:00Extracting AbstractFrom Abstract to InsightsYoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-57362779409948291542023-04-24T16:47:00.004+02:002023-04-24T22:25:50.100+02:00Maroudo Shrine in Ohira-machi Part Two<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a part two entry on Maroudo Shrine to introduce one of my thoughts on the enigmatic Maroudo shrine.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> For those who haven't read </span><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2023/02/maroudo-shrine-in-ohira-machi-part-one.html" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">part one</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, check </span><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2023/02/maroudo-shrine-in-ohira-machi-part-one.html" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">this</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> out prior to reading this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtijtWw4JkZbEhntYUcAeE56uscHPNGamJbL9yY_qkidNQwxfW7IFN43lCK7ninrHTtQgQQoJFIRMs4WgPn0E6YRDU46Jc2l7EUtygsupb5JMT58XIHWCLMoDZYMDD5j-yoShQuAmHK5G7Bwf5NJB22yJwOePSrFj5qQQbpWWaAm3EzMYjMEZ9AIwNSg/s1192/Maroudo_MainHall_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtijtWw4JkZbEhntYUcAeE56uscHPNGamJbL9yY_qkidNQwxfW7IFN43lCK7ninrHTtQgQQoJFIRMs4WgPn0E6YRDU46Jc2l7EUtygsupb5JMT58XIHWCLMoDZYMDD5j-yoShQuAmHK5G7Bwf5NJB22yJwOePSrFj5qQQbpWWaAm3EzMYjMEZ9AIwNSg/w640-h430/Maroudo_MainHall_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I mentioned in the <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2023/02/maroudo-shrine-in-ohira-machi-part-one.html" target="_blank">part one</a>, several bloggers write this shrine based on the analogy of the </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Monkyakujin shrine (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">門客人神社</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Shrine_(Saitama)" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Hikawa shrine</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://musashiichinomiya-hikawa.or.jp/" target="_blank">氷川神社</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">In the past,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Arahabaki shrine enshrined Arahabaki </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A9%E3%83%8F%E3%83%90%E3%82%AD" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">荒脛巾</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">)</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> who does not appear in two Japanese chronicles and is thought to be an indigenous deity.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciHLqpan_VKI2FymAaOgv7vRJGGuG1iwcgIUfeGeVEvcgoBe2TuQGpZ1WRluzQPZc872c6RnA_Sry5LlKXZI6TA8wQpexAhGaXIEtgilHbBNPQsIWq--CdRLR033yUwvWP0zHpAmM9RdPAxVzv07XBwjhZnYqT3faeQhqDApnTrslMn1JqIrqMiqpyw/s1200/Maroudo%EF%BC%BFHIkawa_KadoMaroudo%EF%BC%BF2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciHLqpan_VKI2FymAaOgv7vRJGGuG1iwcgIUfeGeVEvcgoBe2TuQGpZ1WRluzQPZc872c6RnA_Sry5LlKXZI6TA8wQpexAhGaXIEtgilHbBNPQsIWq--CdRLR033yUwvWP0zHpAmM9RdPAxVzv07XBwjhZnYqT3faeQhqDApnTrslMn1JqIrqMiqpyw/w640-h472/Maroudo%EF%BC%BFHIkawa_KadoMaroudo%EF%BC%BF2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkyakujin Shrine in Hikawa Shrine as Sessha</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">When the Izumo tribe emigrate to the Musashi province, they enshrined their own deities there. It is likely that the Arahabaki shrine was subordinated to the Hikawa shrine by Izumo emigrants and became the Sessha of Hikawa shrine. The name was changed to Monkyakujin shrine. As a consequence, Arahabaki was kicked out by <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashinazuchi_and_Tenazuchi" target="_blank">Tenazuchi and Ashinuchi</a> who are the parents of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushinadahime" target="_blank">Kushinada hime</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>'s wife. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Similarly, the previous enshrined deity of Maroudo shrine in Ohira town was taken over by Takeminakata when Takeminakata's divinity has been transferred from Suwa shrine, </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">as I mentioned in the </span><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2023/02/maroudo-shrine-in-ohira-machi-part-one.html" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">part one</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> entry. No archives exist to indicate the past enshrined deities, which makes us ponder who the hell the enshrined deities used to be! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><i>Was Arahabaki the indigenous enshrined deity before Takehinakata took over the prime position???</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This could be true, however, my gut keeps sending me a beeping noise. Hereafter I propose two possible case scenarios.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(1) <b>This shrine is indeed <i>overlooked</i> Kadomaroudo shrine as Sessha of </b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Ohira</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span> Shrine </span><span>(</span><a href="http://www.ohirasanjinja.rpr.jp/" target="_blank">太平神社</a></b><span><b>). </b></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Just like the </span><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2015/12/maroudo-shrine-in-itsukushima-shrine.html" target="_blank">Kadomaroudo Shrine in Itsukushima Shrine</a> (image below), this shrine acts as a gatekeeper of the Ohira Shrine.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbXfRaKfiXwneHgUiOzzBqnuJlnlZH-eIpwsI9wMS3YIodIjz8atA3QLVDVsC6QrQh_B4h24qnc6ZNuLELLq9ERgERqq1SnhqAlCSWSQ0VdWpj7QBZNyJ6Ybkt2FKZ8R0D4D9MYixsDzYaQSfQQug97KVMd2xpGiZxlNT8gg_adhvzoXNwIMVDkwZFw/s599/Itsukushima_map_Kadomaroudo.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="599" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbXfRaKfiXwneHgUiOzzBqnuJlnlZH-eIpwsI9wMS3YIodIjz8atA3QLVDVsC6QrQh_B4h24qnc6ZNuLELLq9ERgERqq1SnhqAlCSWSQ0VdWpj7QBZNyJ6Ybkt2FKZ8R0D4D9MYixsDzYaQSfQQug97KVMd2xpGiZxlNT8gg_adhvzoXNwIMVDkwZFw/w400-h353/Itsukushima_map_Kadomaroudo.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Kadomaroudo shrines in Itsukushima shrine</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are pieces of evidence to account for this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(a) T</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">he Mt. Ohira summit, Okumiya of Ohira shrine, Maroudo shrine, and Isoyama Suwa shrine <i>roughly</i> lie in a straight line!!!</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKiEfs1lq9N_pVQKUbJ66J7_Unu2_sNLh3edtUXoVbQIYhlvQd8z80Vceoxd_xhIk1Ob9iYERc7P6iS_sFbAPlyjCxWVnlBhcgGqxUPLLGr4d9JYznsZkGx5O2y4BR2v83okFGL5e1vsAyxjdT3-5wZb5mIWxCfSBeiG_IZsR1I1tNxnlPrd_gTnRCQ/s1572/Ohira_Map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1572" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKiEfs1lq9N_pVQKUbJ66J7_Unu2_sNLh3edtUXoVbQIYhlvQd8z80Vceoxd_xhIk1Ob9iYERc7P6iS_sFbAPlyjCxWVnlBhcgGqxUPLLGr4d9JYznsZkGx5O2y4BR2v83okFGL5e1vsAyxjdT3-5wZb5mIWxCfSBeiG_IZsR1I1tNxnlPrd_gTnRCQ/w320-h270/Ohira_Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(b) The original name of Mt. Ohira (大平山) is Mt. Miwa (三輪山). The name was changed when the divinity of the three new deities, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">/天照皇大御神, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyoukebime" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Toyoukebime</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">/豊受姫大神, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Ninigi</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">/瓊瓊杵命 were transferred there. Originally the prime enshrined deity was </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cmononushi" target="_blank">Ohmononushi</a><span>/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E7%89%A9%E4%B8%BB" target="_blank">大物主神</a>, a deity of Mt. Miwa</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. His a</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">lternative name is "Mimoro no yama no ue ni omasu kami/御諸山上坐神 (= the deity residing in Mt. Mimoro) in Kojiki. Mt. Mimoro is an ancient name of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cmononushi" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Mt. Miwa</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in Yamato province/Nara. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(c) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cmononushi" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Ohmononushi</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E7%89%A9%E4%B8%BB" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">大物主</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">) was enshrined in Mt. Miwa by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a> when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a> reigned </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashihara_no_Nakatsukuni" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Ashihara Nakatsukuni</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeminakata" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Takeminakata</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1%E3%83%9F%E3%83%8A%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">タケミナカタ</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">),</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> who is one of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a>'s sons. Collectively, they are all closely related!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">(d) </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Arahabaki seems to have been worshipped in the northern part of Japan</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">among </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emishi" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Emishi</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9D%A6%E5%A4%B7" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">蝦夷</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) tribes </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">as a deity of the snake because "haha" of habaki in Arahabaki meant snake in ancient Japanese. Back in the olden days, the direction was called according to the animal of the year. The direction is divided into twelve. The north corresponds to the first animal of the year, the mouse (子) and the remaining animals (丑-</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">寅-卯-辰-巳-午-未-申-酉-戌-亥) follow clockwise. Because dragon (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">辰/tatsu</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) and snake (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">巳/mi</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) are similar, they are combined and called "Tatsumi (辰巳=巽)" which indicates "southeast".</span></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1l-LNuNlslyV7TeHwXCUdHYlag0DrR1F_3_DsPZsyhBEBvLC_wXFDL-tcw89QEGdR5UQNVXd2xhznBl2ILNPafha2sBnRog3vNWYYTgT62c5S3qQyFaZ4pRM3dQutKBWi4vM7ybyOJjn0L11JnF1Dli3cy9v0VnY8YAx0eDP6PRjfpHsAb-jBo_0uA/s900/compass_white_trans.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1l-LNuNlslyV7TeHwXCUdHYlag0DrR1F_3_DsPZsyhBEBvLC_wXFDL-tcw89QEGdR5UQNVXd2xhznBl2ILNPafha2sBnRog3vNWYYTgT62c5S3qQyFaZ4pRM3dQutKBWi4vM7ybyOJjn0L11JnF1Dli3cy9v0VnY8YAx0eDP6PRjfpHsAb-jBo_0uA/w320-h320/compass_white_trans.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>If the Maroudo shrine was called Arahabaki shrine, it makes sense that Maroudo shrine locates southeast of Mt. Ohira's summit!!!</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">(e) BTW, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cmononushi" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Ohmononushi</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"> is a snake deity, too.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Am I fully in favor of this hypothesis???</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well,<b><i> not</i> really</b>...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the next entry, I will introduce the second possible scenario I am more into.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>To be continued.</i></span></p></div></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-62927842408593615412023-02-28T21:39:00.005+01:002023-03-01T16:48:12.650+01:00Alleged Atago Shrine Shimominakawa<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Further trekking behind the Maroudo shrine Main Hall led to Atago shrine Shimominakawa (愛宕神社下皆川). Shimominakawa is the name of the district that is probably coined by the name of ruler, Minagawa clan (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9A%86%E5%B7%9D%E6%B0%8F" target="_blank">皆川氏</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). According to the available info on the web, the one to the right Shinmei torii (photo below) is supposed to be the Atago shrine. The left shinmei torii (神明鳥居) stands in the middle of the long hill trail. I have no clue to which shrine the left torii belongs as there is no shrine nearby (except the Agato shrine to the right) </span></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMMO-kP87_ALnI5Ewrvuy0x1-lvOgFEAvAL-wwCpH_hFcLkKvKgsp3K0hb99vBk3ogP6u--ZJNo-tiEviF8Jla3hoDaTASL-P1HDMezLAAiTpp5vz-7NbmVGXzc4i4-84yW3gga0Bx8_tRdk7EuzYyY_LVELzH2uuCP5k1kvqjxqWcdM_2o-3K2Rwsw/w640-h426/TwoTorii_1_02.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Times; text-align: center;" width="720" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Google map says the right shrine in the photo above is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atago_Shrine_(disambiguation)" target="_blank">Atago shrine</a>. All the available info calls this Atago shrine. However, no crystal clear sign to signify this as the Atago shrine can be found in my <i>fieldwork </i>(or I was careless). Let's take a closer look at what I have found there.<br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1-YMIQgMU5-FooGnWk0c2gRv_rwrwhBNQ7TyBMw6w8yUrvvrsSbwpLnLEMdWcfW51tfLUFKhoFKg1aZm3Em-OlsKk0CPeb3l4RjDCVThH73Xx7u46zq0B82-eORtDemkGSAF--CF0K5G3kOZRZKtKJjKXaOsdOinba8uWalF1UKrR2OXMmtAaw3UiA/s1200/Torii_1_05.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1-YMIQgMU5-FooGnWk0c2gRv_rwrwhBNQ7TyBMw6w8yUrvvrsSbwpLnLEMdWcfW51tfLUFKhoFKg1aZm3Em-OlsKk0CPeb3l4RjDCVThH73Xx7u46zq0B82-eORtDemkGSAF--CF0K5G3kOZRZKtKJjKXaOsdOinba8uWalF1UKrR2OXMmtAaw3UiA/w640-h426/Torii_1_05.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alleged Atago Shrine</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;">What I found was five stone monuments providing us with some info regarding the shrine or the history of the district, Shimominakawa (下皆川). Here we go!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;">(1)登山百八度</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">(2)<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B8%E5%89%8D%E5%9B%BD" target="_blank">陸前国</a>青麻(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuzen_Province" target="_blank">Rikuzen Province</a>, Aoso; current <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyagino-ku,_Sendai" target="_blank">Miyagino ward</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendai" target="_blank">Sendai</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyagi_Prefecture" target="_blank">Miyagi Prefecture</a>) <b>青麻大神</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">(3)御中八湖修行 御中道修行 </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>登山三十三度報恩霊</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">(4)<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BA%9A%E7%94%B3%E5%A1%94" target="_blank">庚申塔</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">(5)小御度</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(?)大神</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-QCnuAd_Hehar3PHtw97A_TcafIQZMwBlsRaAX_6jqQSnLYHa0MDgkSDVj-lcvJsa7EayQaBep0j5qGCdYX3iEpcPqeCqKc3_3FX5LnKmpR7hWaUCaW503Una_u4xZ6YMUBR7CLvkQ6_rDOK3vJMuS3zsK5Dv4F2oM4oc72croQZb81bW69swJDRZQ/s1200/Stone_Monuments_Invert.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-QCnuAd_Hehar3PHtw97A_TcafIQZMwBlsRaAX_6jqQSnLYHa0MDgkSDVj-lcvJsa7EayQaBep0j5qGCdYX3iEpcPqeCqKc3_3FX5LnKmpR7hWaUCaW503Una_u4xZ6YMUBR7CLvkQ6_rDOK3vJMuS3zsK5Dv4F2oM4oc72croQZb81bW69swJDRZQ/w400-h266/Stone_Monuments_Invert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five stone monuments</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">(1) The 108th anniversary of the ascetic practice of trekking <a href="https://www.visit-tochigi.com/plan-your-trip/things-to-do/2284/" target="_blank">Mt. Ohira</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(2) <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B8%E5%89%8D%E5%9B%BD" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">陸前国</a><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: left;"> (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rikuzen_Province" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Rikuzen Province</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">,</span><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: left;">)</span>青麻 (Aoso=blue hemp) is the obsolete address used in the early Meiji Period (1869-1876?) that roughly corresponds to the current Aosozawa (青麻沢), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyagino-ku,_Sendai" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Miyagino ward</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendai" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Sendai</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyagi_Prefecture" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Miyagi Prefecture</a>. or thereabouts. 青麻大神/Aoso Taijin means the great deity of hemp, whose name was coined by the fact that the distant relative of Shinto priest, Yasumasa Hozumi (穂積保昌), who came from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamashiro_Province" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Yamashiro Province</a> (current Kyoto Prefecture), instructed hemp cultivation there. Besides, he brought his clan's worshipped deities there and enshrined them in the cave in the gorge in A.D. 852. The shrine was originally called Aoso Iwato Sankoh-gu (青麻岩戸三光宮), Aoso Gongensha (青麻権現社), or Saga Shrine (嵯峨神社). At present, it is called Aoso shrine <span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">(</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9D%92%E9%BA%BB%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">青麻神社</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)</span>. Sankoh-gu (三光宮) means the Palace of three lights (sun, moon, and stars) in which three deities, <a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">(deity of sunlight),</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Tsukuyomi </a><span style="text-align: left;">(deity of the moon), and</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Minakanushi" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a><span style="text-align: left;"> (天之御中主/</span><span style="text-align: left;">deity of stars, with which I cannot fully agree) were enshrined.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(3) This is to commemorate the attainment of the 33rd Buddhist practice of trekking the mountain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(4) This stone tablet is called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dshin" target="_blank">Kohshin</a> tower <span style="font-family: verdana;">(</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BA%9A%E7%94%B3%E5%A1%94" target="_blank">庚申塔</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">)"</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> for a folk faith (called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dshin" target="_blank">Kohshin</a>) in Japan with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism" target="_blank">Taoist</a> </span>origins, influenced by Shinto, Buddhism, and other local beliefs. I will come back to this later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(5) Honestly, it's hard to recognize the third letter. It must be the name of a deity but not sure if it's Shinto or Buddhism (or both). Besides, I have never heard of the name of this deity... Shame on me!</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Around 900 Atago shrines are dispersed all over Japan. It is very likely that, due to the name of the shrine, the divine spirit of Atago Shrine Shimominakawa was transferred from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atago_Shrine_(Kyoto)" target="_blank">Atago Shrine</a> (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://atagojinjya.jp/" target="_blank">愛宕神社</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) located on the summit of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Atago" target="_blank">Mt. Atago</a> (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E5%AE%95%E5%B1%B1_(%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82)" target="_blank">愛宕山</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) in Kyoto, the headquarter of all Agato shrines. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What is known about the Atago Shrine Shimominakawa is a lot less than that of the Maroudo Shrine. Nobody knows when it was founded and the exact enshrined deities. But what we do know is Atago Shrine is recognized as the shrine for fire extinguishing that is indispensable for preventing <i>desiccated </i>winter mountains from wildfire. It makes sense to me that Atago shrine Shimominakawa is located in the skirt of Mt. Ohira. In addition to this, Atago Shrine is well-renowned for its inception of Atago worship (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%84%9B%E5%AE%95%E4%BF%A1%E4%BB%B0" target="_blank">愛宕信仰</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">)- a Shinto practice of worshipping the deity of fire (i.e. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagu-tsuchi" target="_blank">Kagutsuchi</a>/</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AB%E3%82%B0%E3%83%84%E3%83%81" target="_blank">カグツチ</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). Furthermore, Atago Shrines served as the school for the Buddhist practice called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugend%C5%8D" target="_blank">Shugendoh</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BF%AE%E9%A8%93%E9%81%93" target="_blank">修験道</a>). It is tempting to ponder that, back in the olden days, the Buddist monks having faith in Atago worship went through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shugend%C5%8D" target="_blank">Shugendoh</a> there and made stone tablets (1) and (3).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am not sure if you are familiar with (4) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dshin" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Kohshin</a> (庚申)<span style="font-family: verdana;">. For those who are interested in this faith, please visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dshin" target="_blank">Wiki </a>page as it requires countless lines to explain this intriguing custom here. To make the long story short, it is said that the custom was introduced to Japan by the Buddhist monks in Heian Period. The idea is all about longevity based on the belief that three bugs (called <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%B0%B8" target="_blank">Sanshi/</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%B0%B8" target="_blank">三尸</a> in Japanese; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Corpses" target="_blank">three Corpses</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) parasitizing in our body are the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">tattletales/</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">traitors that get out of the host’s body every 60 days to keep the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor" target="_blank">Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝)/Ten tei (天帝)</a> informed sins host committed. The more sins are reported and filed, the shorter the life span host gets. Three Corpses are believed to get out of the host's body at night when the host is asleep on the day called Kohsh</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">in. In order for the host to remain bugs within the body (so that bugs can't report sins to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor" target="_blank">Jade Emperor</a>), hosts get together in a place and stay awake all night long by listening to the monk's lecture or just chatting over booze. It was introduced from China in the Heian period and became pretty popular in the Edo period in Japan. This is called Kohshin because Koh (</span>庚<span style="font-family: verdana;">) is one of the ten <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenly_Stems" target="_blank">heavenly stems</a> (a.k.a. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celestial Stems</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) and shin (</span>申<span style="font-family: verdana;">) is a monkey, which many of you readers know, is one of the twelve animals of the year. These two elements are comprised of a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle" target="_blank">Sexagenary cycle</a> that cycles sixty terms. Hence, every 60 days comes the day of Kohshin.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0EMwtulzSmNUcTiHy7y8xTzGFt8h3hAsyMxHM1qdwOHSMQibRty6O2jT4WPpFPxL00j1g33ywQTidtk-_nDCktsdLzAXaBKRE0wSrAvkezonVmWaHG80eYrq5t0UVr16N6F_3iyL02-_ga0FhW3TK7dHiUU2xj56V6WvuJw-xWJ-Pozal7w2_eBUQ/s460/Taijojo_Sanshi.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="460" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0EMwtulzSmNUcTiHy7y8xTzGFt8h3hAsyMxHM1qdwOHSMQibRty6O2jT4WPpFPxL00j1g33ywQTidtk-_nDCktsdLzAXaBKRE0wSrAvkezonVmWaHG80eYrq5t0UVr16N6F_3iyL02-_ga0FhW3TK7dHiUU2xj56V6WvuJw-xWJ-Pozal7w2_eBUQ/s320/Taijojo_Sanshi.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three Corpses-image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Corpses" target="_blank">Wiki</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It appears that, in the past, the Kohshin practice was quite prevalent among indigenous people who built a Kohshin stone tablet there. This is not so surprising that the Kohshin stone tablet stands in the shrine because of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinbutsu-sh%C5%ABg%C5%8D" target="_blank">Shinto-Buddhist syncretism</a> but w</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">hat is perplexing the most is (2). <b>This stone archive (2) certainly indicates this alleged shrine is an Aoso shrine branch and divinity of the Aoso Taijin (</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">青麻大神</b><b style="font-family: verdana;">) was transferred from the headquarter of Aoso Shrine </b><b><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">(</span><a href="http://www12.plala.or.jp/aosojin/" target="_blank">青麻神社</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this entry, I did not mention anything about Maroudo Shrine but what was inscribed in these stone tablets gave me a big hint to "<i>decode</i>" the deity enshrined in the Maroudo Shrine.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be continued to the final entry for Maroudo Shrine.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3213.3420545325357!2d139.70163625038603!3d36.35249280037531!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x601f474db80a0bed%3A0x462912d4d7a081ae!2z5oSb5a6V56We56S-5LiL55qG5bed!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1676236999499!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-26744990486678730742023-02-05T14:12:00.010+01:002023-02-24T18:51:21.902+01:00Maroudo Shrine in Ohira-machi Part One<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you visit shrines, especially prestigious or historical ones, you notice middle-to-small sized shrines within the shrine's precincts. They are collectively called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsumatsusha" target="_blank">Setsumatsusha</a> (<a href="摂末社" target="_blank">摂末社</a>)", a term that two names of shrines, Sessha/subordinate shrine (摂社) and Massha/peripheral shrine (末社) are combined. The definition to distinguish one from the other is vague, as a matter of fact. Yet, it is widely recognized that Sessha is inclined to enshrine deities closely related to the prime deity enshrined in the main hall. That said, those who are relatives, <i>business</i> partners, and indigenous deities whose position was taken over by the currently enshrined deities, whereas Massha enshrines deity not so related to the prime one (i.e. deities enshrined in the neighbor shrines that were merged into the existing shrine). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbU4Dp0Y-ct1GHvuzdIN8Hj5GKNHLDv_xQm50J1Z90Qy97Zgf-wfmN49abObn7fDEV0HZTvNP86OE2zYrwlHYW-0hph92q0J4NdafJfQp46EaxKkcvO5-m3_0xybXWAIIQPMfdG-kCW0rqmAG6sUKx1RzYuevLrIXCXiRITcHtNB7xNoHPP7cOpuCdA/s1200/Maroudo_Torii_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbU4Dp0Y-ct1GHvuzdIN8Hj5GKNHLDv_xQm50J1Z90Qy97Zgf-wfmN49abObn7fDEV0HZTvNP86OE2zYrwlHYW-0hph92q0J4NdafJfQp46EaxKkcvO5-m3_0xybXWAIIQPMfdG-kCW0rqmAG6sUKx1RzYuevLrIXCXiRITcHtNB7xNoHPP7cOpuCdA/w640-h426/Maroudo_Torii_1.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>In my previous entry, I introduced <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2015/12/maroudo-shrine-in-itsukushima-shrine.html" target="_blank">Maroudo Shrine in Itsukushima Shrine</a> as one of the Sessha shrines. The enshrined deities in the Maroudo shrine are the five brothers of the prime female deity, <a href="https://www.japanese-wiki-corpus.org/Shinto/Ichikishimahime.html" target="_blank">Ichikishima-hime</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%83%81%E3%82%AD%E3%82%B7%E3%83%9E%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">イチキシマヒメ</a>). Maroudo (客人) means "</span><i>guest</i>" or "<i>invited</i>". and, apart from Itsukushima shrine, there are several Maroudo shrines as Setsumatsusha. Due to its Chinese-style pronunciation of the same Kanji (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A8%93%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF#:~:text=%E8%A8%93%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%EF%BC%88%E3%81%8F%E3%82%93%E3%82%88%E3%81%BF%EF%BC%89%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AF,%E9%9F%B3%E8%AA%AD%E3%81%BF%E3%80%8D%E3%81%A8%E5%AF%BE%E7%85%A7%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82" target="_blank">訓読み</a>), the Maroudo shrine is called "Kyakujin shrine" or "Kyaku Jinja (客神社)", in some cases. Here is the list;</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kyakujingu (客人宮) in Jigozen Shrine (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9C%B0%E5%BE%A1%E5%89%8D%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">地御前神社</a>)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Monkyakujin shrine (<span style="text-align: left;">門客人神社</span>) in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Shrine_(Saitama)" target="_blank">Hikawa shrine</a> (<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://musashiichinomiya-hikawa.or.jp/" target="_blank">氷川神社</a></span>) - the most prestigious shrine in Mushashi Province (武蔵国一宮).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudosha (客人社) in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_Shrine" target="_blank">Miho Shrine</a> (<a href="http://mihojinja.or.jp/" target="_blank">美保神社)</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kadomaroudo shrine (門客人神社) in Hinomisaki Shrine (<a href="https://www.izumo-kankou.gr.jp/678" target="_blank">日御碕神社</a>)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kyakujin gu (客人宮) in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enryaku-ji" target="_blank">Hieizan Enryakuji</a> (<a href="https://www.hieizan.or.jp/" target="_blank">比叡山延暦寺</a>)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Shrine (客人神社) in Ouhi shrine (意富比神社)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kyaku Jinja (客神社) in Tomoika Hachimangu (<a href="http://www.tomiokahachimangu.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">富岡八幡宮</a>)</span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am sure there must be more Maroudo Shrines and the list goes on and on. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Monkyakujin shrine</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Shrine_(Saitama)" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Hikawa shrine</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> draws people's attention not only because</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Shrine_(Saitama)" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Hikawa shrine</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">is the Ichinomiya Shrine in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashi_Province" target="_blank">Musashi Province</a> (that corresponds to the current Tokyo and Saitama) but it was initially called "Arahabaki Shrine (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A9%E3%83%8F%E3%83%90%E3%82%AD" target="_blank">荒脛巾</a>神社)", an enigmatic deity never appeared in both Japanese chronicles, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" target="_blank">Kojiki</a> (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">古事記</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" target="_blank">Nihon Shoki</a> (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">日本書紀</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). Due to the lack of information, scholars ponder that Arahabaki deity has been worshipped in the northern part of Japan as an aboriginal deity among <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emishi" target="_blank">Emishi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9D%A6%E5%A4%B7" target="_blank">蝦夷</a>) tribe. Based on the hypothesis, it is speculated that Arahabaki used to be the prime deity enshrined in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikawa_Shrine_(Saitama)" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Hikawa shrine</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Later on, as Izumo tribes migrated there, they brought their own deities, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>, his wife <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushinadahime" target="_blank">Kushinadahime</a> and offspring <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a>, who are the current prime enshrined deities. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> As the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Kingship" target="_blank">Yamato kingship</a> expanded its territory up northeast by conquering the "<i>rural"</i> powers, their deities (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amatsukami" target="_blank">Amatsukami</a>) were enshrined in the new territory, hence domestic deities such as Arahabaki were forced to abdicate their position. For mercy, in some cases, domestic deities remained in Okumiya (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A5%A5%E5%AE%AE" target="_blank">奥宮</a>), Sessha, or Maroudo shrine (as a guest who lost their </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">host </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">position). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3a7rA_I8VsgiQc8MpnoYFahSGtgsOWi8w59ygGKbpQr0UgOJvNkCGpG0EzegcyTfmbGbfrhWd9PEFslnYk0qel1IlcIOBgCs3C9EvCZYzDhDuR1gJxRN5CGhNLBBssB8r8bAB7TgOpbon2ZKImw4bg65614_CGHvdrGX8sGNq7-W25C0F6GZtua6zIg/s800/Yamato_Kingship_in_East_Asia.svg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="800" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3a7rA_I8VsgiQc8MpnoYFahSGtgsOWi8w59ygGKbpQr0UgOJvNkCGpG0EzegcyTfmbGbfrhWd9PEFslnYk0qel1IlcIOBgCs3C9EvCZYzDhDuR1gJxRN5CGhNLBBssB8r8bAB7TgOpbon2ZKImw4bg65614_CGHvdrGX8sGNq7-W25C0F6GZtua6zIg/s320/Yamato_Kingship_in_East_Asia.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yamato State (Image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Kingship" target="_blank">Wiki</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have nothing against this hypothesis as long as Maroudo shrine exists as Setsumatsusha. Nevertheless, at least five Maroudo Shrines exist as prime shrines! Four Maroudo shrines are listed on the <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%A2%E4%BA%BA%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">Japanese Wiki</a> and I found one more in Ehime. I repeat. That's not all. I am sure there must be more out there. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kyaku Jinja (<a href="http://ehime-jinjacho.jp/jinja/?p=1227" target="_blank">客神社</a>) in Ehime - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukurihime" target="_blank">Kukurihime</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8F%8A%E7%90%86%E5%AA%9B%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">喜玖理媛命/</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8F%8A%E7%90%86%E5%AA%9B%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">菊理媛神</a>)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Shrine (<a href="http://www.maroudo.or.jp/" target="_blank">客人神社</a>) in Hiroshima- <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohnamuchi/Ohkuni</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E5%9B%BD%E4%B8%BB" target="_blank">大穴牟遅命</a>)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Maroudo Shrine (</span><a href="https://shinkamigoto.nagasaki-tabinet.com/spot/10053" target="_blank">客人神社</a><span>) in Nagasaki -<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cyamatsumi" target="_blank">Ohyamatsumi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%A4%E3%83%9E%E3%83%84%E3%83%9F" target="_blank">大山祇</a>大神) and Shiogama (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AA%E3%83%84%E3%83%81%E3%83%8E%E3%82%AA%E3%82%B8" target="_blank">塩釜</a>大神)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kyakujin Shrine (客人神社) in Kochi</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Shrine (<a href="https://yaokami.jp/1121987/" target="_blank">客人神社</a>) in Chiba - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" target="_blank">Izanagi</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanami</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Shrine (<a href="https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_guide000000189229/" target="_blank">客人神社</a>) in Tochigi - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeminakata" target="_blank">Takeminakata</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1%E3%83%9F%E3%83%8A%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF" target="_blank">タケミナカタ</a>)</span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The enshrined deity in these Maroudo shrines is <i>not</i> Arahabaki but the ordinary well-known Shinto deities. To be honest, I cannot find what is common among them! Well, the hypothesis goes on and on. It is likely that the indigenous original enshrined deity was not even allowed to stay in Setsumatsusha but was utterly kicked out by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Kingship" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Yamato kingship</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">and erased from the endorsed record...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<i>History is written by the victors</i>". So said <a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" target="_blank">Winston Churchill</a>. When history was unwritten or the archives were lost, there is room to ponder the past. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this and the following entries, I would like to review Maroudo Shrine in Tochigi city as this is close to my hometown and visited there years ago.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d25706.925176969853!2d139.68416942149753!3d36.35192122233199!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x601f479c88d16b5b%3A0x2a7bb2a29f8ad08a!2sMar%C5%8Ddo%20Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1674592312022!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, very little is known about this shrine. No Wiki page, no homepage, no priest is there, and only the Shinto geeks visit there and upload blog entries just like me. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HaiPx-LnGC7qbZLsQMBiuKjXeZ9AlGHoUiQx40Xq05Zu7B4Xc-RSZJli2r-iJbC43bBkbJScRwV6MUCK_0YrAI3B4Zj6LLefULCSSYJ4Sr4XQnXWqkb5Oh9fF3MJQFzL_Tt0aOSbpjSVVz9aBRe0s0Yv_uIjex3W_lD7WRP5GsZruObGj5Cuvt3MNw/s1288/Steps_2_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HaiPx-LnGC7qbZLsQMBiuKjXeZ9AlGHoUiQx40Xq05Zu7B4Xc-RSZJli2r-iJbC43bBkbJScRwV6MUCK_0YrAI3B4Zj6LLefULCSSYJ4Sr4XQnXWqkb5Oh9fF3MJQFzL_Tt0aOSbpjSVVz9aBRe0s0Yv_uIjex3W_lD7WRP5GsZruObGj5Cuvt3MNw/w398-h640/Steps_2_02.jpg" width="398" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shrine is located southeast skirt of Mt. Ohira (太平山), 341 meters tall (short?) holy mountain previously called Mt. Miwa (三輪山) in the 3rd Century. Because Mt. Ohira isn't so tall, it is popular for hiking and visiting Ohira Shrine </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(</span><a href="http://www.ohirasanjinja.rpr.jp/" target="_blank">太平神社</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">) and other historical temples (but not this shrine). </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAPvykV0yxKE6e2O598ctsSxq4oUSZ8OBNCKbyPbNTo0KtNKcDI07opotqqEkZIik7hUNQL2UPtG5LplaHVv9hL2ej0fzuFgI0o_FdQeHh-6DN6X9mwfOVaBj83PMfc3a_u-RC0ifQjmZw6BabDs6dSexsrK6SxOAetmfI03Na5y5cUB9TmSVwui3Gw/s1200/Komainu_Torii_2_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAPvykV0yxKE6e2O598ctsSxq4oUSZ8OBNCKbyPbNTo0KtNKcDI07opotqqEkZIik7hUNQL2UPtG5LplaHVv9hL2ej0fzuFgI0o_FdQeHh-6DN6X9mwfOVaBj83PMfc3a_u-RC0ifQjmZw6BabDs6dSexsrK6SxOAetmfI03Na5y5cUB9TmSVwui3Gw/w640-h426/Komainu_Torii_2_01.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinmei Torii and Komainu dogs<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since it was pleasant Indian summer when I visited there, what I did was <i>fieldwork.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEtKxICCey75yiVnneOqNIWgiVDpH13glFh1NL6qph_kjxZALyOoGHlv4JuFaeqzUJkgF7_MWwYyCgQ9kwKv7Pbf2I2wuiJshLX8cYOEi2HyIpAXAuX30d0tmAHvR4OeK2QD7GINmm7_JPH-K8-Kn2lM3s6gZ5o_a-OSOpksn7cBWEZNh4ZlpDotWLg/s1192/stone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEtKxICCey75yiVnneOqNIWgiVDpH13glFh1NL6qph_kjxZALyOoGHlv4JuFaeqzUJkgF7_MWwYyCgQ9kwKv7Pbf2I2wuiJshLX8cYOEi2HyIpAXAuX30d0tmAHvR4OeK2QD7GINmm7_JPH-K8-Kn2lM3s6gZ5o_a-OSOpksn7cBWEZNh4ZlpDotWLg/w430-h640/stone.jpg" width="430" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone monument behind the shrine</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was damn painstaking to "<i>decode"</i> fading stone inscriptions written in ancient-style letters (see the image above). ALL Kanji including those no longer seen in the present day. According to the Japanese blogger's entries I referred to, it appears that the stone monument sitting around the Main Hall is a copy of the oldest archive that is present to date (documented on the 20th of October, 1423), entitled "下野国磯山西御庄下皆川郷内客人大明神田畠事". The archive seems to be the letter mailed to the Shinto Priest in the Maroud shrine (from who???). It says the divinity was transferred </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">on the 20th of October, 1423 A.D. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">from the Isoyama Suwa Shrine (磯山諏訪神社) located approx. 2 km southeast away from Maroudo Shrine. BTW, Maroudo shrine faces to </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the Isoyama Suwa Shrine.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are around 25,000 Suwa shrines and all of them</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> enshrine </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeminakata" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Takeminakata</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1%E3%83%9F%E3%83%8A%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">タケミナカタ</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">). No exception. it appears that</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> the current deity enshrined in Maroudo Shrine is </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeminakata" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Takeminakata</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, if his divinity was transferred from the Isoyama Suwa shrine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nevertheless, the stone monument crystal clearly inscribes </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Daimyohjin</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><b style="font-family: verdana;">客人大明神</b><span style="font-family: verdana;">) as the enshrined deity.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> "Maroudo</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My%C5%8Djin" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Daimyohjin</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(客人大明神)" is, indeed. a term for Shinto deities related to Buddhism (due to the "</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">syncretism of kami and buddhas" called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinbutsu-sh%C5%ABg%C5%8D" target="_blank">Shinbutsu-shugo</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E4%BB%8F%E7%BF%92%E5%90%88" target="_blank">神仏習合</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyko7fmSaUOVgSNJpdQ5fQu5WBa4rcg_B3ZP098HcdPxwkgiRPWPfVi6a7pNUkTKTKa7AznyJ71cOvGEFnK1JhP-x4991odYwrI14P_LTEeXb_dpSsA3gdkvrCNsD_tJqUJNwRminS6DMfCiuPYtD0kszab8ZauK6SW7FVmLMHJ3_-hoil-3ZJ289pQg/s1200/Maroudo_2_03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyko7fmSaUOVgSNJpdQ5fQu5WBa4rcg_B3ZP098HcdPxwkgiRPWPfVi6a7pNUkTKTKa7AznyJ71cOvGEFnK1JhP-x4991odYwrI14P_LTEeXb_dpSsA3gdkvrCNsD_tJqUJNwRminS6DMfCiuPYtD0kszab8ZauK6SW7FVmLMHJ3_-hoil-3ZJ289pQg/w640-h426/Maroudo_2_03.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Hall</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Additional info can be obtained from the back of the stone monument standing in front of the Main hall (left side of the photo above). It is unknown when the shrine is founded. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The previous main hall was built in 1897 and was renovated into the current one in 1990. Until recently, the annual ritual ceremony took place on the 20th of October. The names of Shinto priest and about 33 families of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujigami#Ujiko" target="_blank">Ujiko</a> (氏子; neighbors worshipping Maroud Shrine) members in 1982 were listed. Ujiko worshipped by calling the enshrined deity “Daimyohjim-sama”. The area of </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">the shrine's precincts</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is 1487.61 square meters.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge81VFPUfYU81pql6LzOVCqBsXWjzG15wSpntRB2DCOk8yxwAiQS7Kw8zGKEMHOdYxbKBgguJlSBpNFSjU8r0fcEuRGZf9lz5JUUp1KLkkQGrNFXk-jXEitGpyRcDGKpf-YbK4fQ807X8ywel6VO2Tyn3mtNBzyacQo0RbpVzJ0LqYrdtbbnCZ6rCVVw/s1200/Inside_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge81VFPUfYU81pql6LzOVCqBsXWjzG15wSpntRB2DCOk8yxwAiQS7Kw8zGKEMHOdYxbKBgguJlSBpNFSjU8r0fcEuRGZf9lz5JUUp1KLkkQGrNFXk-jXEitGpyRcDGKpf-YbK4fQ807X8ywel6VO2Tyn3mtNBzyacQo0RbpVzJ0LqYrdtbbnCZ6rCVVw/w640-h426/Inside_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of Main Hall. Who the hell is enshrined there???<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which one on earth is the enshrined deity in Maroudo Shrine???</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Takeminakata? or </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maroudo Daimyohjin???<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Very enigmatic, isn't it???</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>To be continued</i>...</span></div></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-71576745218942970142023-01-08T00:26:00.010+01:002023-01-09T00:41:26.150+01:00Daruma doll on bonfire<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Happy New Year.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is an annual tradition among the Japanese to bring New Year's decorations and other stuff to the temple or shrine and say <i>goodbye</i> to them one or two weeks after the New Year's day. It is believed that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshigami" target="_blank">Year God/Toshigami</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B9%B4%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">年神</a>) descends on houses where the entrance is decorated with pine trees and bamboo called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu" target="_blank">Kadomatsu</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%96%80%E6%9D%BE" target="_blank">門松</a>). The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osechi" target="_blank">Osechi cuisine</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BE%A1%E7%AF%80%E6%96%99%E7%90%86" target="_blank">御節料理</a>), a traditional food served in New Year's day, used to be the offering to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshigami" target="_blank">Toshigami</a>. After spending 7 to 10 days in the house,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshigami" target="_blank">Year God</a> returns to heaven. When the god is gone, New Year's decorations are stripped off but </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">are not thrown in the trash bin. Instead, they are brought to the temple or shrine where purchased for ritual purification. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6O9rnyu1_GWa3BntTXx7TVN5G7i3PB8sAJi91bnWfQ1rVGjkegnw7rxtDlY7b_LFLGnKgCQa4jU8C1kSbXjLtGTTUwmK72mazTwyV1zlH25TJgqHo7jhKerdBEzir4PsgJcPaeVdUY_b98Lr1Jd4cYTBlGKfy7MLl19kdKPrjqV410PgeLm8giDkFZg/s1066/Dharma_purgatory_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6O9rnyu1_GWa3BntTXx7TVN5G7i3PB8sAJi91bnWfQ1rVGjkegnw7rxtDlY7b_LFLGnKgCQa4jU8C1kSbXjLtGTTUwmK72mazTwyV1zlH25TJgqHo7jhKerdBEzir4PsgJcPaeVdUY_b98Lr1Jd4cYTBlGKfy7MLl19kdKPrjqV410PgeLm8giDkFZg/w480-h640/Dharma_purgatory_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along with New Year's decorations, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll" target="_blank">daruma doll</a> that represented the semi-legendary Buddhist monk, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma" target="_blank">Bodhidharma</a>, a founder of Zen Buddhism is one of the objects to be purified annually. The reddish round doll has blank</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> white eyes in its original figure. When the owner sets a goal or makes a wish, the left eye is painted black just like Far East Asian eyes. If the dream or wish comes true, the right eye is filled. The doll is used for facilitating the owner to make the owner's dream come true. When it's achieved, the doll is purified on a bonfire...</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbb4g6oQQpb3vjUMWpNWbSyHYOkG2MN9OnCOkYEQKPALzDJUu9yRcoSPlKKYxZ8wzYIEH-dhJ6GBmuVQSBbek-CYffgtwT-2WLhLo65vvmSTRdp1Jt57fseYCpGPXqrdCiEl8gxx5FT_i56oK63RdMjRC9lRZbYcwo0OAiaoWq5rf3Rv3_8zQHN1I2Q/s1067/Daruma_Kadomatsu_1_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbb4g6oQQpb3vjUMWpNWbSyHYOkG2MN9OnCOkYEQKPALzDJUu9yRcoSPlKKYxZ8wzYIEH-dhJ6GBmuVQSBbek-CYffgtwT-2WLhLo65vvmSTRdp1Jt57fseYCpGPXqrdCiEl8gxx5FT_i56oK63RdMjRC9lRZbYcwo0OAiaoWq5rf3Rv3_8zQHN1I2Q/w480-h640/Daruma_Kadomatsu_1_01.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-85971944345825796792022-12-28T15:55:00.014+01:002022-12-29T15:12:41.850+01:00Ametsuchi no Motohashira Part Two<p><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">Behind the story of the controversial tower goes on...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pGDwsZty106guXdLEsPbeXw28R6SMxgFicxQDpv5VBBq3HQk1DX9mlvJPLm-IMVpQqzi0ZTVRhpc2U4CMjdjkRsArkuac30SJwrNirJzMmZqKoq2Po7PDYFjjZvoJdNCvN6vIWlfRtonQGstDNbX3z10lG1MWgGYGzyNDA7sjOvMM-pJmyIIRm_Aag/s1200/Tower_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pGDwsZty106guXdLEsPbeXw28R6SMxgFicxQDpv5VBBq3HQk1DX9mlvJPLm-IMVpQqzi0ZTVRhpc2U4CMjdjkRsArkuac30SJwrNirJzMmZqKoq2Po7PDYFjjZvoJdNCvN6vIWlfRtonQGstDNbX3z10lG1MWgGYGzyNDA7sjOvMM-pJmyIIRm_Aag/w640-h480/Tower_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In 1935, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okada_Cabinet" target="_blank">Okada Cabinet</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B2%A1%E7%94%B0%E5%95%93%E4%BB%8B" target="_blank">岡田啓介</a>) launched the Committee for the 2600th </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Imperial Era</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anniversary (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B4%80%E5%85%83%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%83%E5%85%AD%E7%99%BE%E5%B9%B4%E8%A8%98%E5%BF%B5%E8%A1%8C%E4%BA%8B" target="_blank">紀元二千六百年記念行事</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). The original idea was to reform and expand the <a href="https://www.city.kashihara.nara.jp/kanko/en/kashiharajingu.html" target="_blank">Kashihara Jingu</a> (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://kashiharajingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">橿原神宮</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) in which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> and his wife (Empress), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himetataraisuzu-hime" target="_blank">Himetataraisuzu hime</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1%E3%82%BF%E3%82%BF%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BA%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">媛蹈鞴五十鈴媛</a>) are enshrined and the tomb of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> and organize ceremonies in 1940. After the series of changes in the name and constitution of the Committee, the original plan kept swelling to the point of founding brand new shrines overseas such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan%27y%C5%8D_Shrine" target="_blank">Nanyoh shrine</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%97%E6%B4%8B%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">南洋神社</a>) in Palau and Kenkoku shrine/</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">mausoleum </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(<a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BB%BA%E5%9C%8B%E7%A5%9E%E5%BB%9F" target="_blank">建国神廟</a>) in </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo" target="_blank">State of Manchuria</a>. In addition, due to the enthusiastic promotion of the then Miyazaki Governer, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikawa_Katsuroku" target="_blank">Katsuroku Aikawa</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9B%B8%E5%B7%9D%E5%8B%9D%E5%85%AD" target="_blank">相川勝六</a>), the plan to build the monumental tower in Miyazaki was integrated into the initial plan, as well. You may wonder why in Miyazaki? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DjrGeUJptoBiLwalfpied3XmjNGmZl2yvTT0SeX4XBAhAusQ7SA57raHJVDMy4Fc37Rzcdfdd1Zo2EGvHAn4CEfWvg4hR_RbOJq-qoSFxcenNjIiMlq09fNaKEIl72i7OjRlfWBb_h71bTeZsqowO7PBb4oa-Bfe1rxxgsYNuEc-oBOnfrV_z1Jlgg/s1200/Tower_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DjrGeUJptoBiLwalfpied3XmjNGmZl2yvTT0SeX4XBAhAusQ7SA57raHJVDMy4Fc37Rzcdfdd1Zo2EGvHAn4CEfWvg4hR_RbOJq-qoSFxcenNjIiMlq09fNaKEIl72i7OjRlfWBb_h71bTeZsqowO7PBb4oa-Bfe1rxxgsYNuEc-oBOnfrV_z1Jlgg/w640-h478/Tower_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The so-called Heiwadai highland was opted for the place to build the memorial tower because the Heiwadai is closely located north of the palace (called Kohguh-ya/皇宮屋) where Emperor Jimmu settled until his</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmu%27s_Eastern_Expedition" target="_blank">Eastern Expedition</a>. After all</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, the start and the end of Jimmu's</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmu%27s_Eastern_Expedition" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Eastern Expedition</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> were refurnished by subsidies.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHHqvaoGc8gEWF_uV5I0Pn8vW7BLLZV5yj5BoSPDvgHV6Fr5tnSacs82PVRWoX8ISD88w9zZ7jESpGFqvxf56hw-zEruSBzvzLRUfORrXMFcfPEMgHrXm5PRhP1GtvrKYAUsnDRf4q8AzVHBUju2UU_L21TcNRIFvOYW9GLXwjln2CCYhfu_ZnyDJmg/s1080/Portraight_2_Aikawa_Okada_Hinako.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHHqvaoGc8gEWF_uV5I0Pn8vW7BLLZV5yj5BoSPDvgHV6Fr5tnSacs82PVRWoX8ISD88w9zZ7jESpGFqvxf56hw-zEruSBzvzLRUfORrXMFcfPEMgHrXm5PRhP1GtvrKYAUsnDRf4q8AzVHBUju2UU_L21TcNRIFvOYW9GLXwjln2CCYhfu_ZnyDJmg/w400-h149/Portraight_2_Aikawa_Okada_Hinako.png" width="520" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From left to right: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikawa_Katsuroku" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Katsuroku Aikawa</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keisuke_Okada" target="_blank">Keisuke Okada</a>, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitsuzo_Hinago" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Jitsuzo Hinago</a>. All images from Wiki</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitsuzo_Hinago" target="_blank">Jitsuzo Hinago</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E5%90%8D%E5%AD%90%E5%AE%9F%E4%B8%89" target="_blank">日名子実三</a>), a sculptor famous for designing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatagarasu" target="_blank">Yatagarasu</a>, a mythical three-legged crow for the symbol of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Football_Association" target="_blank">Japan Football Association</a> (JFA), designed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakk%C5%8D_ichiu" target="_blank">Ametsuchi no motohashira</a> tower free of charge. When designing the tower, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitsuzo_Hinago" target="_blank">Hinago</a> was inspired by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohei" target="_blank">Gohei</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BE%A1%E5%B9%A3" target="_blank">御幣</a>) he saw in Miyazaki Jingu (<a href="https://miyazakijingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">宮崎神宮</a>). Gohei is one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinsen" target="_blank">offerings to the enshrined deities </a>(Shinsen/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E9%A5%8C" target="_blank">神饌</a>). Being Shinto as part of animism, ancient Japanese acknowledged mother nature (divine beings) that made their living on hunter-gathering. Harvested cereals, fruits, vegetables, sake (Japanese wine), and textiles, are offerings in many cases whereas <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohei" target="_blank">Gohei</a> is a non-edible offering. In many cases, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohei" target="_blank">Gohei</a> is made up of wooden wands decorated with two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shide_(Shinto)" target="_blank">shide</a> (zigzagging paper streamers). Apart from offering purposes, Gohei was considered as "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorishiro" target="_blank">Yorishiro</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BE%9D%E3%82%8A%E4%BB%A3" target="_blank">依り代</a>)", an object that the deity haunts.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnK5wAZXS3naOLqOjYubCdp7nZwwQUyPLSIYjTnrMvSm5ujVtd4emLSa8Al1_t--AOk7Ldz8S2K6AnEsYAe1Uu_SM0zE7Cn7DEH_Nx6O6MSqZeFFFB6R4C_-ktuqZUoGj7NjXz_PS-lHZzNIN_6gO6Y3ZZXzzBqxEeCYrs7uihouPlbW011KXDWgBwA/s701/Shinto_gohei.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="436" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnK5wAZXS3naOLqOjYubCdp7nZwwQUyPLSIYjTnrMvSm5ujVtd4emLSa8Al1_t--AOk7Ldz8S2K6AnEsYAe1Uu_SM0zE7Cn7DEH_Nx6O6MSqZeFFFB6R4C_-ktuqZUoGj7NjXz_PS-lHZzNIN_6gO6Y3ZZXzzBqxEeCYrs7uihouPlbW011KXDWgBwA/w249-h400/Shinto_gohei.jpeg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohei" target="_blank">Wiki</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At each corner of the tower, </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">statues of four deities made of stoneware in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigaraki_ware" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Shigaraki style</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BF%A1%E6%A5%BD%E7%84%BC" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">信楽焼</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">) are deposited. They are called <b>Aramitama</b>/荒御魂 as a worrier, <b>Nigimitama</b>/和御魂 as a merchant, <b>Sachimitama</b>/幸御魂 as a farmer, and <b>Kushimitama</b>/奇御魂 as a fisherman, respectively. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszw3r5SfmSPQqtaQS9vbGEPdPgmKDN6AFpFKS9Hp26N1ld-A5CZSERvPCcH-4isu0qB7NgxFqyr3huTI9HBL5F7u5UReeew5T_caSZpMHbm9duhLpnomfD9Mo_fgniTRfQWxLmNi-yi2Onv_Wj8l9MmxPfQGJnZFt2gYnQjRHhnHtQ9OyIZQmULFzCA/s1067/Aramitama_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszw3r5SfmSPQqtaQS9vbGEPdPgmKDN6AFpFKS9Hp26N1ld-A5CZSERvPCcH-4isu0qB7NgxFqyr3huTI9HBL5F7u5UReeew5T_caSZpMHbm9duhLpnomfD9Mo_fgniTRfQWxLmNi-yi2Onv_Wj8l9MmxPfQGJnZFt2gYnQjRHhnHtQ9OyIZQmULFzCA/w480-h640/Aramitama_crop.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Aramitama/荒御魂 as a worrier</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlf5ODeJXOXH4mQtS5CTZWPEx2oRFbhGY-OJxB3eJyK55PkCInVGFjwM8Srdeebc_6pBv-e5G9UgS6LWO0aDx1Cm2Q6RgVS46QVRCgYIUYnUmgSxX_MS0dHP0w4YXrKtzigM4PHcyafiG0kBwi1GXhtqg0QFaTEDnuBDr9EjK7yZcC6-LDqTeESb2dw/s1067/Nigimitama_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlf5ODeJXOXH4mQtS5CTZWPEx2oRFbhGY-OJxB3eJyK55PkCInVGFjwM8Srdeebc_6pBv-e5G9UgS6LWO0aDx1Cm2Q6RgVS46QVRCgYIUYnUmgSxX_MS0dHP0w4YXrKtzigM4PHcyafiG0kBwi1GXhtqg0QFaTEDnuBDr9EjK7yZcC6-LDqTeESb2dw/w480-h640/Nigimitama_crop.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Nigimitama/和御魂 as a merchant</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicoOckbS_2UsAzjsHDmhtBZBI3wVUp6MaSyoh2GeTQIkpNNaPMo9ha7rexarmV0WTsGtFTbKg_VxOhiIN95ur2jRrEpJsDIvbhnozEHmyZSauLppkV0AOV5oKGY7KCZv97gt9JUrbzSHejqSSOskI1aLN0g_u2o69gHuS7gH53JpozlpZPBHDz9ZPXw/s1067/Sachitama_Crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicoOckbS_2UsAzjsHDmhtBZBI3wVUp6MaSyoh2GeTQIkpNNaPMo9ha7rexarmV0WTsGtFTbKg_VxOhiIN95ur2jRrEpJsDIvbhnozEHmyZSauLppkV0AOV5oKGY7KCZv97gt9JUrbzSHejqSSOskI1aLN0g_u2o69gHuS7gH53JpozlpZPBHDz9ZPXw/w480-h640/Sachitama_Crop.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Sachimitama/幸御魂 as a farmer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje13erxzIA0If6_O-K-pA5uXuYjOBNnjdbGbhFmXvnleUU90QlG0EhG9pCDiVp2BEh8MWSe1IFHOfvsZRh26qPEcq4HWPARL9vMhBv-T49pEsOI13kr1UHJXb_BYZtHCv9zGVLYduIVA_HAAbk2YReb_Xs20-WDVGdA-VLY7JGyVpTJmT-KboJ02Nisw/s1067/Kushimitama.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje13erxzIA0If6_O-K-pA5uXuYjOBNnjdbGbhFmXvnleUU90QlG0EhG9pCDiVp2BEh8MWSe1IFHOfvsZRh26qPEcq4HWPARL9vMhBv-T49pEsOI13kr1UHJXb_BYZtHCv9zGVLYduIVA_HAAbk2YReb_Xs20-WDVGdA-VLY7JGyVpTJmT-KboJ02Nisw/w480-h640/Kushimitama.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Kushimitama/奇御魂 as a fisherman</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikawa_Katsuroku" target="_blank">Aikawa</a> actively contacted newspapers for promoting the concept of a new tower. Aikawa’s ideas of building a new tower were (1) to symbolize <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a>’s aspiration of establishing a new country and the prosperity of Imperial Japan in the future and (2) to record the accomplishments of Japan 2600 years after his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmu%27s_Eastern_Expedition" target="_blank">Eastern Expedition</a>. To come Aikawa's ambitions and concepts to fruition, especially for the purpose of objective (2), founding stones for the tower base were dispatched not only from domestic Japanese territories but also overseas such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo" target="_blank">Manchuria</a>, South Pacific islands, and European and American continents. Altogether, 1789 stones (most of which were from Miyazaki Prefecture and closer prefectures) were piled-up for building the base of the tower. Of 1789 stones, 349 stones were delivered from overseas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 from Canada </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 from the US </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 from Peru </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 from Nazis Germany </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4 from Southeast Asia and Pacific Oceania </div><div style="text-align: justify;">118 from Korea Peninsula</div><div style="text-align: justify;">104 from China (58 of which were plundered by expeditionary forces from the hostile ground)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">80 from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo" target="_blank">Manchuria</a> (6 of which were looted by expeditionary forces from the hostile ground)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">36 from Taiwan</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUl7mmHYC5QMZ55SwC8aBgqPBcd1dwLbKgqecsz74K27CSx1oKZRo3UQZNMKbZ6ajqksywZu2EnbouoEa0s5BCzpTFMtIIYRA6HUOfa2gOEw-IQFPAufqgLwTZP75zf580TxWYN-kUFFVW617q-kSQXrCQdk3Up_PwPB9oMaYqYmSNab5GojKjjkZEw/s1000/Largest_Territory.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUl7mmHYC5QMZ55SwC8aBgqPBcd1dwLbKgqecsz74K27CSx1oKZRo3UQZNMKbZ6ajqksywZu2EnbouoEa0s5BCzpTFMtIIYRA6HUOfa2gOEw-IQFPAufqgLwTZP75zf580TxWYN-kUFFVW617q-kSQXrCQdk3Up_PwPB9oMaYqYmSNab5GojKjjkZEw/w320-h320/Largest_Territory.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The largest territory of Imperial Japan (Image from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" target="_blank">Wiki</a> with modification)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among stones "<i>donated</i>" from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo" target="_blank">Manchuria</a>, China, and Korea, some were the plunders from historical buildings/monuments by Imperial Japan military forces. Obviously, the intention of the Government was to proudly declare the augmentation of the country that launched from the Kashihara district 2600 years ago and expect further prosperity in the following century, 2700. In fact, the numbers of population, territory size, and how far the reign of the Emperor has augmented overseas were inscribed on the back side of the tower. Stones dispatched from overseas were the smoking gun evidence to prove it. Now we all know that the everlasting expansion policy of Imperial Japan evaporated into a mirage after WWII yet in 1940, the Japanese, especially politicians, were obsessed with mythical and patriotic fairytales.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Due to the occupation by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II" target="_blank">Allies of WW II</a>, Japanese mass media and politicians made a swift “<i>left</i>” turn. Commanded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Commander_for_the_Allied_Powers" target="_blank">Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers</a> (SCAP) in 1946, the worrier statue, “Aramitama”, and the letter “八紘一宇” inscribed on the front were expropriated! The name of the tower changed to <span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span><i>Peace</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Tower" (平和の塔)"</span> in 1957. The name of the tower remained the same by now. The worrier statue and the inscribed letter were restored in 1962 or 1965, respectively. Till the tower was restored to its original design, the tower has been ruined. It was used for practicing rock climbing. Affirmative, the tower is made of rocks... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV3gZ4uQY4fI-DPFsFKSvzKD6q9IPWeFOWNDCLUaVuYnQ-UsWzX39j_OFFrAqy0zXvH5ZB4csyrxqaC3jijbsKlCz44hHfnZLE8yXQwbHd86j15rmoXYCFQaZv3lzUFYD_LvbzakZ_lMcC5EY9Cf-huk2LLrwnsYkVRiHw9LGnagpK24yMJybfUtU6g/s701/Hakko-Ichiu_Monument_in_1950s.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV3gZ4uQY4fI-DPFsFKSvzKD6q9IPWeFOWNDCLUaVuYnQ-UsWzX39j_OFFrAqy0zXvH5ZB4csyrxqaC3jijbsKlCz44hHfnZLE8yXQwbHd86j15rmoXYCFQaZv3lzUFYD_LvbzakZ_lMcC5EY9Cf-huk2LLrwnsYkVRiHw9LGnagpK24yMJybfUtU6g/s320/Hakko-Ichiu_Monument_in_1950s.jpeg" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock climbing the tower (Image from Wiki)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What a terrible change the tower has been through!!!</div><div><span style="text-align: justify;">. </span></div></span></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-66711710130327150572022-12-03T21:09:00.008+01:002022-12-29T15:12:28.137+01:00Ametsuchi no Motohashira<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B9%8B%E5%9F%BA%E6%9F%B1" target="_blank"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />八紘之基柱</a> (Ametsuchi no motohashira), located in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiwadai_Park" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Heiwadai Park</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://h.park-miyazaki.jp/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">平和台公園</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyazaki_(city)" target="_blank">Miyazaki</a>, is a monument to celebrate the enthronement of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E6%AD%A6%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">神武天皇</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">). Around 37-meter tall tower was founded in 1940 to proclaim the imperial edict "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakk%C5%8D_ichiu" target="_blank">Hakkoh-ichiu</a> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">),</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> inscribed in the facade of the tower in the 2600th anniversary (inscribed in the back of the tower, as well) of the triumph of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmu%27s_Eastern_Expedition" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Jimmu's Eastern Expedition</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E6%AD%A6%E6%9D%B1%E5%BE%81" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">神武東征</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFtTuBeXEV1nMg7Mt_kpsUjLXiFRDTc0ZLNBtE-FucjBdvi_qn0dwX1Y4aSbZq0QbZhEODtK73-kDQ7LCW88IzyaGvzrwWx36JiTOooheKKCkkZBLDsSYYGI_OO7Xc7wYVdaumu4CZ5RTb3YZaR-p6PEVfMrVwqusaAr2-l_gk2thhaO3BholYg3meg/s1200/tower_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFtTuBeXEV1nMg7Mt_kpsUjLXiFRDTc0ZLNBtE-FucjBdvi_qn0dwX1Y4aSbZq0QbZhEODtK73-kDQ7LCW88IzyaGvzrwWx36JiTOooheKKCkkZBLDsSYYGI_OO7Xc7wYVdaumu4CZ5RTb3YZaR-p6PEVfMrVwqusaAr2-l_gk2thhaO3BholYg3meg/w640-h480/tower_2.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>The inscribed letters were calligraphed by </span><a href="Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Yasuhiro, Prince Chichibu</a><span style="text-align: justify;">,(</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A7%A9%E7%88%B6%E5%AE%AE%E9%9B%8D%E4%BB%81%E8%A6%AA%E7%8E%8B" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">秩父宮雍仁親王</a><span style="text-align: justify;">) a younger brother of then-Emperor </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Hirohito</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%AD%E5%92%8C%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">昭和天皇</a><span style="text-align: justify;">).</span></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO43I_0X6s6PVlvqVRuIlvjUhnmUCZ8BzRxNUg3dk5oJnWSiHIBgwkDHvP2B_rk0Wx4rtlFliF2424iZZ-Ydr7W6O1_uA6clv_l0KfG9vPvE7UQnfctzkSfOk_RzVrqrvpr04rQ8CpIZ25rYF78V0OR5GzLkMLiGllU95Jv7yI_SkvXAGTvqEP7DpQLA/s1093/2600_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO43I_0X6s6PVlvqVRuIlvjUhnmUCZ8BzRxNUg3dk5oJnWSiHIBgwkDHvP2B_rk0Wx4rtlFliF2424iZZ-Ydr7W6O1_uA6clv_l0KfG9vPvE7UQnfctzkSfOk_RzVrqrvpr04rQ8CpIZ25rYF78V0OR5GzLkMLiGllU95Jv7yI_SkvXAGTvqEP7DpQLA/w468-h640/2600_1.jpg" width="468" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2600 Anniversary in 1940</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the plaque in front of the tower, the tower is also called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakk%C5%8D_ichiu" target="_blank">Hakkoh-ichiu-no-toh</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a>の塔)". The meaning of </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">is translated into "the whole world to be a house" or "all the world under one roof (from </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakk%C5%8D_ichiu" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">English Wiki</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">)", implying the whole nations and people are unified. The word was coined by former </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren-sh%C5%AB" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Buddhist Nichiren school</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> monk and scholar, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Chigaku Tanaka</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%B0%E4%B8%AD%E6%99%BA%E5%AD%B8" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">田中 智學</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">; 1861-1939) in 1903, according to the dictionary, </span><a href="https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87-115006#E3.83.96.E3.83.AA.E3.82.BF.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.E5.9B.BD.E9.9A.9B.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.20.E5.B0.8F.E9.A0.85.E7.9B.AE.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">ブリタニカ国際大百科事典-八紘一宇</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdaliqj2k1JmPQkm508SpO_cpGoYQxD6ut1koK0F7A8JeRis4BbgY9jBM6UWjKKxShyP-h20f8co4RWgHDsNU5_oKRZMeFtcMq61jFKJxt0_31NBNIDIlQvaxtscUDXq2il382ieGC45sekDnYZznC3-4uGL1iv9fX-VZaEiWhv1_MiQnG2azhdm6Vg/s1200/portraits.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="1200" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdaliqj2k1JmPQkm508SpO_cpGoYQxD6ut1koK0F7A8JeRis4BbgY9jBM6UWjKKxShyP-h20f8co4RWgHDsNU5_oKRZMeFtcMq61jFKJxt0_31NBNIDIlQvaxtscUDXq2il382ieGC45sekDnYZznC3-4uGL1iv9fX-VZaEiWhv1_MiQnG2azhdm6Vg/w640-h198/portraits.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuhito,_Prince_Chichibu" target="_blank">Prince Chichibu</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito" target="_blank">Hirohito</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" target="_blank">Chigaku Tanaka</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumimaro_Konoe" target="_blank">Fumimaro Konoe</a>. All images from Wiki.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At age 10, he enrolled in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren-sh%C5%AB" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Nichiren school</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> as an apprentice to become a monk. later on, he secularized and became a social and political activist for enlightening so-called "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichirenism" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Nichirenism</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">". Since I know very little about Buddhism, all I want to say here is former Buddhist monk coined the word from the article in Shinto Chronicles of Japan, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Nihon shoki</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, complied in A.D. 720 in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_period" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Nara period</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Soon after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> subjected indigenous powers dominating <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato_Province" target="_blank">Yamato province</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amatsukami" target="_blank">Amatsukami</a>'s rules, he made a winning statement in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashihara,_Nara" target="_blank">Kashihara</a>. That said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>兼六合以開都,掩八紘而為宇</i></b></span></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">六合 is an ancient Chinese idiom, meaning a mass/sum </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">(</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">合</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> of six (</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">六</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">) directions (up and down in the vertical and north, south, east, and west in the horizontal). Collectively, it indicates the universe.</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> and his three older brothers made up their minds to go "<i>East"</i> (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmu%27s_Eastern_Expedition" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Eastern Expedition</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">) from Miyazaki because Miyazaki is too outlying to reign the universe (entire ancient Japan) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashihara,_Nara" target="_blank">Kashihara</a> is the ideal place to be a capital due to </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">geopolitical and agricultural points of view. When he was enthroned as the first Emperor in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashihara,_Nara" target="_blank">Kashihara</a>, he proclaimed that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashihara,_Nara" target="_blank">Kashihara</a> is the capital of the universe. That is the interpretation of the former part of the sentence, 兼六合以開都.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg561hJvVzGxKgVQ1AbWE2V8XEjwENe0kjiBsa_iY9Y5bb4MVUxX1rVemUYfE4p1Vh3fHHH9LuoQ1ZEl0po26PaQojqjwufH_f8I3FT8BCcybtiL5wFZISY0qhk10v1DL4dnB7S_CGsaIqnjE7zVhFUZMz-_inNmK7sWWbrbuoigZnFT-opSrgAcleT1Q/s1200/Hakkou_Ichiu_carving_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg561hJvVzGxKgVQ1AbWE2V8XEjwENe0kjiBsa_iY9Y5bb4MVUxX1rVemUYfE4p1Vh3fHHH9LuoQ1ZEl0po26PaQojqjwufH_f8I3FT8BCcybtiL5wFZISY0qhk10v1DL4dnB7S_CGsaIqnjE7zVhFUZMz-_inNmK7sWWbrbuoigZnFT-opSrgAcleT1Q/w640-h480/Hakkou_Ichiu_carving_1.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Inscription of 八紘一宇</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the Chronicle, </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">八紘而為宇 is the original. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">八紘 means "towards the ends of eight (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">八</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) corners", indicating the entire world. Note that, as described above, the tower is called "ametsuchi no motohashira". </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">八紘 (hakkoh) is also pronounced Ametsuchi; Ame and tsuchi mean heaven and ground, respectively, again the combination of two signifies the universe. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">為宇 means "regarded (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">為</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">) as a house (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">宇</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)". Altogether, the latter part of the sentence denotes the whole world is regarded as a house. BTW, "而" means "therefore", I guess. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Since <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Tanaka</a> found </span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">八紘為宇</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> too complicated to make out, he decided to coin the word,</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, by changing "<span style="text-align: left;">為" to "一". In 1903, he submitted an article to the newspaper (国柱新聞) issued by the political organization、<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokuch%C5%ABkai" target="_blank">Kokuchuhkai</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E6%9F%B1%E4%BC%9A" target="_blank">国柱会</a>) founded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Tanaka</a>. In this article, he advocated the significance of the establishment of Japan (= <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan" target="_blank">Yamato dynasty</a>) achieved by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> as the ethical ruling of the universe but <i>not</i> by armed forces. All the existing races, nations, religions, cultures, and customs are to fulfill their own unique nature for harmony as a whole, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Tanaka</a> insisted. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnOdJqrwHXufHNKmrz16us8h2vPAWmbAA5lDPGuZCQDrUMAsn8Q1Mi97v51qP5mv-UnfSP-paUYz3cTPDNGUDpmNZIgnu5qA5s6jnJ8jl4h4Tq0w4NYtXRU7MvImgN-0nU8ko8a8Kb-FeRmQN22-H4VmlglM_RJe7s7eM-T0wDybZ7GxkLWC0X2unEA/s1580/bill%20and%20stamp_v2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1580" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnOdJqrwHXufHNKmrz16us8h2vPAWmbAA5lDPGuZCQDrUMAsn8Q1Mi97v51qP5mv-UnfSP-paUYz3cTPDNGUDpmNZIgnu5qA5s6jnJ8jl4h4Tq0w4NYtXRU7MvImgN-0nU8ko8a8Kb-FeRmQN22-H4VmlglM_RJe7s7eM-T0wDybZ7GxkLWC0X2unEA/w640-h162/bill%20and%20stamp_v2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right; Ten cent bill, 10 cent and 4 cent stamps<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, owing to Imperial Japan's conflicting circumstances with the world, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a> was highjacked as a slogan to agitate for scurrying impetus to the foundation of the </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_East_Asia_Co-Prosperity_Sphere" target="_blank">Greater East Asia Prosperity Sphere</a> (</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%9C%E5%85%B1%E6%A0%84%E5%9C%8F" target="_blank">大東亜共栄圏</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">)</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">. It was 1937 when the </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">was officially documented for the first time. On the 10th of December 1937, the first </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumimaro_Konoe" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Konoe</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Administration issued the booklet entitled "The spirit of </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">". Since then the </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> as a slogan became so rife that it appeared in 10-cent bills and commemorative stamps. Besides, </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%B4%98%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%87" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">八紘一宇</a> <span style="font-family: verdana;">appeared in the lyrics of the </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikoku_K%C5%8Dshinkyoku" target="_blank">Patriotic March</a>. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/T3HJhF_6o2A" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T3HJhF_6o2A/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">往け八紘を宇となし</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Onward, east, west, north, and south. Overland and main. Let us make the world our home</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">四海の人を導きて</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Call to fellow men. Everywhere on the four seas</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">正しき平和を打ち建てん</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Let us build the tower of just peace</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">理想は花と咲き薫る</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Let our ideal bloom forth like a flower</span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Lyrics from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikoku_K%C5%8Dshinkyoku" target="_blank">Wiki</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">It is such an irony that </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanaka_Chigaku" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Tanaka</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> as a former Buddhist monk has always been against war and insisted on banning the death penalty! Nevertheless, his prudent elucidation of Emperor Jimmu's assertion was exploited by the military and administration of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Japan Empire</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> (1867-1947), which culminated in a mournful catastrophe in the sizzling summer of 1945...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><i>To be continued...</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3385.4064474098045!2d131.4109876105643!3d31.949868473911874!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3538b0c5fc068d43%3A0xaef74488495321a!2sMiyazaki%20Heiwadai%20Park!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1670005324786!5m2!1sen!2shu" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-88998190188764085072022-11-27T22:40:00.001+01:002022-12-05T10:23:01.850+01:00Tengu Carving in Kushida Shrine<p> Tengu carving in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushida_Shrine" target="_blank">Kushida shrine</a> (<a href="https://www.hakatayamakasa.com/61866.html" target="_blank">櫛田神社</a>) in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakata-ku,_Fukuoka" target="_blank">Hakata, Fukuoka city</a>, my favorite town!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvCFU95IEDhp7smthrjgs6t2dQiy9jP08Ivz-Hh7Yir2MqnlJrg6Eax-zXksjY-z-oaK9DNHsOPvt-gi6M2WZN8ZUtHOCuzGJ_k4X9QbGgoJUoQR123ZXs4EvexNIORBXQ-7gYJKFBSES0gyIDwWBm8k0qj8eGcmRktdL9sNYttHJrG852NuNyIS4gg/s1200/Tengu_carving_3_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvCFU95IEDhp7smthrjgs6t2dQiy9jP08Ivz-Hh7Yir2MqnlJrg6Eax-zXksjY-z-oaK9DNHsOPvt-gi6M2WZN8ZUtHOCuzGJ_k4X9QbGgoJUoQR123ZXs4EvexNIORBXQ-7gYJKFBSES0gyIDwWBm8k0qj8eGcmRktdL9sNYttHJrG852NuNyIS4gg/w640-h480/Tengu_carving_3_01.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-46043148367521832172022-11-11T22:16:00.001+01:002022-11-21T10:14:47.770+01:00Haniwa Park in Miyazaki<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The story about Heiwadai Park in Miyazaki goes on.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jYB9E7YlAoLt0EB-Ofpi4hAJTtcFhxP8anjwKs1FyqTQtoVlu4GghXJ9m5EzeGWgHf1JGDCa7AJ_fnUsbfTjVlU5rrxPcHdeuHmKEzI94CebK30lG-k4FTZenQHY2uL5hNCjYnWGGWepD-9Di1IUGsoZuRGg92P3qu1X1YMnCKF1U4q05Vb_YkINeA/s1200/Haniwa_color.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jYB9E7YlAoLt0EB-Ofpi4hAJTtcFhxP8anjwKs1FyqTQtoVlu4GghXJ9m5EzeGWgHf1JGDCa7AJ_fnUsbfTjVlU5rrxPcHdeuHmKEzI94CebK30lG-k4FTZenQHY2uL5hNCjYnWGGWepD-9Di1IUGsoZuRGg92P3qu1X1YMnCKF1U4q05Vb_YkINeA/w640-h480/Haniwa_color.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I came across Chestnut tigers when rambling Haniwa Park within Heiwadai Park where around 400 replicas of ancient Japanese <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthenware" target="_blank">terracotta Earthenware</a> figures called "<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9F%B4%E8%BC%AA" target="_blank">Haniwa</a> (埴輪</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">)" were displayed. Hani/</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">埴</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and wa/</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">輪 mean</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> clay and </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">circle, respectively. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIGeEVqDsxCRR347Xg8A9qhNtoID7yCdByNkVIle7hPoLvFg-dNkdVQF-TXq9UUoQQ8F5EdHO_OyHGrZEoqr9d-ZPKeprxMYKZzEQC868Ieuz77FKH_fpX4QghtNVQ9Sj-33sdO8tiiHiqZRCw2KzPeR81tGib0Zw1vsWJMbqFIEOGVZ8w-7q8inW9w/s1200/Haniwa_2_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIGeEVqDsxCRR347Xg8A9qhNtoID7yCdByNkVIle7hPoLvFg-dNkdVQF-TXq9UUoQQ8F5EdHO_OyHGrZEoqr9d-ZPKeprxMYKZzEQC868Ieuz77FKH_fpX4QghtNVQ9Sj-33sdO8tiiHiqZRCw2KzPeR81tGib0Zw1vsWJMbqFIEOGVZ8w-7q8inW9w/w640-h426/Haniwa_2_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The history of Haniwa, which belong to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_pottery" target="_blank">Haji pottery</a> (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">土師器</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">), is considered to originate from the base-shaped potteries (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%89%B9%E6%AE%8A%E5%99%A8%E5%8F%B0%E3%83%BB%E7%89%B9%E6%AE%8A%E5%A3%BA" target="_blank">特殊器台・特殊壺</a></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">). They were made </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">in the latter </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_period" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Yayoi period</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (2nd century) and were </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">discovered in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibi_Province" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">Kibi province</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. As time went by, the shape of Haniwa turned into more complicated forms that mimicked their belongings (i.e. houses, animals, tools), habits, and spiritual beings. Along with Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan, Haniwa production flourished in the 5th century.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybmsD98xveodRqESXc2O7qKk_TyF4plTDNxt6WLGL9m_jQMMLEV-eh304ZyAR3zt3q1sj5SPNcOxLG1I_SpC1JZ9ZM5YO5R36aQzTRl3ElPxhXT_daQNkAC-DxjiFRbHpmiNRFjdFw3-a6aQqA16jxseUm6VL6s5I5InolzIBU835XPpBWw623qxEcA/s1200/Haniwa_3_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybmsD98xveodRqESXc2O7qKk_TyF4plTDNxt6WLGL9m_jQMMLEV-eh304ZyAR3zt3q1sj5SPNcOxLG1I_SpC1JZ9ZM5YO5R36aQzTRl3ElPxhXT_daQNkAC-DxjiFRbHpmiNRFjdFw3-a6aQqA16jxseUm6VL6s5I5InolzIBU835XPpBWw623qxEcA/w640-h426/Haniwa_3_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently, man-shaped Haniwa were dug up from </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://miyazaki-kofun.jp/en/properties/detail/c425c93e-607f-4b54-9afd-fdf66ba4d995" target="_blank">Mukadezuka of Nyutabaru Burial Mounds</a> (新田原古墳群第58号墳 [百足塚古墳]) and house or boat-shaped Haniwa were at <a href="https://miyazaki-kofun.jp/en/properties/detail/d8be4c6b-7218-4c9f-b1ea-13565c1293a6" target="_blank">Saitobaru Burial Mounds</a> (西都原古墳群</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">). All of them are valuable in their quality and quantity.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginrLY7phmjpRTxAlZMX4IpJJxpn_ZFD_kNdmO0UnvHw-4dZl7rkIffZVrk4gUEw4mCyP1X51AbajLHzQqYLHzHaIpc8vILfJznBuIcrUCkD2HMCs4olMw42n6TGaBFG3Wdvz60AX907UZEBIsDG8PPfQTI4jGMm_IL21ZsmKtFKoJtMsD4fAfuYngkg/s1200/Haniwa_sit_4_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginrLY7phmjpRTxAlZMX4IpJJxpn_ZFD_kNdmO0UnvHw-4dZl7rkIffZVrk4gUEw4mCyP1X51AbajLHzQqYLHzHaIpc8vILfJznBuIcrUCkD2HMCs4olMw42n6TGaBFG3Wdvz60AX907UZEBIsDG8PPfQTI4jGMm_IL21ZsmKtFKoJtMsD4fAfuYngkg/w640-h426/Haniwa_sit_4_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To my surprise, around 400 Haniwa displayed in the park were made by a passionate woman, named Masa Honbu (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%AC%E9%83%A8%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B5" target="_blank">本部マサ</a> 1907-1991) in 1963. Yes, these Haniwa were made almost 60 years ago!!! Well, to be precise, she did not make 400 Haniwa all by herself. It was her company (see YouTube below). Either way, Ms. Honbu is considered the Godmother of Haniwa production in Japan.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/nruhHlfEWxQ" width="480"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QoqqPs2696xgnEqHKfCbeo9n15LPE6Bl-U__4pBP60MFI9QjwyCeZTqUZGqiYCHSotgZbOpWnh5JDH7N26s0mvdqLjZqR2_uQCHhKwy8pVIa8EzzqpfAxMxpefp10hRGmkAND0IBZBKLHliHN4wMctsxoDcFZlx1yE12T-1nuRp25VEkqDQGW6V0Hg/s1200/Haniwa_5_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QoqqPs2696xgnEqHKfCbeo9n15LPE6Bl-U__4pBP60MFI9QjwyCeZTqUZGqiYCHSotgZbOpWnh5JDH7N26s0mvdqLjZqR2_uQCHhKwy8pVIa8EzzqpfAxMxpefp10hRGmkAND0IBZBKLHliHN4wMctsxoDcFZlx1yE12T-1nuRp25VEkqDQGW6V0Hg/w640-h426/Haniwa_5_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoenvZrIfe2B-7BlZMCb6AOWsE0DQpBYaDJ67a4dQyrmxIH1_uh3lZ7kPiGQi-k2275Hw_tMu_SbUszvEirXamayhVI0fYFNy5trqQ3BXcrZRL2BsAxAMni349rRibj25V_p2Tz7NaUOw73CVDHFMfHdDfmgiTfs7lPj7x4VgK3R9_GW1k8YyIf6y0w/s1200/Haniwa_6_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoenvZrIfe2B-7BlZMCb6AOWsE0DQpBYaDJ67a4dQyrmxIH1_uh3lZ7kPiGQi-k2275Hw_tMu_SbUszvEirXamayhVI0fYFNy5trqQ3BXcrZRL2BsAxAMni349rRibj25V_p2Tz7NaUOw73CVDHFMfHdDfmgiTfs7lPj7x4VgK3R9_GW1k8YyIf6y0w/w640-h426/Haniwa_6_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NZaBjY22YCinWmOA1NX0E9RNtyaalvuL9N6IA8Aa5KvVfG32kp_UluhuVVgvDnM2cWiUPIp333VvrEWOTLJHlktZMK1YoM8MESHCVGV0lr1dSSd7xotn3v__oZKomKx2NyQWLPaK9N3wTduxHe68bDBeQyLixRTyELDDk_3B4l_BMkS2OqKBuLO6Lg/s1200/Boat_Haniwa_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NZaBjY22YCinWmOA1NX0E9RNtyaalvuL9N6IA8Aa5KvVfG32kp_UluhuVVgvDnM2cWiUPIp333VvrEWOTLJHlktZMK1YoM8MESHCVGV0lr1dSSd7xotn3v__oZKomKx2NyQWLPaK9N3wTduxHe68bDBeQyLixRTyELDDk_3B4l_BMkS2OqKBuLO6Lg/w640-h427/Boat_Haniwa_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0Jp841UKG9-NpoKIrc9KlYfwnrL25gBwyZDqqaeCE80SR_mEMEQ_FDD-BkToHHZYoDbSMXTHgh804T20dlfC_Yiyc42flfq5mBcXdyQQ-WAm82Bguz_N94M_NzWDWYn_RIg4hQo8urosZ3KEGmOcczIBqCakOWlGvzJWDJjd6ODxYW-eVWwCkvLRaQ/s1200/Haniwa_8_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0Jp841UKG9-NpoKIrc9KlYfwnrL25gBwyZDqqaeCE80SR_mEMEQ_FDD-BkToHHZYoDbSMXTHgh804T20dlfC_Yiyc42flfq5mBcXdyQQ-WAm82Bguz_N94M_NzWDWYn_RIg4hQo8urosZ3KEGmOcczIBqCakOWlGvzJWDJjd6ODxYW-eVWwCkvLRaQ/w640-h426/Haniwa_8_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYfuff5-kgl-1wt0FKcwBvWrQXkeL9PYMYTYLOMM_4r1iNx5qq2Xad7OrY_8RfA29Y0ujPP2S8TmzrE5WnnkPi_VpVKYzIv-8rryy8jgofUv6WNxrtGhLwn7SXHPglrKgzfgUUYp1Ef2WiAb5FzzJHYI9RRAv36z9ozSM0G38yeRw-nY3zlSgVowNAQ/s1200/Haniwa_9_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYfuff5-kgl-1wt0FKcwBvWrQXkeL9PYMYTYLOMM_4r1iNx5qq2Xad7OrY_8RfA29Y0ujPP2S8TmzrE5WnnkPi_VpVKYzIv-8rryy8jgofUv6WNxrtGhLwn7SXHPglrKgzfgUUYp1Ef2WiAb5FzzJHYI9RRAv36z9ozSM0G38yeRw-nY3zlSgVowNAQ/w640-h426/Haniwa_9_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiED9ygW6tDeg6K8V2OU-cY9nMI9Ud_g21y1dcCl-gY7g6OM0eDMlIWk8i_4EvWrPGZF-BD9OEKOCrzFIyXba9eiFcQ1Cyk4_acbOhhdLpuVqqtIr0OrX_j0RDAVmCO96E4r8BL5OxjqHXpaLSrCHIFVVOBJQwTLhZmX8g0KBAbvobismreXsM1TPnQ/s1200/Haniwa_7_sepia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiED9ygW6tDeg6K8V2OU-cY9nMI9Ud_g21y1dcCl-gY7g6OM0eDMlIWk8i_4EvWrPGZF-BD9OEKOCrzFIyXba9eiFcQ1Cyk4_acbOhhdLpuVqqtIr0OrX_j0RDAVmCO96E4r8BL5OxjqHXpaLSrCHIFVVOBJQwTLhZmX8g0KBAbvobismreXsM1TPnQ/w640-h426/Haniwa_7_sepia.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3385.440340173917!2d131.4110799269531!3d31.9489487!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3538b0c595940001%3A0x6d22518b4e724fa0!2z44Gv44Gr44KP5ZyS!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1668197136799!5m2!1sen!2shu" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-62622543463907857412022-11-06T22:40:00.011+01:002022-11-21T13:32:57.210+01:00Chestnut Tiger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRUMB13tOtIj8J1Ub8q-B0AcFuXFmCrckRYsjJe4rz15QjWRg5OaDmj2fG8Ht9PTW2EDqs7ApEVddyDvLOnOoQta_c1ynZZkWNidjC0x0_dCHlBZ_oKpTIr_8SMmt36bSjK2VivNF_Kg96U2LLhrjA6E_GTmWv0I-WXRY7uqDh55AvjpzhnOyaN6qAw/s747/butterfly_yellow_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRUMB13tOtIj8J1Ub8q-B0AcFuXFmCrckRYsjJe4rz15QjWRg5OaDmj2fG8Ht9PTW2EDqs7ApEVddyDvLOnOoQta_c1ynZZkWNidjC0x0_dCHlBZ_oKpTIr_8SMmt36bSjK2VivNF_Kg96U2LLhrjA6E_GTmWv0I-WXRY7uqDh55AvjpzhnOyaN6qAw/w480-h640/butterfly_yellow_5.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parantica_sita" target="_blank">Parantica sita</a> </i><span style="text-align: justify;">(indicated with a red arrow and highlighted in a red square in the image below), belongs to an Old World genus of butterflies in the subfamily </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danainae" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Danainae</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> of family </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalidae" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Nymphalidae</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. Since those that belong to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parantica" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Parantica</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> genius are collectively called tiger, </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parantica_sita" target="_blank">Parantica sita</a></i><span style="text-align: justify;"> has a common name "Chestnut Tiger". It has nothing to do with the big cat species.. Confusing isn't it???</span></div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFVJGHLu_HsbYq4_af0-yfeE-3BILp23fXfk75KWdOlrqdF4KXNhmz_DXRxLZc1O7QtkQi0VeGqdpwWgCYB59W1bi3ApfUIIJtjFK-rX-89oUOjLVZayjpSjeaPkHkXDWOWYSuw-sQ2Kzh81XPMqwxP7Yxmumd0QndNemy8CF7macbeqDaUIIAGXPAg/s1330/butterfly_phylogenetic%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1330" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFVJGHLu_HsbYq4_af0-yfeE-3BILp23fXfk75KWdOlrqdF4KXNhmz_DXRxLZc1O7QtkQi0VeGqdpwWgCYB59W1bi3ApfUIIJtjFK-rX-89oUOjLVZayjpSjeaPkHkXDWOWYSuw-sQ2Kzh81XPMqwxP7Yxmumd0QndNemy8CF7macbeqDaUIIAGXPAg/w400-h391/butterfly_phylogenetic%20tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2009.1303" target="_blank">Image from Wahlberg et al., (2009) doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.1303</a> with modification</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where does "Chestnut" come from then? </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, it is easier to guess than a tiger. It is due to the chestnut-like brownish color in the hindwings. In the forewings, the chestnut color is displaced by b</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">lack distributing in streaks as well as the periphery of the forewing. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Japanese, it is called "<i>Asagi madara</i> (</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">浅葱斑)"</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Asagi (</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">浅葱</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) indicates faint (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Asa/</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">浅</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">) indigo, whose color can be found in the translucent parts of their wings. Madara </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(</span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">斑) denotes "<i>variegated</i>", obviously it is due to the breathtaking circular patterns found at the bottom part of the wings. It is intriguing to note that the western common name came from brown pigments in the hindwing whereas the Japanese name is given by the "Asagi" color in the variegated patterns of translucent parts. Quite contrasting point of view!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7LyFsHGyTBSRZ77fZI6sDGPKZw9vMveJbNHn0GeO0OBkGcU6GWYaeUica65YjiTH5mGJ90lE9xRvHRNjb1ZoXl1USKH3WF0faDCFFPcl5EJ9WYuDt738NTnrSZGM6PfU_gGeq0WnGfLmDGyXrfG4LEO5ArGVAv707HS9AhuwnDFltvhFsBJMJbF-8g/s720/butterfly_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7LyFsHGyTBSRZ77fZI6sDGPKZw9vMveJbNHn0GeO0OBkGcU6GWYaeUica65YjiTH5mGJ90lE9xRvHRNjb1ZoXl1USKH3WF0faDCFFPcl5EJ9WYuDt738NTnrSZGM6PfU_gGeq0WnGfLmDGyXrfG4LEO5ArGVAv707HS9AhuwnDFltvhFsBJMJbF-8g/w640-h426/butterfly_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Q: <i>What is behind the beauty of butterfly wing colors?</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">A: <i>The color is determined by the interaction between light and matter</i> (See <a href="https://www.rainforestexpeditions.com/butterfly-wings-the-rise-of-color/#:~:text=Their%20colors%20arise%20due%20to,that%20are%20composed%20of%20chitin." target="_blank">this</a> for more in detail).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2gMySlB6CFRuJLW1qblUSrm2Bnh0W9tdpr1_MMySZqH8HRvOeBaluRkPxqucOhj94mdIZ1QqRSpYKgKzc_RcHoIirJSmezHWgCR7vVXUlrWAJIGKqeMQw83htP06aRSO4QWEXcEpcZFeXy73blMjMHP9Kze3jyBViLUfcdV5csmxKTGQznxIxPaEkg/s705/blue_reflection%20by%20scale.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="705" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2gMySlB6CFRuJLW1qblUSrm2Bnh0W9tdpr1_MMySZqH8HRvOeBaluRkPxqucOhj94mdIZ1QqRSpYKgKzc_RcHoIirJSmezHWgCR7vVXUlrWAJIGKqeMQw83htP06aRSO4QWEXcEpcZFeXy73blMjMHP9Kze3jyBViLUfcdV5csmxKTGQznxIxPaEkg/w400-h301/blue_reflection%20by%20scale.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schematic representation of blue color reflection</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Probably almost nobody can get this Q and A, just like "<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan" target="_blank">Koan</a></i>" in Buddhist Zen school. Dark colors such as black, brown, red, orange, etc come from different types of pigments, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin" target="_blank">melanin</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ommochrome#:~:text=Ommochrome%20(or%20visual%20pigment)%20refers,of%20cephalopods%2C%20and%20in%20spiders." target="_blank">Ommochrome</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterin#:~:text=Pterin%20is%20a%20heterocyclic%20compound,to%20pterin%20with%20additional%20substituents." target="_blank">Pterin</a> (see <a href="https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/change/geneticsofbutterflycolors/" target="_blank">this</a> for more info) whereas particular colors such as blue appear as a consequence of a phenomenon called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_interference" target="_blank">wave interference</a>" We as human recognize blue color in butterfly's wing because the corresponding parts reflect blue color (relatively shorter wavelengths around 470±25 nm) only but absorb the rest of visible spectra. Recognizing the white color on the object means all visible spectra are reflected and the black denotes all visible spectra are absorbed. The reflection of particular spectra is determined by the nature of nanostructures on the surface of the object. This is called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_coloration" target="_blank">Structural coloration</a>". It is, indeed, prevalent in nature (i.e. iridescent colors of the peacock's tail feathers) and the industrial domain (i.e. the surface of CD). </span></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://extraabstraction.blogspot.com/2019/04/podzamecka-zahrada.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"> <img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx0SGlEpALxGuTK-jEgkRlHCfR036NYWtP9_SHQqm2QxVeYGWmF05Onein7R1ba2L7jJ1etDkjrg2vXYGaTWxjSg2NTRHuMme0sYuP58nJKCHjVvbInaPRVl1XrcKn29QlMH70lu166bmH71nuCKxlEBX4ahFkyiRILe4OgsGUNdgs-4GgDu2ugndWg/w200-h133/Peacock_3.jpeg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-macro-of-my-own.html" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlollH5IDtFFJewJ3rhwVe21f7EfYrUSY0r4na0BDKtK5V33c5JDZb-PABhsoUokbXktiY1RL5cUq7YZQCstiOIpJQqnrAT1GtCGGBEXwvCA-JIWiB7cDNfaWgQivgaee-mMoi7n1kscSH-mtpb7HfjcrDHG9lyHSGX_CefZtK_klMzpgRe5TGrmoFXg/w200-h134/W_drops.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">During evolution, mother nature evolved complex nanobiomolecule structures based on "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin" style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;" target="_blank">chitin</a><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">"- a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. I</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">t is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, whereas in insects, it is a building block constituting the exoskeletons of arthropods. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those who are curious about the fascinating colors and patterns prevailing in butterfly wings, please visit the following URLs. <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/150307-butterflies-caterpillars-colors-predators-prey-animals-science#:~:text=%22The%20nanostructure%20of%20the%20chitin,look%20at%20them%2C%20Prudic%20says." target="_blank">Why Do Butterflies Have Such Vibrant Colors and Patterns?<br /></a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.futurity.org/butterfly-wings-apterous-a-1801942/" target="_blank">How butterflies get color patterns?<br /></a></span><a href="https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/change/geneticsofbutterflycolors/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The genetics of butterfly colors<br /></span></a><a href="http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/15A.html#:~:text=The%20wings%20of%20butterflies%20and,long%20and%2050%20%C2%B5m%20wide." target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why are butterflies colored? (Interference)</span></a><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An additional reason why the butterfly is so colorful is the survival strategy. Similar to Homo sapiens, predators such as birds are inclined to avoid unnecessary colorful bugs as they tend to be poisonous. Chestnut tigers lay eggs on plants that belong to t</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">he <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepiadoideae" target="_blank">Asclepiadoideae</a> (Milkweeds), many of which accumulate poisonous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid" target="_blank">alkaloid compounds</a>. Chestnut tiger absorbs poisons only during the larval stage, yet, the poisonous molecules remain for the rest of their lives that are enough to cause predators horrible nausea and diarrhea when eaten.</span></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2g83kLTLhA92FJZtWzg_0rguifcJONS1oU9D6YWMxGYL5I2cDi_NzQvt-ka1KnWooFvrDUX8OYG3eKBxA89RgNhRKlgVnBdf3sC8io84OY1u-uK4QjMoOoHqLENe2_DoopYk06v0mdyk-E4dwg8OB3J1V50ZoeyxUDKFgs7OpfM_yqUJbiJAGiDy5A/s1280/1280px-Parantica_sita_(caterpillar).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2g83kLTLhA92FJZtWzg_0rguifcJONS1oU9D6YWMxGYL5I2cDi_NzQvt-ka1KnWooFvrDUX8OYG3eKBxA89RgNhRKlgVnBdf3sC8io84OY1u-uK4QjMoOoHqLENe2_DoopYk06v0mdyk-E4dwg8OB3J1V50ZoeyxUDKFgs7OpfM_yqUJbiJAGiDy5A/w400-h300/1280px-Parantica_sita_(caterpillar).jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larval stage (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AE%E3%83%9E%E3%83%80%E3%83%A9#/media/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Parantica_sita_(caterpillar).jpg" target="_blank">Image from Wiki</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Once in a lifetime long-distance migration</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">The Chestnut tiger is well-known for being a long-distance migrator that the ever-documented longest distance attained over 2500 km, followed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly" target="_blank">Monarch Butterfly</a> (Danaus plexippus), the world's longest-distance migrator in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidoptera" target="_blank">Lepidoptera</a> family (= butterflies and moths).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFS28R09ZHC6eEyWrB1E1c-VKsiLYzMXJQy83eneU7ZmcyYv13KeakrJiqsBUjpKN3rAm5Em_ObN5AKUKNJ4IQkEOaKQc_qol4gPiKVvqsQHsh7hpz-hogU_QFkwuA901c9oC1ZWOqu0p4xwMy699kWH8u063eB_V4tArLjAWUMBzYbO396QZLMA9rQ/s1200/butterfly_yellow_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFS28R09ZHC6eEyWrB1E1c-VKsiLYzMXJQy83eneU7ZmcyYv13KeakrJiqsBUjpKN3rAm5Em_ObN5AKUKNJ4IQkEOaKQc_qol4gPiKVvqsQHsh7hpz-hogU_QFkwuA901c9oC1ZWOqu0p4xwMy699kWH8u063eB_V4tArLjAWUMBzYbO396QZLMA9rQ/w640-h426/butterfly_yellow_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chestnut tigers are middle-sized (7-8 cm width) Asian butterflies distributed to Central-to-Eastern countries (Northern Pakistan, Kashmir, northern India, Sikkim, Tibet, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Malaya, Ussuri, Sakhalin, Indochina</span>). It is not clear why they don't settle in their birthplace, but instead, risk their lives by migrating long distances. You might think they are rich celebrities seeking a more pleasant environment to avoid sizzling summer and migrate up north or high latitude for their summer vacation and come back to their hometown in winter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, this is not the case. Their life span during the adult phase is less than 6 months!! Those who flew to the north in Spring end their lives in their summertime house and their offspring who hatched in the summer spontaneously move south as if they were taught where and how to fly (come back?) by their parents. Yet, the question still remains whether the offsprings always head for the parents' birthplace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Settling and spending their whole life in their birthplace makes a lot of sense to me, rather than taking a risk of long-distance migration and flying across the sea in some cases. How low (or high) is the success rate of flying over 2500 km??? Is their reckless long journey driven by their instinct? Is this instinct barcoded in their genome??? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpSYmDUTZpCC2HnIfZW8dhSUukWbR-bdYwgz-lXlHdSzav5KlaR3Dp0nMNc-aYUe4_XaTg1HTTVLWtIOMdbLq7o27iNu52-Wb7SkALo0ecDZsmjmFktBAGsPHW6lpIkW7dMnbRt-56z56J5EvEUPmUx_VYWdiax2AnlMGxOqvjKF90z02Q35T_2mJdw/s720/butterfly_yellow_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpSYmDUTZpCC2HnIfZW8dhSUukWbR-bdYwgz-lXlHdSzav5KlaR3Dp0nMNc-aYUe4_XaTg1HTTVLWtIOMdbLq7o27iNu52-Wb7SkALo0ecDZsmjmFktBAGsPHW6lpIkW7dMnbRt-56z56J5EvEUPmUx_VYWdiax2AnlMGxOqvjKF90z02Q35T_2mJdw/w640-h480/butterfly_yellow_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The secret behind the long-distance migration of the Chestnut Tiger is the translucent parts (asagi color) of their wings. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-009-0531-z" target="_blank">Goodwyn et al., in 2009</a> reported that the translucent parts of their wings achieved to sustain two paradoxical and conflicting traits of (1) translucency and (2) superhydrophobicity. Rainfall during the flight is a fatal incident. They somewhat acquire accurate weather forecasts as well as superb rain jackets as if it is made of Gore-Tex fabrics!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chestnut Tigers introduced in this entry were photographed in November at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiwadai_Park" target="_blank">Heiwadai Park</a> (平和台公園) in Miyazaki Prefecture. The encounter with these stunning gems was just pure luck! I was not there to shoot them. They were taking a rest and charging energy there when I happened to be there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keeping my fingers crossed for a safe journey!</div></span></div><br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3385.4149574366484!2d131.41392931408345!3d31.949637533018148!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3538b0c5fc068d43%3A0xaef74488495321a!2sMiyazaki%20Heiwadai%20Park!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1667765289019!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. Actually, this was my second time meeting them. I posted <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2011/12/weirdest-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank">the entry</a> about butterflies earlier...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2011/12/weirdest-christmas-tree.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="640" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1HeGQ9s-0-im_Nlm2Tj09ejgv9m6GZfNtrS1FISLCRCS04h5Ptk2191fQ9Uh77uHSgzZi3cukTYPpXOoYiKLkTbPNyhL-iek6sJTICWblgknMSICtwwPv7kUtX8iqjMiFPiJyl96QPNJKi8hGkb4a5QcQ0HirBSSHDYnbNLX0xwvVkpw36n8H8uqEw/s320/Butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-18537625043739841782022-06-11T09:13:00.002+02:002022-06-11T10:21:05.114+02:00Kanazawa Station<p><a href="https://www.kanazawastation.com/" target="_blank"> Kanazawa station</a> is a gateway to the capital city of around 460 K inhabitants, <a href="https://visitkanazawa.jp/home" target="_blank">Kanazawa city</a>, of <a href="https://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/foreign/en/index.html" target="_blank">Ishikawa Prefecture</a>. In 2011, the station was listed as one of the world's most beautiful stations in the US <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/" target="_blank">Travel+Leisure magazine</a>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYS9O-cNMK77ocH53U-_3g-hjuDu6G1g0GVO2ShAuoMZ3pderpmPqrEJAWuTt1mrOdBd-NdXLIMbbw-kC9hinYFv6sz8RCB8ZkWneE-E47Sr2qzlRWQkL75iqEjfckDD_2YNTha1HJq6GLwAkufVl8QpBlxNJeXYF6wThuLdXvCVbVQvJgGHcTWO6aw/s1200/Kanazawa_Station_2_formatted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYS9O-cNMK77ocH53U-_3g-hjuDu6G1g0GVO2ShAuoMZ3pderpmPqrEJAWuTt1mrOdBd-NdXLIMbbw-kC9hinYFv6sz8RCB8ZkWneE-E47Sr2qzlRWQkL75iqEjfckDD_2YNTha1HJq6GLwAkufVl8QpBlxNJeXYF6wThuLdXvCVbVQvJgGHcTWO6aw/w640-h426/Kanazawa_Station_2_formatted.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Tsuzumimon gate (鼓門), located at the East entrance of the station, was inspired by the Tsuzumi (= drum/鼓) of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C5%8Dgaku" target="_blank">Noh</a> (能), This eye-catching architecture was founded in 2005 and became a symbol of the station. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWvgkgvz7DCyKkhbSDCXvnS6CekjFPPiC9hWsNZm4dDVRykND7ZTGivoWSDn7pWtyyi4LLkgTghDMkJSU1JgVNt3FAevWUXsapSJ5HJ4Jcd5mS2fTnvmf1nkA_z8JdqNECe__iyDUd8vCNnFh8eS2ilMj4yPNXyYcnazHrqtmKNf4phJ54kHmc7DN_A/s1200/Kanazawa_Station_1_formatted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWvgkgvz7DCyKkhbSDCXvnS6CekjFPPiC9hWsNZm4dDVRykND7ZTGivoWSDn7pWtyyi4LLkgTghDMkJSU1JgVNt3FAevWUXsapSJ5HJ4Jcd5mS2fTnvmf1nkA_z8JdqNECe__iyDUd8vCNnFh8eS2ilMj4yPNXyYcnazHrqtmKNf4phJ54kHmc7DN_A/w640-h426/Kanazawa_Station_1_formatted.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>In the same year, the dome-shaped roof made of glass that covers the underground square (called motenashi-dome/もてなしドーム) was inaugurated. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HQbdhdDVqbIN7_r5wEzRS9cTiQti_3i3-OWEjj40wcj5-pnHtgStsKE7xdopty8Nz9sNssMTR684woCOmFiSkGBNCUfe42cUgik344F2MmUyA5datIlYlqiOGyx19bSHY0RKbdLTU92WwU4ftBwTfwsOVczsJmkhqQetZ4Svc9nNFrmuU3a3SU0myw/s1200/K_st_3_motenashi_formatted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HQbdhdDVqbIN7_r5wEzRS9cTiQti_3i3-OWEjj40wcj5-pnHtgStsKE7xdopty8Nz9sNssMTR684woCOmFiSkGBNCUfe42cUgik344F2MmUyA5datIlYlqiOGyx19bSHY0RKbdLTU92WwU4ftBwTfwsOVczsJmkhqQetZ4Svc9nNFrmuU3a3SU0myw/w640-h480/K_st_3_motenashi_formatted.jpg" width="720" /></a></div><br /><p>Have a wonderful weekend.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3204.0070227555707!2d136.6459773501767!3d36.57804858777602!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x5ff8334203bb8605%3A0x5d5df6011ebba7ea!2sKANAZAWA%20STATION!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sjp!4v1654931463690!5m2!1sen!2sjp" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-50911016397732191882021-10-08T16:05:00.000+02:002021-10-08T16:05:35.747+02:00Suitengu<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suiteng%C5%AB_(Tokyo)" target="_blank">Suitengu</a> (<a href="http://www.suitengu.or.jp/" target="_blank">水天宮</a>) in Tokyo represents characteristics discerned in most of the shrines in Tokyo. Due to its sky-high value in the price of real estate in metropolis Tokyo, the precinct of shrines there is quite <i>compact</i>. </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">I also noticed that they are fairly neat, </span></span>well-maintained,<span face="verdana, sans-serif"> and the buildings are modern. They also provide more than one </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuin" target="_blank">goshuin</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif">/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%B1%E5%8D%B0_(%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE%E4%BB%8F%E9%96%A3)" target="_blank">御</a><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%B1%E5%8D%B0_(%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE%E4%BB%8F%E9%96%A3)" target="_blank">朱印</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> (= a seal stamp) that is pricier than those in rural shrines. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSn9jZLZoJ8Z729PQLENsv81ZLZMc2wJDybPrmkzg72lctqNhhyTEtTb2fn7IWf1PXOz8kMCNv2J4-FVU3ZOdslEpjljSaMxyQNV1law633O7SPx3fxSaw5eQgKM2JaiPqA-xOM0p0HNm/s1600/Entrance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSn9jZLZoJ8Z729PQLENsv81ZLZMc2wJDybPrmkzg72lctqNhhyTEtTb2fn7IWf1PXOz8kMCNv2J4-FVU3ZOdslEpjljSaMxyQNV1law633O7SPx3fxSaw5eQgKM2JaiPqA-xOM0p0HNm/s1640/Entrance.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif">Needless to say, the shrine is surrounded by tall buildings. </span></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecNyzQBLDgTchsuoy58ybMwdjkk5AhUzvIa0JY6XNwkPowED1qHPSNDDhAxX0SmAlypqQGObEn60HcXEAp4P_sPN43pukDvgesSr24pLDxxxQYXLa5chYsBTAqRr3P2LZf7G8MNSrmWZq/s1600/Suitengu_sideview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecNyzQBLDgTchsuoy58ybMwdjkk5AhUzvIa0JY6XNwkPowED1qHPSNDDhAxX0SmAlypqQGObEn60HcXEAp4P_sPN43pukDvgesSr24pLDxxxQYXLa5chYsBTAqRr3P2LZf7G8MNSrmWZq/s1640/Suitengu_sideview.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suiteng%C5%AB_(Tokyo)" target="_blank">Suitengu</a> shrine is located adjacent to the Tokyo metro <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suiteng%C5%ABmae_Station" target="_blank">Suitengu-mae station</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metro_Hanz%C5%8Dmon_Line" target="_blank">Hanzohmon line</a>. Obviously, the metro station is named after the shrine. </span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgI9K8f7nXZRbvk60tdu6DvSGg3J7SfSHrZK_LCx31j5Yx_H5CNwpfMrfeD1vsKTFH7UK-_M7UsmIDBT35ESIhaaIq1w-fEL3wS4YuXlPYxf8Lxjn5cYNUB0iBFIIcwmavx8qnlnVQ32r/s1600/Suitengu_building.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgI9K8f7nXZRbvk60tdu6DvSGg3J7SfSHrZK_LCx31j5Yx_H5CNwpfMrfeD1vsKTFH7UK-_M7UsmIDBT35ESIhaaIq1w-fEL3wS4YuXlPYxf8Lxjn5cYNUB0iBFIIcwmavx8qnlnVQ32r/s1640/Suitengu_building.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Entrance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">The history of Suitengu dated from 1818 when </span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Yorinori Arima (</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%89%E9%A6%AC%E9%A0%BC%E5%BE%B3" target="_blank">有馬頼徳</a></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">), t</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">he 9th Lord in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurume_Domain" target="_blank">Kurume domain</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B9%85%E7%95%99%E7%B1%B3%E8%97%A9" target="_blank">久留米藩</a></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">),</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> transferred the deity spirits from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurume_Suiteng%C5%AB" target="_blank">Kurume Suitengu</a> (<a href="http://suitengu.net/" target="_blank">水天宮</a>), a well-known headquarter of </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">shrines called Suitengu. Suitengu shrines have been worshipped by those wishing for conceiving a child, safe delivery, safe sailing and prosperous fish industries that are related to water in general. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmxFGEtQQ_68noL_uFfu0-siTbytu3RneRIs2T8EAwjXmg2d142B9h60O3XnmDFa6kuSeZ0ckfxfP69rwUM5jItFiv06Es8kNLRt2LzcjuFmfM7z2d8nUp3hfUiP5AifCZk2AFz-E_IvA/s1600/Arima_doll_blue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmxFGEtQQ_68noL_uFfu0-siTbytu3RneRIs2T8EAwjXmg2d142B9h60O3XnmDFa6kuSeZ0ckfxfP69rwUM5jItFiv06Es8kNLRt2LzcjuFmfM7z2d8nUp3hfUiP5AifCZk2AFz-E_IvA/s1640/Arima_doll_blue.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">A wooden statue of the lord Arima?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">To celebrate its 200 year anniversary, the current building was built by installing the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_base_isolation" target="_blank">base isolation system</a>, the state-of-the-art device to protect a building against earthquake. </span></span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M2BWJxCR6zEOacMuBqxZJaseL6aySTAqVKjPSZ7Z1JLjAZkRYAvgUVJDI9qXef02nEiCgyTcVQPYw9Em7XqAkXcwIoy9P4cPJLNSW_wXERFh_Qw4WNA4YaWrr-b3XS8OtZyk2q1ZBlNU/s1600/Suitengu_base_isolation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1488" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M2BWJxCR6zEOacMuBqxZJaseL6aySTAqVKjPSZ7Z1JLjAZkRYAvgUVJDI9qXef02nEiCgyTcVQPYw9Em7XqAkXcwIoy9P4cPJLNSW_wXERFh_Qw4WNA4YaWrr-b3XS8OtZyk2q1ZBlNU/s320/Suitengu_base_isolation.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Image from <a href="http://www.suitengu.or.jp/shisetsu/" target="_blank">Suitengu official site</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Suitengu literally means the palace (gu/宮) of "Suiten (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B0%B4%E5%A4%A9" target="_blank">水天</a>)". Suiten is a term found in Buddhism, depicting the deity of water (水) </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">who is one of twelve <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_(Buddhism)" target="_blank">Deva</a>s (</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">supernatural beings</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">). </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Suiten (note it's a Japanese pronunciation) corresponds to </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna" target="_blank">Varuna</a> in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas" target="_blank">Vedic</a> deity</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">. He (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna" target="_blank">Varuna</a> is a male deity) was initially associated with the sky, later on also with the seas as well as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%B9%9Ata" target="_blank">Ṛta</a> (justice) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satya" target="_blank">Satya</a> (truth). To make the story more complicated, he is also found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism" target="_blank">Hinduism</a>. He is also mentioned in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language" target="_blank">Tamil grammar</a> work <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolk%C4%81ppiyam" target="_blank">Tolkāppiyam</a> (ancient poem), as the god of sea and rain. At last, he is also found in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism" target="_blank">Jainism</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism" target="_blank">Hinduism</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism" target="_blank">Jainism</a> are utterly beyond my comprehension, hence I would briefly describe him based on Buddhism in Japan, which is again quite unfamiliar to me...</span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggo07rx6a5O78O_3Bw9KddiGfuL4iIERtgMfneEseLUDxFNVyJmhH0COuTr0Y9nr_KKAhyE8PNu_LSIWaqsMV3XhXh2n4WoXr_tDHgMr_0CGB6mUjt31zYozeL7PI4nOvS_wgROqgVTXH/s1600/400px-Sui_Ten_Varna_TOJI12TEN.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggo07rx6a5O78O_3Bw9KddiGfuL4iIERtgMfneEseLUDxFNVyJmhH0COuTr0Y9nr_KKAhyE8PNu_LSIWaqsMV3XhXh2n4WoXr_tDHgMr_0CGB6mUjt31zYozeL7PI4nOvS_wgROqgVTXH/s320/400px-Sui_Ten_Varna_TOJI12TEN.jpeg" width="257" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Image of Suiten from <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B0%B4%E5%A4%A9" target="_blank">Wiki</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">In Buddhism, t</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">he <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li_Canon" target="_blank">Pali Canon</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada" target="_blank">Theravada school</a>, the oldest extant school, recognizes Varuṇa as a king of the devas, who </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">is considered to live in the west (called Aparagodānīyadvīpa) of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meru_(Buddhism)" target="_blank">Mt. Meru</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A0%88%E5%BC%A5%E5%B1%B1" target="_blank">須弥山</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif">) as a guardian of the West.</span></span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLZsnAYAkLUxO7SspIuyuwEaQlKfjuV_ccYAWaHwdjfxNGOn-2KkOsIYXpKwcZccg7VcJJH7QKIy-7RI-z0F2esm2_z_F7FIU1Pu18taKMYQpu_Dq6SkS_tX2z_Xk9whg2p3DRSpT9haw/s1600/Shumisen-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLZsnAYAkLUxO7SspIuyuwEaQlKfjuV_ccYAWaHwdjfxNGOn-2KkOsIYXpKwcZccg7VcJJH7QKIy-7RI-z0F2esm2_z_F7FIU1Pu18taKMYQpu_Dq6SkS_tX2z_Xk9whg2p3DRSpT9haw/s640/Shumisen-2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">In the vista of the universe of Buddhism, Varuna lives in Aparagodānīyadvīpa, whereas humans reside in the south, Jambudvīpa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Buddhism was introduced into Japan (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%8F%E6%95%99%E5%85%AC%E4%BC%9D" target="_blank">仏教伝来</a>) in the 6th century and was syncretized with local animism, Shinto. During <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinbutsu-sh%C5%ABg%C5%8D" target="_blank">syncretization</a> (shinbutsu shuhgo/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E4%BB%8F%E7%BF%92%E5%90%88" target="_blank">神仏習合</a>), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuna" target="_blank">Varuna</a> was assigned to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E4%B9%8B%E5%BE%A1%E4%B8%AD%E4%B8%BB%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">アメノミナカヌシ</a>), the first Shinto deity to appear in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" target="_blank">Kojiki</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitorigami" target="_blank">hitorigami</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8B%AC%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">ヒトリガミ</a>), a genderless deity being recognized as "an absolute or the supreme" god. Despite the fact that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> is at the highest rank among myriads of Shinto deities, no attainments of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> were described in Japanese mythologies. In Engishiki Jinmeicho (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BB%B6%E5%96%9C%E5%BC%8F%E7%A5%9E%E5%90%8D%E5%B8%B3" target="_blank">延喜式神名帳</a>) that lists all the then-existed shrines in the 10th Century (compiled in A.D. 903), there was <i>not</i> a single shrine enshrining <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a>. Shrines worshipping </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> are classified into three types.</span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif">(A) Shrines or former temples based on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My%C5%8Dken" target="_blank">Myohken</a> worshipping (妙見信仰)- Buddhism</span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif">(B) Shrines that are founded by the Imperial rescript issued under the name of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Meiji" target="_blank">Emperor Meiji</a> - such as <a href="http://www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank">Tokyo Daijingu</a> (</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">東京大神宮</a></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">) and Yohashira Jinja (</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.go.tvm.ne.jp/~yohasira/" target="_blank">四柱神社</a></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">). </span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif">(C) Suitengu shrines.</span><br />
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZu906e2KooecaB1IcnrE23HKnkTze5qWUiQ8kBFpGc-jP006wc7uEyTD7spkHm0lEvPMsHjPtNjcJg17JL5lCbUcN0xVL53qo14sYvyfpx4sN8zGATicOdzJysqfNoGc3_Xg87ttC2ksj/s1600/Haiden_Hall_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZu906e2KooecaB1IcnrE23HKnkTze5qWUiQ8kBFpGc-jP006wc7uEyTD7spkHm0lEvPMsHjPtNjcJg17JL5lCbUcN0xVL53qo14sYvyfpx4sN8zGATicOdzJysqfNoGc3_Xg87ttC2ksj/s1640/Haiden_Hall_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">In almost all cases described above, `````<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> was either introduced as a new enshrined deity or the supplanter uprooting Buddhist guardian as a consequence of the Acts promulgated from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Meiji_Japan" target="_blank">Meiji government</a> in 1868, pursuing </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">sequestering Shinto from Buddhist practices, called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinbutsu_bunri" target="_blank">Shinbutsu bunri</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E4%BB%8F%E5%88%86%E9%9B%A2" target="_blank">神仏分離</a>)".</span> As denoted in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_mythology" target="_blank">Japanese mythologies</a>, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> being a supreme deity, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenominakanushi" target="_blank">Amenominakanushi</a> has not been worshipped until the Meiji restoration. <i>Very </i>mysterious deity, isn't it?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">P.S. All photos were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.<br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">`</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="300" loading="lazy" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3240.7295379220222!2d139.78282735019462!3d35.68366103735018!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x6018894571ce35e9%3A0x42a794f3696164d8!2sSuitengu%20Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1633701724979!5m2!1sen!2shu" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div></span>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<br />Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-3072774355110335032020-02-08T17:20:00.002+01:002023-02-11T13:33:27.538+01:00Kashima Jingu Part Two<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">This is a part two entry of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a>. For those who missed the first entry, please visit <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2020/01/kashima-jingu-part-one.html" target="_blank">this</a>.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQTgXRuMQl7rSB1_XYUaax2uP99LUE5MG4jdM5adpJKO_ZY83AROrIbG8INOCCO9KRXQ20JMp-ARd7C_lYoLmfYkG-PDZXfpr-oAevtft8j3ci5DhWyot_BC3GUdTZpU8DNGHIq6YlsoF/s1600/Shide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQTgXRuMQl7rSB1_XYUaax2uP99LUE5MG4jdM5adpJKO_ZY83AROrIbG8INOCCO9KRXQ20JMp-ARd7C_lYoLmfYkG-PDZXfpr-oAevtft8j3ci5DhWyot_BC3GUdTZpU8DNGHIq6YlsoF/s1640/Shide.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The enshrined deity of Kashima Jingu and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">Nakatomi clan</a></span></b></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></b></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2020/01/kashima-jingu-part-one.html" target="_blank">part one entry</a>, I described that "</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1%E3%83%9F%E3%82%AB%E3%83%85%E3%83%81" target="_blank">タケミカヅチ</a>)</span> is commonly regarded as</i></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i> the enshrined deity of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a></i>.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">" whereas Kashima Jingu, of course, officially declares that the enshrined chief deity is Takemik</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">azuchi. It is, however, not crystal clear because <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a> was not depicted in two Japan chronicles (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" target="_blank">Kojiki</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" target="_blank">Nihon Shoki</a>). </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">On the other hand, in Hitachi Fudoki (= Chronography in Hitachi province/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B8%B8%E9%99%B8%E5%9B%BD%E9%A2%A8%E5%9C%9F%E8%A8%98" target="_blank">常陸国風土記</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) compiled in A.D. 713, the name of the enshrined deity of Kashima Jingu is outlined "Kashima no Amano Oh</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">kami (香島の天の大神= Eminent deity of Kashima)", who descended from the heaven (= territory reigned by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takamagahara" target="_blank">Takamagahara</a>) earlier than the grandson of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8B%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AE" target="_blank">ニニギ</a>), did (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenson_k%C5%8Drin" target="_blank">tenson kohrin</a>/天孫降臨). After all, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Hitachi Fudoki did not annotate "</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Kashima no Amano Oh</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">kami" to be identical to Takemikazuchi.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The first official articles describing the Takemikazuchi being the enshrined deity of Kashima Jingu are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogo_Sh%C5%ABi" target="_blank">Kogo Shui</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8F%A4%E8%AA%9E%E6%8B%BE%E9%81%BA" target="_blank">古語拾遺</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) compiled in A.D. 807 and Kasugasai <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norito" target="_blank">norito</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">春日祭<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9D%E8%A9%9E" target="_blank">祝詞</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engishiki" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Engishiki</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">-jinmeicho</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">(</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BB%B6%E5%96%9C%E5%BC%8F%E7%A5%9E%E5%90%8D%E5%B8%B3" target="_blank">延喜式神名帳</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">). </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Kasugasai <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norito" target="_blank">norito</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">春日祭<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9D%E8%A9%9E" target="_blank">祝詞</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) was said to be compiled when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasuga-taisha" target="_blank">Kasuga taisha</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/" target="_blank">春日大社</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) was founded in</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">A.D. 768 (older than </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogo_Sh%C5%ABi" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kogo Shui</a>)<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">. I will elaborate on it below.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">How come Takemikazuchi has become an official enshrined chief deity of Kashima Jingu???</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The rise of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">Nakatomi clan</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E8%87%A3%E6%B0%8F" target="_blank">中臣氏</a>) probably could account for this. Let me briefly review who <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">Nakatomi clan</a> was. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Along with Inbe clan (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BF%8C%E9%83%A8%E6%B0%8F" target="_blank">忌部氏</a>), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">Nakatomi clan</a> was responsible for conducting the national rites. The clan claims themselves to be the descendants of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" target="_blank">Amenokoyane</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%85%90%E5%B1%8B%E5%91%BD" target="_blank">アメノコヤネ</a>), a deity who was the first to send "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norito" target="_blank">norito</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9D%E8%A9%9E" target="_blank">祝詞</a>)" when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Ameterasu</a> hid herself away behind Amano Iwato (Heavenly door m</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ade of rock). F</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">or </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">those who are interested in this incident, please visit <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2018/09/amanoyasugawara-in-takachiho.html" target="_blank">Amanoyasugawara entry</a>. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It is also presumed that </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" target="_blank">Amenokoyane</a> is the offspring of Takemikazuchi because his alternative name, Amatariwake (天足別命), is identical to that of Takemikazuchi's son. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Sujin" target="_blank">Emperor Sujin</a>'s reign (B.C. 97- B.C 30), Kashima deity bestowed the divine message to Kamukikikatsu Ohnakatomi (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">大中臣神聞勝命</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">), who soon advocated Emperor Sujin to donate Kashima Jingu armed weapons. The additional divine message was delivered to Ominosayama Nakatomi (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">中臣臣狭山命) during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Keik%C5%8D" target="_blank">Emperor Keikoh</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%99%AF%E8%A1%8C%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" target="_blank">景行天皇</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)'s reign (A.D. 71-130), who donated Kashima Jingu three ships. The Mifune festival (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%B3%B6%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE#%E5%BC%8F%E5%B9%B4%E7%A5%AD" target="_blank">御船祭</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) that still takes place every 12 years (on the 2nd of September) even in the 21st century delineates the process of welcoming the messengers sent from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Keik%C5%8D" target="_blank">Emperor Keikoh</a>.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV4WTtiKe-7AEo-9Z69UIKB0zqECVGCfa19QOqUgJCzI5LjL2yDETWB8WwM8ElT-eD4QGdCaFVLq_z5y6dAV6DBPtcgz7pmhAOncMoEmF3bO-YK8gKovOsk9S1o9R-p5FjI5fEj1IAG8Z/s1600/Kamatari%25EF%25BC%25BFshrine_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipV4WTtiKe-7AEo-9Z69UIKB0zqECVGCfa19QOqUgJCzI5LjL2yDETWB8WwM8ElT-eD4QGdCaFVLq_z5y6dAV6DBPtcgz7pmhAOncMoEmF3bO-YK8gKovOsk9S1o9R-p5FjI5fEj1IAG8Z/s1640/Kamatari%25EF%25BC%25BFshrine_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kamatari shrine located in the middle of the residential area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In the 7th century when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Kamatari" target="_blank">Kamatari Nakatomi</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E9%8E%8C%E8%B6%B3" target="_blank">中臣鎌足</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) who grabbed political influence after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taika_Reform" target="_blank">Taika reform</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E5%8C%96%E3%81%AE%E6%94%B9%E6%96%B0" target="_blank">大化の改新</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) at 645, a new family name, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_clan" target="_blank">Fujiwara</a> (the most distinguished clan in ancient Japan), was granted </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">from the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Tenji" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Emperor Tenji</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">to Kamatari </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">when he passed away in A. D. 669. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It should be noted that the project of compiling Japan </span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">chroni</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">cles </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">(</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kojiki</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Nihon Shoki</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) was initiated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Tenmu" target="_blank">Emperor Tenmu</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E6%AD%A6%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" target="_blank">天武天皇</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)'s order.</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Kamatari" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kamatari</a>'s <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">son, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Fuhito" target="_blank">Fuhito Fujiwara</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E4%B8%8D%E6%AF%94%E7%AD%89" target="_blank">藤原不比等</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">), had a great influence upon the project because his oldest daughter, Miyako Fujiwara (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E5%AE%AE%E5%AD%90" target="_blank">藤原宮子</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)</span></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">, is the wife (= Empress) of Emperor Tenmu. She delivered a son, who later on became the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Sh%C5%8Dmu" target="_blank">Emperor Shohmu</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%81%96%E6%AD%A6%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" target="_blank">聖武天皇</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">). The meaning of "Fuhito" is "incomparative=invincible! Yeah, his first name explicates his personality and the power he'd grasped. The m</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ore political power </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Fujiwara clan won</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">, the </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">higher </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">divinity Kashima Jingu rose. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Well, to be more precise, Fuhito was allegedly able to implement to bestow Takemikazuchi a more prestige in chronicles. History is recorded based on the winner's point of view, you know. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILf-1thwXBw5QauSVBTNBT-ZFsRJnCTD0yYOWTixDWtuH5_JmkCjebWqxrc-rlOqKugTYArSrtdxvQ-r2ULp1WaL8hZEDrzhHrplgi0Uoq1O-GB6G-sxFJPRNRXFBlX2wUeZ2GCVwokWi/s1600/Kamatari%25EF%25BC%25BFshrine_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILf-1thwXBw5QauSVBTNBT-ZFsRJnCTD0yYOWTixDWtuH5_JmkCjebWqxrc-rlOqKugTYArSrtdxvQ-r2ULp1WaL8hZEDrzhHrplgi0Uoq1O-GB6G-sxFJPRNRXFBlX2wUeZ2GCVwokWi/s1640/Kamatari%25EF%25BC%25BFshrine_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kamatari shrine enshrining Kamatari Nakatomi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">I repeat. Kashima Jingu was the one out of only three shines called "Jingu". Even in Fuhito's era, Kashima Jingu was an ancient, distinguished and </span></span></b></span></span><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">honored shrine for enshrined deity's military attainments of conquering the new territories (northern part of Japan)</span></span></b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">. It is not surprising to suspect that Fuhito made some <i>cosmetic </i>changes in official chronicles that Fujiwara clan was descendent from Amenokoyane, who is <i>presumed</i> to be a son of Takemikazuchi. </span></span></b></span></span><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">K</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">amatari was rumored to be originated from Hitachi province (sort of hearsay evidence though). In a local <i>newspaper</i> in Hitachi Province (Hitachi fudoki <i>issued</i> in A.D. 713) in which Fuhito had no influence on editing,</span></span></b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> the </span><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;">chief deity of the prestigious Kashima Jingu was <i>not</i> Takemikazuchi but </span></span></b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">"Kashima no Amano Oh</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">kami (Eminent deity of Kashima)".</span><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 400;"> In 768, </span></span></b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Kasugasai <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norito" target="_blank">norito</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">春日祭<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9D%E8%A9%9E" target="_blank">祝詞</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) was released from Kasuga shrine that is owned by Fujiwara clan, stating that Takemikazuchi was the enshrined chief deity of Kashima Jingu. It took them 53 years to identify Takemikazuchi the ideal deity enshrined in Kashima Jingu. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">That way, the formula "</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Kashima no Amano Oh</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">kami=Takemikazuchi" was established.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "times";"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /><b>From Isle of redolence (香島) to the isle of deer </b></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">(鹿島)</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold;">- Kashima</span></span></span></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b style="font-family: Times;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></b></span></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In 768, Fujiwara clan founded <span id="goog_320832565"></span><a href="http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">Kasuga Taisha</a> (<a href="http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/index.html" target="_blank">春日大社</a></span>)<span id="goog_320832566"></span> in Nara by carrying the spirit of Takemikazuchi on white deer's back. Besides, Futsunushi, Amenokoyane and Himegami (Koyane's wife) were enshrined there, too. The four deities are c</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ollectively</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">called "Kasuga deity (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%A5%E6%97%A5%E7%A5%9E" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">春日神</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)"</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzB9Ym1QVJzod8nv-70k3duvH3V62M4yxVjm0qIDbxYkf8e-C9x9p7f_rdum9uronZP_lExqhRQhdbWAWQp9fzMZsBTapY2D2LwP0fr3iAcJt9EfatjHXxz5N87ggFFYgmx__WK4pjHsP/s1600/Kasuga_Deities_Departing_from_Kashima_Shrine_%2528Kasuga_Taisha%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="161" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzB9Ym1QVJzod8nv-70k3duvH3V62M4yxVjm0qIDbxYkf8e-C9x9p7f_rdum9uronZP_lExqhRQhdbWAWQp9fzMZsBTapY2D2LwP0fr3iAcJt9EfatjHXxz5N87ggFFYgmx__WK4pjHsP/s320/Kasuga_Deities_Departing_from_Kashima_Shrine_%2528Kasuga_Taisha%2529.jpg" width="107" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%B3%B6%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE#/media/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Kasuga_Deities_Departing_from_Kashima_Shrine_(Kasuga_Taisha).jpg" target="_blank">Wiki</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">That feat took almost a year and the offsprings of the holy white deer flourished. Yes, deer you can meet, touch and give snacks at Nara park originated from Kashima. Unlike </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">their cousins in Nara, deer settling in Kashima Jingu</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> are not free to roam around. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Around 30 deer are tamed in the garden.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn9sRiVPEz-TKDKAN-gNuw7Sseopcf6SPTz6e_a3CUd95sEewmGRSxLBR08XBQg1t0TsGXfAIHkB8s9oeosanF2ueX8wX9TM_QwVQmUYJ0K8U_9UUxGiNN1MTqSbxxr2AzKt2A9B8gGZS/s1600/Bambi.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn9sRiVPEz-TKDKAN-gNuw7Sseopcf6SPTz6e_a3CUd95sEewmGRSxLBR08XBQg1t0TsGXfAIHkB8s9oeosanF2ueX8wX9TM_QwVQmUYJ0K8U_9UUxGiNN1MTqSbxxr2AzKt2A9B8gGZS/s1640/Bambi.jpg" width="720" /></a></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">After the success of the long journey of transferring the spirit of Takemikazuchi, deer is considered to be a holy animal (subordinate to the high-ranking divine spirits) in Kashima Jingu. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In the 5th century, Kashima was originally described in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji" target="_blank">Kanji</a> as "</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">香島 (Isle of redolence)</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">". Later on, the kanji was changed to 鹿島 (isle of deer).</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrvdloIFDOXGkK6KXYCkDeAfk4UpmrDCj2Cb50Jocy3-hqIQYAZXYk2CSvXMNMDTzI8BQCM5NxB9ddGK8vrSwdZ_dicK68K3zcZvbilsjacg9O8cn5EWTc1uH1-RfeELCVEmLoRY04hve/s1600/Deer_statues.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrvdloIFDOXGkK6KXYCkDeAfk4UpmrDCj2Cb50Jocy3-hqIQYAZXYk2CSvXMNMDTzI8BQCM5NxB9ddGK8vrSwdZ_dicK68K3zcZvbilsjacg9O8cn5EWTc1uH1-RfeELCVEmLoRY04hve/s1640/Deer_statues.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The statue of deer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>Emperor Jimmu and Futsumitama sword</b></span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">As described in part <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2020/01/kashima-jingu-part-one.html" target="_blank">one entry</a>, Takemikazuchi appears in Japan chronicles three times. When</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> made up his mind leaving Himuka (current Miyazaki Prefecture) and headed for the eastern part of Japan, Nara, to conquer (called "Jimmu Tohsei (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E6%AD%A6%E6%9D%B1%E5%BE%81" target="_blank">神武東征</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)"), his troops faced big trouble after trouble. When they were stuck at <a href="http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english/" target="_blank">Yoshino</a> (southern part of Nara prefecture), Takemikazuchi gave Takakuraji (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E5%80%89%E4%B8%8B" target="_blank">高倉下</a>) a command to deliver </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">a holy sword called "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusanagi" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futsumitama</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%8F%A2%E9%9B%B2%E5%89%A3" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">フツミタマ</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)" to</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> Jimmu, which resulted in the triumph of Jimmu's tro</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ops. </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Out of Emperor Jimmu's gratitude to the support from Takemikazuchi, Kashima Jingu was founded on the first year of Jimmu's reign (B.C. 660). </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusanagi" target="_blank">Futsumitama</a>, originally owned by Takemikazuchi, is dedicated at <a href="http://www.isonokami.jp/english.html" target="_blank">Isonokami Jingu</a> (<a href="http://www.isonokami.jp/shinwa/shinwa1.html" target="_blank">石上神宮</a>). It was never returned to Kashima Jingu after all. </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A0lJ5ugaJZjyyozT1rE_IdqClj-X6AtL0tX5SfMvJ0fj3sx8LXTGZAh5fZAr9Z7NwcnZ455igL-KOvTK75lV58q46KZAs_8LW-jQxsgQu4N0nbOnbwkmMoitOuyczv4p5iCGVhUDH-fS/s1600/img-116170051-0001-e1421395696384.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="1015" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A0lJ5ugaJZjyyozT1rE_IdqClj-X6AtL0tX5SfMvJ0fj3sx8LXTGZAh5fZAr9Z7NwcnZ455igL-KOvTK75lV58q46KZAs_8LW-jQxsgQu4N0nbOnbwkmMoitOuyczv4p5iCGVhUDH-fS/s400/img-116170051-0001-e1421395696384.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://kashimashi.info/bunkazai/?page_id=426" target="_blank">Kashima digital museum</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">As an alternative, the gigantic 2.71 meter-long </span>holy blade named "Futsunomitamano tsurugi (韴霊剣)", registered as National treasure, used to be preserved in the main hall of Kashima Jingu. In fact, Kashima Jingu was the place to worship a holy sword.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sEG0rom-T-_CrIDPfbFM0clwoxZgDByha3mtwKEw_QiCNyN_Jd-dr0B-A9LiasdOOVls-aXrFLZHhChvYaQPH4H0jhrNRr29jK2TqHdEqTz3hNI6dXbpLylvpZCdP8gbXiP9wjFjOKZW/s1600/Inside_MainHall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="476" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sEG0rom-T-_CrIDPfbFM0clwoxZgDByha3mtwKEw_QiCNyN_Jd-dr0B-A9LiasdOOVls-aXrFLZHhChvYaQPH4H0jhrNRr29jK2TqHdEqTz3hNI6dXbpLylvpZCdP8gbXiP9wjFjOKZW/s320/Inside_MainHall.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The layout of the main hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><b>Toward where does the deity look?</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ7nf7qnDrnBHRDLt7P59RbF6HT57gT-TtIs0jj2jpou2G6c696qMUzgSP3QPB_Sw-HOl4C9nDXIhRkdckbtUXB59Z2XcxU_59mr__WH82FZnjAlZKnSVTY2LJrDM-ZEevsWuwQY1nmHR/s1600/Kashima_map_v3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQ7nf7qnDrnBHRDLt7P59RbF6HT57gT-TtIs0jj2jpou2G6c696qMUzgSP3QPB_Sw-HOl4C9nDXIhRkdckbtUXB59Z2XcxU_59mr__WH82FZnjAlZKnSVTY2LJrDM-ZEevsWuwQY1nmHR/s640/Kashima_map_v3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Once again let's ponder at where the enshrined deity is gazing. By looking at the layout of the main hall and the orientation of the sanctum, it appears that the enshrine deity looks toward the Okunomiya (= inner shrine/奥宮) where the fierce spirit, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitama" target="_blank">aratama</a> (荒魂) of Takemikazuchi, was worshipped (whereas <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitama" target="_blank">merciful spirit/nigitama</a> is enshrined in the sanctum of the main hall).</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oc9JSKT7i882XyvZFfxLQqTHLJKKLs5PGb9Yw8PQYkH7x9mc3zbaCnVzvMmzVwZwDV2RJV1oYSVSvu70EyQ9K-zhsHZSPZ03XnpbUoMIngucRPeHUBYkI8WCP9NyYTRs7rTla1XzCezo/s1600/Okunomiya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oc9JSKT7i882XyvZFfxLQqTHLJKKLs5PGb9Yw8PQYkH7x9mc3zbaCnVzvMmzVwZwDV2RJV1oYSVSvu70EyQ9K-zhsHZSPZ03XnpbUoMIngucRPeHUBYkI8WCP9NyYTRs7rTla1XzCezo/s1640/Okunomiya.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okunomiya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">In appears to me, just by looking at the layout of Kashima Jingu, that Okunomiya is a gatekeeper for safeguarding the "Kaname-ishi (pinning stone/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A6%81%E7%9F%B3" target="_blank">要石</a>).</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D8TGeXXCbh_vpW0c_Z1_mcXGBCIk-qnWiMzf_494QVTduiBbdp1vFXv425cz_My-rwoCKOjlmjqCsjWxvCZ-NreSdlMS8Y1F7M0Z0x9YhEkWOnylRo5XGgkgI7fceKutGzwX5NL5Ngn9/s1600/Kanameishi_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D8TGeXXCbh_vpW0c_Z1_mcXGBCIk-qnWiMzf_494QVTduiBbdp1vFXv425cz_My-rwoCKOjlmjqCsjWxvCZ-NreSdlMS8Y1F7M0Z0x9YhEkWOnylRo5XGgkgI7fceKutGzwX5NL5Ngn9/s1640/Kanameishi_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">it is commonly regarded that, back in olden days, people presumed that the earthquake struck when the catfish living underground made moves. To prevent earthquakes, the whim of that underground beast must have been subdued. That's what the Kaname-ishi is all about; to pin the monster underground. The concave-shaped boulder looks like a pebble, however, only the tip of <i>rock-</i>berg is surfaced. Nobody knows the actual size. </span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Around Edo period, it was believed that </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">underground catfish causing the earthquake became docile thanks to Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi's divinity. But t</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">his narrative</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> sounds quite poetic to me, which made me feel like exploring what truth was behind it...</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGmBD8oZdMxvkESrLOaCLPqqW8Pfef3yqGYSRQTX6-DjqvyL3fSLIBIxHBoOJg8Vdb-d2io2-OO4rAQZ7JupgsuO6TXy4EkdpPkB469lV1YxVeBk8uYXdnklTug21rOedJDTuanx3wDKB/s1600/Kanameishi_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGmBD8oZdMxvkESrLOaCLPqqW8Pfef3yqGYSRQTX6-DjqvyL3fSLIBIxHBoOJg8Vdb-d2io2-OO4rAQZ7JupgsuO6TXy4EkdpPkB469lV1YxVeBk8uYXdnklTug21rOedJDTuanx3wDKB/s1640/Kanameishi_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaname-ishi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">According to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Nihon Shoki</a>, Takemikazuchi descended to the Hitachi province that had been the hostile ground under the sway of the local power organized by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amatsumikaboshi" target="_blank">Kagaseo</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E6%B4%A5%E7%94%95%E6%98%9F" target="_blank">香香背男</a>). BTW, is it just a coincidence that two "Ka/ga (香)" of "Kashima" are on his name??? It seems to me that his name implies that he is the bloke (o=男) living and/or born in </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">ka (=</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">香; abbreviation of Kashima???</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">), </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">who is against (se=背</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) the Amaterasu administration.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">According to the Kashima Jingu's article, Takemikazuchi descended onto the Iwakura (sacred stone/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A6%81%E7%9F%B3" target="_blank">磐座</a>). He and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsunushi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futsunushi</a> dispatched Takehazuchi (建葉槌命) to exterminate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amatsumikaboshi" target="_blank">Kagaseo</a>. BTW, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Takehazuchi is enshrined at Takafusa shrine (高房社) located just in front of the main hall of Kashima Jingu and traditionally back in olden days visitors were told to pray at Takefusa shrine first, then the main hall. There must be a reason (i.e. Takehazuchi is more prestigious than Takemikazuchi?) but it was <i>lost </i>in translation...</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWZMMbuvCNG6DzF2eCI-T7G6k4TK76yAqO1JGLnvvHyKyzQE1yFx8nqNFJR_5LZk6kN_7Dc0Zi8tylV1tyJTmVDHyR7VHiCBa_NoBU7mMStI_k_jqecKMcamf7IqHQPmqrYtMSxQscN41/s1600/Kariden.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWZMMbuvCNG6DzF2eCI-T7G6k4TK76yAqO1JGLnvvHyKyzQE1yFx8nqNFJR_5LZk6kN_7Dc0Zi8tylV1tyJTmVDHyR7VHiCBa_NoBU7mMStI_k_jqecKMcamf7IqHQPmqrYtMSxQscN41/s1640/Kariden.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takafusa shrine (right), enshrining Takehazuchi (建葉槌命) and Kari-den (left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Later on, the commentaries of that war to eradicate Kagaseo's municipal power turned into the legend that Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi pinned the misbehaved catfish (a symbol of Kagaseo?) with kaname-ishi. The word earthquake might insinuate the Kagaseo's rampage??? </span><br />
<br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFhx_L7UIstZvFsuGiUuKXN9_eCDwfVKpB6gZOYJfvO2ZpqY8cOIUIEyU198f4BAgqJQviAqKwXBwFYdwNl8YHHz13U_gewY-ksrlWbJZaVWpW0J60OXyJ6PqBTxArDjHcBsqD34kADvF/s1600/Takemikazuchi_Catfish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFhx_L7UIstZvFsuGiUuKXN9_eCDwfVKpB6gZOYJfvO2ZpqY8cOIUIEyU198f4BAgqJQviAqKwXBwFYdwNl8YHHz13U_gewY-ksrlWbJZaVWpW0J60OXyJ6PqBTxArDjHcBsqD34kADvF/s1640/Takemikazuchi_Catfish.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">All in all, it can be interpreted that Takemikazuchi, as skilled Admiral, sent troops to Kashima by a battleship, settled the general headquarter to the place where Kaname-ishi is embedded and pitched the military base camp on the place where Jingu's main hall is currently built. His division eventually wiped out the local opponents. Mission complete.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">That being said, it seems to me that Kashima district was the battlefront like wall-street in Manhattan and the Kashima Jingu was built to commemorate the triumph of the Admiral "</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Kashima no Amano Oh</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">kami".</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Thank you for reading to the end.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i><br /></i></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i>Fin</i></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-4818296140865380482020-01-11T19:31:00.001+01:002020-01-13T00:49:31.658+01:00Kashima Jingu Part One<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Do you know <a href="http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/bugai/kokusai/tabunka/en/index.html" target="_blank">Ibaraki Prefecture</a> (Wiki <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibaraki_Prefecture" target="_blank">here</a>)?</b></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you know nothing or very little, don't worry. Even the Japanese are not familiar with Ibaraki.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every year Tokyo-based think-tank named "Brand Research Institute Inc. (<a href="http://tiiki.jp/" target="_blank">ブランド総合研究所</a>)" conducts the local brand survey among 1,000 municipalities (786 cities + Tokyo's 23 wards + 191 towns and villages) and 47 prefectures. Polls collected from around 30,000 anonymous individuals on the web are statistically analyzed by weighted sampling. Hence, the power of brand of the area is numerically converted into "attractiveness" felt by consumers towards each area. <a href="https://stats-japan.com/t/kiji/13203" target="_blank">Here</a> comes the summary of statistics.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ibaraki</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> ranks the lowest in the survey for six years (article <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/21/national/unappealing-ibaraki-steps-pr-campaign-boost-survey-ranking/#.XhIQzxdKgWo" target="_blank">here</a>)!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I personally am familiar with Ibaraki and its products solely because I was born in their neighbor prefecture, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tochigi_Prefecture" target="_blank">Tochigi prefecture</a>, which also ranks among the worst 5 every year! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1EkQMrC-HdnDLTQ73g3fZINttGzJQaQC2CIyIVqzP9sn3AJ3SILaNFqagOoS6MKPxLTvI34vJzajhTBl-6ndmnIR7ZFmsYguFxNVgdkX2-Ag4Ot7k7R-aLQJ_EwTPBakNVTutyUX6pza/s1600/Torii_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1EkQMrC-HdnDLTQ73g3fZINttGzJQaQC2CIyIVqzP9sn3AJ3SILaNFqagOoS6MKPxLTvI34vJzajhTBl-6ndmnIR7ZFmsYguFxNVgdkX2-Ag4Ot7k7R-aLQJ_EwTPBakNVTutyUX6pza/s1640/Torii_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first red torii of Kashima Jingu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in Japan chronicles</span></span></b></h3>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a> (<a href="http://kashimajingu.jp/" target="_blank">鹿島神宮</a>) is the most prestigious shrine, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichinomiya" target="_blank">Ichinomiya</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%AE" target="_blank">一の宮</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitachi_Province" target="_blank">Hitachi Province</a> (current Ibaraki Prefecture) and the headquarter of Kashima shrines distributed to all over Japan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1%E3%83%9F%E3%82%AB%E3%83%85%E3%83%81" target="_blank">タケミカヅチ</a>)</span> is commonly regarded as</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the enshrined deity of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a> appears in Japan Myth, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" target="_blank">Kojiki</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8F%A4%E4%BA%8B%E8%A8%98" target="_blank">古事記</a>),</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">three times:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamiumi" target="_blank">Kamiumi</a> (=</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the birth of the gods: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%A3%E3%81%BF" target="_blank">神産み</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2) Conquering <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashihara_no_Nakatsukuni" target="_blank">Ashihara-Nakatsukuni</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E8%AD%B2%E3%82%8A" target="_blank">葦原中国平定</a>), and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a>'s conquering eastern part of Japan called "Jimmu Tohsei (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E6%AD%A6%E6%9D%B1%E5%BE%81" target="_blank">神武東征</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)"</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamiumi" target="_blank">Kamiumi</a> ceremony conducted by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" target="_blank">Izanagi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B6%E3%83%8A%E3%82%AE" target="_blank">イザナギ</a>) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanami</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B6%E3%83%8A%E3%83%9F" target="_blank">イザナミ</a>), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanami</a> was burned to death (due to burning </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">her private part </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">off) when she gave birth <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagu-tsuchi" target="_blank">Kagutsuchi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AB%E3%82%B0%E3%83%84%E3%83%81" target="_blank">カグツチ</a>), a deity of fire. Having eye-witnessed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanami</a>'s corpse, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" target="_blank">Izanagi</a> lost his temper, grabbed the sword named "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totsuka-no-Tsurugi" target="_blank">Totsuka-no-tsurugi</a>" (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%81%E6%9D%9F%E5%89%A3" target="_blank">とつかのつるぎ)</a>/Ameno-ohabari (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E4%B9%8B%E5%B0%BE%E7%BE%BD%E5%BC%B5" target="_blank">あめのおはばり</a> or alternatively called Itsuno-ohabari/いつのおはばり) and stabbed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagu-tsuchi" target="_blank">Kagutsuchi</a> (= his son) into </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">death. When </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagu-tsuchi" target="_blank">Kagutsuchi</a>'s<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> blo</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">od splattered to the rock, three deities were born from </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">there. Alternatively, it is said that eight deities related to fire, thunder, and sword were born. Either way, that's when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a> was born.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwVxEg3vXi9yMn0hgvThDlGgwxtmfI_8g3bm_jGuSWyn5ks1x7_19cFI9UC8gmeec-4nApEQEeq9xT11ERxgfQVj6enwMkcEOyJiHjlAd6j_fVSrcqTP1goEn7ohzSYPhnAUbKal1Qf5V/s1600/Kashima_Daimyojin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwVxEg3vXi9yMn0hgvThDlGgwxtmfI_8g3bm_jGuSWyn5ks1x7_19cFI9UC8gmeec-4nApEQEeq9xT11ERxgfQVj6enwMkcEOyJiHjlAd6j_fVSrcqTP1goEn7ohzSYPhnAUbKal1Qf5V/s400/Kashima_Daimyojin.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kashima Daimyojin (鹿島大明神) =Takemikazuchi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the chapter entitled "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuni-yuzuri" target="_blank">Transfer of the land</a> (= Kuni yuzuri/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E8%AD%B2%E3%82%8A" target="_blank">国譲り</a>) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">" of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Nihon Shoki</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (another Chronicle of Japan)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, describing the incidents during </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">co</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">nquering </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashihara_no_Nakatsukuni" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ashihara-Nakatsukuni</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, together with </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsunushi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futsunushi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B5%8C%E6%B4%A5%E4%B8%BB%E7%A5%9E" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">フツヌシ</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), descended to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo_Province" target="_blank">Izumo</a> province where they "<i>negotiated</i>" with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a> (a ruler of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo_Province" target="_blank">Izumo</a>) and his three sons to abandon their nation. The negotiation</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> resulted in a triumph that enabled Amaterasu to have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashihara_no_Nakatsukuni" target="_blank">Ashihara-Nakatsukuni</a> under control.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's why <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a> has a close relationship with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katori_Shrine" target="_blank">Katori Jingu</a> (<a href="https://katori-jingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">香取神宮</a>), worshipping </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsunushi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futsunushi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B5%8C%E6%B4%A5%E4%B8%BB%E7%A5%9E" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">フツヌシ</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as a chief deity. You may notice that two shrines have the term "Jingu (神宮)". Before the Meiji restoration, the permission from Emperor (勅許) was essential for shrines </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to be called </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jing%C5%AB" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jingu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. In <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engishiki" target="_blank">Engishiki</a>-jinmeicho (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BB%B6%E5%96%9C%E5%BC%8F%E7%A5%9E%E5%90%8D%E5%B8%B3" target="_blank">延喜式神名帳</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) compiled in A.D. 927 that listed all the then-existing 2861 shrines, only three shrines held "Jingu". The remaining Jingu was, of course, <a href="https://www.isejingu.or.jp/en/index.html" target="_blank">Ise Grand shrine</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(= </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ise Jingu/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.isejingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">伊勢神宮</a>), enshrining <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> (アマテラス) whose direct descendants are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan" target="_blank">the Japan Royal family</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Needless to say, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katori_Shrine" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Katori Jingu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is the Ichinomiya in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shim%C5%8Dsa_Province" target="_blank">Shimousa Province</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8B%E7%B7%8F%E5%9B%BD" target="_blank">下総国</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). When one more shr</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ine, Ikisu shrine (<a href="http://www.kamisu-kanko.jp/kankou-page/ikisu.html" target="_blank">息栖神社</a>), is combined with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katori_Shrine" target="_blank">Katori Jingu</a>, they are collectively called "Togoku sansha (= three prestigious shrines in Eastern part of Japan/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E5%9B%BD%E4%B8%89%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">東国三社</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Geographical relevance of three prestigious shrines in East of Japan</b></span></h3>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxtvSxVV8j2RCOMuJxmAN8uxW4uZP_HqD3ewkYrXpxfLAMjUZ8e0G0ZUG5B-P0I8Pp7UN86leo8FPL8pHdPsNLYFKyo84Di_F_1zAI0tMhIO3hzzAYEUvBcGoN_sX_3Xa0h6ASBg0On9j/s1600/Position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="987" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxtvSxVV8j2RCOMuJxmAN8uxW4uZP_HqD3ewkYrXpxfLAMjUZ8e0G0ZUG5B-P0I8Pp7UN86leo8FPL8pHdPsNLYFKyo84Di_F_1zAI0tMhIO3hzzAYEUvBcGoN_sX_3Xa0h6ASBg0On9j/s320/Position.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image from <a href="https://tools.wmflabs.org/osm4wiki/cgi-bin/wiki/wiki-osm.pl?project=ja&article=%25E6%259D%25B1%25E5%259B%25BD%25E4%25B8%2589%25E7%25A4%25BE" target="_blank">Wiki </a>with modifications. The three prestigious shrines locate to constitute "<i>near" </i>rectangular equilateral triangle (dotted lines) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Kojiki chapter that corresponds to "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuni-yuzuri" target="_blank">Transfer of the land</a>" in Nihon Shoki depicting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsunushi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futsunushi</a> as an accompanying deity of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a>, t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he accompanying deity</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is Amenotorifune (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B3%A5%E4%B9%8B%E7%9F%B3%E6%A5%A0%E8%88%B9%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">アメノトリフネ</a>), who is one of the deities enshrined in Ikisu shrine. Three shrines (well one shrine and two Jingu) are located at bays of ancient inland sea called "<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%99%E5%8F%96%E6%B5%B7" target="_blank">Katori-umi</a> (Katori sea/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">香取海</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)". More importantly, three shrines geographically constitute a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rectangular equilateral triangle, J</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">apanese <a href="https://tools.wmflabs.org/osm4wiki/cgi-bin/wiki/wiki-osm.pl?project=ja&article=%25E6%259D%25B1%25E5%259B%25BD%25E4%25B8%2589%25E7%25A4%25BE" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Wiki </a>says </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(it's not perfectly formed though).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz-euvS7uidmNv0mZGvEsxfd1kpBZP4MCGzrHdFIrZjk6KlYJ89FsAAGP7FlOH0B8Om41Y4abLnU38k8NSs4Q3qRxOgutP3EKphp9U6L_gErfpoyxCA2c_OIWQ9tptWe9moXIThx-Epbo/s1600/The_Famous_Scenes_of_the_Sixty_States_21_Hitachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz-euvS7uidmNv0mZGvEsxfd1kpBZP4MCGzrHdFIrZjk6KlYJ89FsAAGP7FlOH0B8Om41Y4abLnU38k8NSs4Q3qRxOgutP3EKphp9U6L_gErfpoyxCA2c_OIWQ9tptWe9moXIThx-Epbo/s400/The_Famous_Scenes_of_the_Sixty_States_21_Hitachi.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshige" target="_blank">Utagawa Hiroshige</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e" target="_blank">Ukiyo-e</a> (Image from <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%B3%B6%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE#/media/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:The_Famous_Scenes_of_the_Sixty_States_21_Hitachi.jpg" target="_blank">Wiki</a>), illustrating the Kashima first torii by the Katori sea bayside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Edo period, visitors launched a boat by the bay and walked to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first photo on this entry I took is the current 1st Torii, which is the biggest one (18.5 meters tall from a bed) standing in the water.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUHx08aWgKz1yXsG_57wYwWY-uhDs-WEIN0dv3O0meSLBe7XbdduL5UGHLb-9WwllanXloNULUGiw2uidBTQb2Wwq5pGA1ijM9TrcH1Z_6Cpywroxp1aBE6_ETNWoyP0INQAgBXMvJsQU/s1600/Mitarai_Pond_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUHx08aWgKz1yXsG_57wYwWY-uhDs-WEIN0dv3O0meSLBe7XbdduL5UGHLb-9WwllanXloNULUGiw2uidBTQb2Wwq5pGA1ijM9TrcH1Z_6Cpywroxp1aBE6_ETNWoyP0INQAgBXMvJsQU/s1640/Mitarai_Pond_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mysterious Mitarashi Pond</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The same route yet the opposite direction </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in the ancient era, it appears that visitors who arrived a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t the bay rowed a boat further up along the river that ran close to Mitarashi pond (御手洗池) in the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">precinct</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine" target="_blank">Kashima Jingu</a> (encompassing 70 hectares). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhjC45ql9X9UI_ODQW8CqBbwDS2LenUCNMToLgbhDbEvcnFhJgf6-dvOUjfUyBNQP0OPdFwGFnkxDntiqTfIwkSijEHFSbUQzfSGj_ix2P0_mKHRXnVncB0DituWnDxm-YVpsdqWjg4SZ/s1600/Urasandoh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhjC45ql9X9UI_ODQW8CqBbwDS2LenUCNMToLgbhDbEvcnFhJgf6-dvOUjfUyBNQP0OPdFwGFnkxDntiqTfIwkSijEHFSbUQzfSGj_ix2P0_mKHRXnVncB0DituWnDxm-YVpsdqWjg4SZ/s640/Urasandoh.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear visitor's path covered with sand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ancient visitor's route is highlighted in red (map below).</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Mitarashi (</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">御手洗</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)" means "washing hands". The pond could have served as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dzuya" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">chozuya</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (手水舎</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At present, the visitor's route is the opposite. Visitors approach from the west entrance where the second torii is built (highlighted in blue).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvUl-tNbJozbJLt1hJmYk_0trAlK6lzvH-JNjqsENBQtTuH5nljKt55bMdBXRjTuT13ZKQhpGpUqW_lm2cbKhKNOXlPqp_Tc2kjC_iNHpgcsD7kZ8VLqvUQM66eWWtzZBNQefpbQXX2bO/s1600/Kashima_map_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1600" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvUl-tNbJozbJLt1hJmYk_0trAlK6lzvH-JNjqsENBQtTuH5nljKt55bMdBXRjTuT13ZKQhpGpUqW_lm2cbKhKNOXlPqp_Tc2kjC_iNHpgcsD7kZ8VLqvUQM66eWWtzZBNQefpbQXX2bO/s640/Kashima_map_v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Kashima torii</b></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The current second torii, made of cedar trees (500 years old tree for hashira, 400 years old for kasagi, and 250 years old tree for nuki), was built in 2014 because the previous one that was made of granite was collapsed on March 11th, 2011. Yes, that was when the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami" target="_blank">Tohoku Earthquake</a> struck the northern part of Japan!!! It's not only the second torri that was destroyed but also torii in Mitarashi pond and several more. Kashima Jingu suffered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96odhChLcl9G6UXi4POr0kqDWukTxMADOWiYE-0T03hbtL9BNhI9uLKjU9WUh1hrupf0worauapxOTGIIY0F0yC87nEY-UO-USKWfH4vqpQEzmDap8uFnABvY_3XQ6Knq3k5m42zOc2MT/s1600/ToriiGate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96odhChLcl9G6UXi4POr0kqDWukTxMADOWiYE-0T03hbtL9BNhI9uLKjU9WUh1hrupf0worauapxOTGIIY0F0yC87nEY-UO-USKWfH4vqpQEzmDap8uFnABvY_3XQ6Knq3k5m42zOc2MT/s1640/ToriiGate.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kashima-style torii gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This type of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii" target="_blank">torii</a> is called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii#Kashima_torii" target="_blank">Kashima torii</a>".</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZM5UexKjXWNiHbG8T0MGv61FO1sLpg1mV7XNlFvbqbHncpUEqkL0d45scHuUcxCKB7pE1lgZKpFQHVgpEIk3q5DfgOxWSCbyZKUrEjEO4CojkxGI5vGqMA2t-tU6u-HrilO0rJDI-Qrf/s1600/500px-Torii_nomenclature.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAThQxASYwIWSHRX4KLpJkyoX7UUrjsfD0zuzhJfPHiTtHxRi3SJUXTafAbvDBqwcMHm45xGidn65O7HvR29K-NP-LwX9wqsbD8ppA0t_iNbf7GrhAunqeWJO7RKrpubImFjermAJIGRj/s1600/Torii_nomenclature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="920" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAThQxASYwIWSHRX4KLpJkyoX7UUrjsfD0zuzhJfPHiTtHxRi3SJUXTafAbvDBqwcMHm45xGidn65O7HvR29K-NP-LwX9wqsbD8ppA0t_iNbf7GrhAunqeWJO7RKrpubImFjermAJIGRj/s640/Torii_nomenclature.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Images fro <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii#Kashima_torii" target="_blank">Wiki </a>with editing. Nomenclature on the left and Kashima torii on the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"The kashima torii (鹿島鳥居) is a shinmei torii without korobi, with kusabi and a protruding nuki"</i>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii#Kashima_torii" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Wiki</a> says. However, it's not so articulate to you, isn't it???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kashima torii is characterized by the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1) Hashira (pillar) and kasagi are cylinder-shaped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2) Nuki is rectangular-shaped with both ends protruding beyond hashira</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once again please take a closer look at photos of first and second torii. Does it make sense?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BTW, the kamebara (= base stone) of the current second torii (white part in the photo I took) is from the previous torii and wooden torii was built upon the stone. Only the base stone remained after the 3/11 earthquake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFDo3_tiMpigiLizdELN0DY-jw4ERav8ftpoAuW9mXRAQvUuNbdf4t-kT_Fcs0OvhA2Q7ildNrs0xxMLQmtSfxsSYp9ZW62yQZsj7BeNHyUds_4Z_aXGZR8kJQQfCv-RnZgXLdl6opnLY/s1600/Romon_Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFDo3_tiMpigiLizdELN0DY-jw4ERav8ftpoAuW9mXRAQvUuNbdf4t-kT_Fcs0OvhA2Q7ildNrs0xxMLQmtSfxsSYp9ZW62yQZsj7BeNHyUds_4Z_aXGZR8kJQQfCv-RnZgXLdl6opnLY/s1640/Romon_Gate.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romon Gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Romon gate founded on A.D. 1634 was registered as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Important_Cultural_Property_(Japan)" target="_blank">Important Cultural Property of Japan</a>. The name of the shrine hung on the gate was written by the admiral of the fleet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dg%C5%8D_Heihachir%C5%8D" target="_blank">Heihachiro Tohgo</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%B1%E9%83%B7%E5%B9%B3%E5%85%AB%E9%83%8E" target="_blank">東郷平八郎</a>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdKjyax85afP6n-RyirMngxKyuYMa2q5dEgYKUx3nR33jg7-1SdRVRx3aaZ0awLOh2P1QulsZH4TU2ecONQ7jptCajJhkfSK5YoO57C9Xm2HF9TA8QzHS53FFKGWO-RVxetmfdvzhyphenhyphenY9h/s1600/Main_Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdKjyax85afP6n-RyirMngxKyuYMa2q5dEgYKUx3nR33jg7-1SdRVRx3aaZ0awLOh2P1QulsZH4TU2ecONQ7jptCajJhkfSK5YoO57C9Xm2HF9TA8QzHS53FFKGWO-RVxetmfdvzhyphenhyphenY9h/s1640/Main_Hall.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Haiden hall facing north and the gate (not torii) in front of haiden hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Eighth wonder</b></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oddly the haiden hall and the main hall (both registered as </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Important_Cultural_Property_(Japan)" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Important Cultural Property of Japan</a>)<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> are oriented toward the north that is qu</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ite unusual. This could be due to the fact that both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsunushi" target="_blank">Futsunushi</a> deities were dispatched to Katori inland seasides to conquer tribes against Amaterasu, whose territory was the northern part of Japan. To support this, several Kashima shrines to which the spirit of Takemikazuchi was transferred were distributed to the northern part of Japan already in 8th century.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyTyIY1Z_pnHd4kOS3lWoEKVZyRIYqXiWzO_zWixLqoCerHzogrdDtFG3EQPPX0lMlLodRAoQOJI1PXxP1JSui9xISkyxYksgV8PTZpOadpgcnDf8aLEj_t-g8obgOqkh5E7FE26TyBO5/s1600/Kashima+shrine_distribution_Tohoku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1450" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyTyIY1Z_pnHd4kOS3lWoEKVZyRIYqXiWzO_zWixLqoCerHzogrdDtFG3EQPPX0lMlLodRAoQOJI1PXxP1JSui9xISkyxYksgV8PTZpOadpgcnDf8aLEj_t-g8obgOqkh5E7FE26TyBO5/s400/Kashima+shrine_distribution_Tohoku.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The distribution of Kashima shrines (red circles) in current Miyagi and Fukushima prefecture (Image from <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%B3%B6%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE" target="_blank">Wiki</a>), described in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Sandai_Jitsuroku" target="_blank">Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku</a> compiled in A.D. 901. Blue circle indicates <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiogama_Jinja" target="_blank">Shiogama shrine</a> (Ichinomiya in Miyagi prefecture), enshrining Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In front of haiden hall, there is torii, however, this is <i>not </i>Kashima torii because kasagi is rectangular. The volunteer local guides call it a gate. Well, it's just another type of torii but it's just a gate. Nobody knows why the <i>gate</i> is there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is the oddest part (at least to me). The enshrined deity in the sanctum of main hall orients toward the East! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP2xYWHAVgGc-HJd6lM49R16Xa46pnqbf3NnRebVSGlpzaMvN6q3GnYq7C8mF2UFlRf77CyUGkDnm7Jsh0OhyphenhyphenennTn6-Hl5K7_xPxePixQpSwTqERkt5ILwXmaN4igtPHfE_DVtlI9N1H/s1600/Kashim_Inside_Mainhall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBP2xYWHAVgGc-HJd6lM49R16Xa46pnqbf3NnRebVSGlpzaMvN6q3GnYq7C8mF2UFlRf77CyUGkDnm7Jsh0OhyphenhyphenennTn6-Hl5K7_xPxePixQpSwTqERkt5ILwXmaN4igtPHfE_DVtlI9N1H/s1400/Kashim_Inside_Mainhall.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The layout of the main hall (Image grom <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%B3%B6%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE" target="_blank">Japanese Wiki</a> with editing. Enshrined deity resides in sanctum facing to the East (arrow). It is partitioned into two by three doors.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What does it mean? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It means visitors praying in front of haiden hall </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">do not pray to Takemikazuchi face-to-face! We are told that the main hall orienting to the north is explained by the</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> missions of Takemikazuchi for</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> watchdogging the power against Amaterasu. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That does not account for the orientation of Takemikazuchi....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, Takemikazuchi is not the only shy deity not facing prayers. Here is another odd deity, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a> enshrined in <a href="http://izumo%20ohyashiro/" target="_blank">Izumo Ohyashiro</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckuninushi" target="_blank">Ohkuni</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuni-yuzuri#Takemikazuchi" target="_blank">Takemikazuchi </a>met in person</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> while negotiation (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuni-yuzuri" target="_blank">Kuni-yuzuri</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E8%AD%B2%E3%82%8A" target="_blank">国譲り</a>). When Ohkuni agreed with Takemikazuchi that Ohkuni would abandon his territory, Ohkuni asked Takemikazuchi to build for himself a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha" target="_blank">magnificent palace (Izumo Ohyashiro)</a> – rooted in the earth and reaching up to heaven. According to this narrative, it's not a bad idea to imagine that designers building <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha" target="_blank">Izumo Ohyashiro</a> applied the same principle to building the Kashina Jingu's honden, I presume.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaXYoI3y66g0gw_5tyaIhLXWqO2CCyLIqLX6qSSf31VFhl8FByD_ZD-0TbwbqmtMYezJbFArRwFNkJSUvXALTIsJsf-5Y-vp45mgwVNZ6kzY5uwnhAvBmTSnCbFwtlnbRPOFPraLwa4vP/s1600/Izumo_Mainhall_layout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaXYoI3y66g0gw_5tyaIhLXWqO2CCyLIqLX6qSSf31VFhl8FByD_ZD-0TbwbqmtMYezJbFArRwFNkJSUvXALTIsJsf-5Y-vp45mgwVNZ6kzY5uwnhAvBmTSnCbFwtlnbRPOFPraLwa4vP/s1400/Izumo_Mainhall_layout.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The layout of Izumo Ohyashiro main hall. Ohkuni stays at the sanctum, facing to the west. In front of him, five deities face to the south. Ohkuni's son, Wakafutsunushi, is the only one showing the face to prayers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are seven wonders about Kashima Jingu, however, the orientation of Takemikazuchi is not included in the list. Personally, I find it the most mysterious wonder of them all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Komainu dogs can be seen nowhere in Kashima Jingu</b></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In many shrines, a pair of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu" target="_blank">komainu</a> dogs can be found. However, there are exceptional shrines, which involve <a href="http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/" target="_blank">Meiji Jingu</a> (<a href="http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/" target="_blank">明治神宮</a>), <a href="https://www.isejingu.or.jp/en/" target="_blank">Ise grand shrine</a> (<a href="https://www.isejingu.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">伊勢神宮</a>) and so on. Actually, there are wooden statues of komainu dogs showcased in the museum of Kashima Jingu </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(currently it's closed)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. As described above, a pair of komainu dogs are in the main hall building! This is also the case in </span><a href="http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Meiji Jingu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Historically <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu" target="_blank">komainu</a>, originally as a lion, was introduced to Japan in the 6th century (during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_period" target="_blank">Nara period</a>). Shrines founded earlier than that and didn't change the style till now (i.e. Ise grand shrine) don't own komainu dogs. Shrines such as Kashima Jingu or Meiji Jingu follow the old-fashioned style of komainu exhibition (= keep dogs inside the house -just like Chihuahua owner does). Kashima komainu dogs are invisible to visitors. Besides, they are well-behaved and quiet, nobody notices them <i>unless </i>you know the layout of the main hall. It became common in Edo period for shrines to have a pair of komainu dogs for guarding the entrance, the honden hall, or inner shrine (just as we can see in many shrines today). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The fact strongly indicates that Kashima Jingu is, indeed, quite an old shrine!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shall we visit Ibaraki prefecture?</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to the survey, not so many people are keen on heading for Ibaraki prefecture. In other words, there are still a countless number of intriguing places and things to be discovered and shared on the web by visiting <i>the least </i>attractive prefecture of lovely Ibaraki!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be continued...</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3229.0961299278406!2d140.62916261489573!3d35.96907518012817!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x602255996c6b2ecf%3A0x85605a5cdf5f7178!2sKashima%20Jingu!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1578781299106!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-41550345069882875212019-12-31T17:03:00.000+01:002019-12-31T17:03:15.953+01:00Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">During winter in Japan, myriad of illuminations take place all over Japan to cheer visitors up! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Illumination at JR Hakata station, which is decorated with around 800 thousands LED lights, signifies "<i>hope</i>" of our new era, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa" target="_blank">Reiwa</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%A4%E5%92%8C" target="_blank">令和</a>).</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflLflqRiCLPVkzrXUATucN0M7SrlzhrO421J4pYafr63UC2_TeDXckfozUlpnHWsDwLN9sm-mjVMzr1HTn9IqLrxIbOADWMnbLGtdXYdESUTB3IHxnxSO-3kSgTqgiLUQ7O7nWNWZGnqO/s1600/Hakata_illumination3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflLflqRiCLPVkzrXUATucN0M7SrlzhrO421J4pYafr63UC2_TeDXckfozUlpnHWsDwLN9sm-mjVMzr1HTn9IqLrxIbOADWMnbLGtdXYdESUTB3IHxnxSO-3kSgTqgiLUQ7O7nWNWZGnqO/s1640/Hakata_illumination3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The kanji characters for Reiwa </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%A4%E5%92%8C" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">令和</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> are derived from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB" target="_blank">Man-yohshu</a> (万葉集), an anthology of waka poetry (和歌), compiled in the 8th Century. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://www.mofa.go.jp/index.html" target="_blank">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan</a> provided an English interpretation of Reiwa as "beautiful harmony".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4mu2hBiFzysSl1XKoLXHMMx_bcEKHfK7HlCS_npY2Jo4cKc0s2TutP8M7mSl_iboTlvnf6qC27hiZEOeFuMX2OQp20iBBazcBjI9Vx8F7lPzu_kwQPzDTkfdqf_CfJX3YOUO6NkJ5Dzf/s1600/Hakata_illumination_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4mu2hBiFzysSl1XKoLXHMMx_bcEKHfK7HlCS_npY2Jo4cKc0s2TutP8M7mSl_iboTlvnf6qC27hiZEOeFuMX2OQp20iBBazcBjI9Vx8F7lPzu_kwQPzDTkfdqf_CfJX3YOUO6NkJ5Dzf/s1640/Hakata_illumination_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Symbol tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to <a href="https://yokanavi.com/feature/67532/" target="_blank">Fukuoka city official website</a>, they claim their city as a town of light (光の街・</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">福岡) and the symbol tree accounts for it. Illuminated colors of the tree represent those of nature in four seasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHxYjEqwpv_JA2-oBaPrQ5gCqshq8h3fav2WX_xdc_vqBYvwdiXHKhbX-2-GeSq8tQRivzhME-he98iNiBZDiQ1mgAYG9AVEcBXKJ039ethIkt4KIpjPwWDgwz8mcq3Gu84MBCWs59S9k/s1600/Hakata_illumination2_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHxYjEqwpv_JA2-oBaPrQ5gCqshq8h3fav2WX_xdc_vqBYvwdiXHKhbX-2-GeSq8tQRivzhME-he98iNiBZDiQ1mgAYG9AVEcBXKJ039ethIkt4KIpjPwWDgwz8mcq3Gu84MBCWs59S9k/s1640/Hakata_illumination2_01.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">LED Sky Walk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It takes place from 6th of November to 7th of January (starting from 17:00 till midnight).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8bUAK2E55g-SBNd4Udq4Hnt_o1ieYsgi1cjQQda5my6DPDPSo6sUsKtbeSILMat09krTdkEPM4IbdSdtHaOG1wKY6jv-LDuMLh5NMUKnLaszk_KuVm4OaRW1od0brcYd9_VGnIjaRp2u/s1600/Hakata_illumination4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8bUAK2E55g-SBNd4Udq4Hnt_o1ieYsgi1cjQQda5my6DPDPSo6sUsKtbeSILMat09krTdkEPM4IbdSdtHaOG1wKY6jv-LDuMLh5NMUKnLaszk_KuVm4OaRW1od0brcYd9_VGnIjaRp2u/s1640/Hakata_illumination4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wishing you a Happy New Year 2020!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1661.7995988687896!2d130.41814174777713!3d33.58975429265499!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x354191c7e6f9b375%3A0x2ee22b3d45b98b90!2sHakata%20Station!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1577757952234!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-11588923697710463662019-09-08T01:03:00.001+02:002022-11-10T16:51:11.525+01:00Takachiho Shrine<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I might as well introduce <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takachiho_Shrine" target="_blank">Takachiho shrine</a> (高千穂神社) where night kagura performance takes place. Please visit <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2019/04/takachiho-kagura-performance.html" target="_blank">part one</a> and <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2019/08/takachiho-kagura-performance-part-2.html" target="_blank">part two</a> entries if you are interested in the night kagura performance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWMoVdTsw1jS2G1UzIS7RqYIrudeBB-D9V5ivlh8ue-9Z9L25QEjAHNg8CY3L_ikhS3M3rGrvIKQLLL1jJFebJZwZOstKAk8Tt0Ky1XC_HCW9zIw5MBBUqSSoKmW8JHjP5F2imnep430R/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWMoVdTsw1jS2G1UzIS7RqYIrudeBB-D9V5ivlh8ue-9Z9L25QEjAHNg8CY3L_ikhS3M3rGrvIKQLLL1jJFebJZwZOstKAk8Tt0Ky1XC_HCW9zIw5MBBUqSSoKmW8JHjP5F2imnep430R/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_8.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main Hall at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The enshrined deities are Takachiho sumegami (高千穂皇神) and Jussha Daimyojin (十社大明神). Both Takachiho sumegami and Jussha Daimyojin are collective terms of deities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaq0QZbh5zVQQZV_lnnZTZRE7OKubG5XxBquHAOHIHKdvPMVOf2sbO-lSlTD2cmc3B5qqfyqPRNVpUXvgJL3R7tr-qhHXtNrewV4kADLMbGfK3ttUmaHCtCCkBrafVBMkt6LcTJe4FyzS/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaq0QZbh5zVQQZV_lnnZTZRE7OKubG5XxBquHAOHIHKdvPMVOf2sbO-lSlTD2cmc3B5qqfyqPRNVpUXvgJL3R7tr-qhHXtNrewV4kADLMbGfK3ttUmaHCtCCkBrafVBMkt6LcTJe4FyzS/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_7.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torii gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Takachiho sumegami includes so-called "Himuka Sandai/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E5%90%91%E4%B8%89%E4%BB%A3" target="_blank">日向三代</a> (Three generations of deities settled in Himuka (日向)" and their spouses. That is:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8B%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AE" target="_blank">ニニギ</a>), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konohanasakuya-hime" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Konohanasakuyabime</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%8E%E3%83%8F%E3%83%8A%E3%83%8E%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A4%E3%83%93%E3%83%A1" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">コノハナノサクヤビメ</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoori" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hoori</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9B%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ホオリ</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">), </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotama-hime" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Toyotamahime</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">トヨタマヒメ</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugayafukiaezu" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ugayafukiaezu</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A4%E3%83%95%E3%82%AD%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A8%E3%82%BA" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ウガヤフキアエズ</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">),</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamayori-hime" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Tamayoribime</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%E3%83%A8%E3%83%AA%E3%83%93%E3%83%A1_(%E6%97%A5%E5%90%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1)" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">タマヨリビメ</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0KRnhD_zm6p6vrod2GDyWhwb9B3qC1VY3Whw6F-_c9DZiHCQrml4zjPm83MliL72SYl0lwkC2lyV8ctOjkGuDypNWEQ8UTZ-buwtwbPmYL7zpU2lRShHjePqArNvppG4_g5Nd1LrR8BU/s1600/pedigree_v2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0KRnhD_zm6p6vrod2GDyWhwb9B3qC1VY3Whw6F-_c9DZiHCQrml4zjPm83MliL72SYl0lwkC2lyV8ctOjkGuDypNWEQ8UTZ-buwtwbPmYL7zpU2lRShHjePqArNvppG4_g5Nd1LrR8BU/s640/pedigree_v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Jussha Daimyojin (十社大明神) are Mikeirinomikoto (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E6%AF%9B%E5%85%A5%E9%87%8E%E5%91%BD" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">三毛入野命</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">) who is a brother of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">the first Emperor Jimmu</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E6%AD%A6%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">神武天皇</a><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">), his spouse, Unomehime (鵜目姫) and their offsprings (Mikotaro/御子太郎, Jiro/二郎, Saburo/三郎, Unemi/畝見, Teruno/照野, Ohto/大戸, Reisha/霊社, and Asarabe/浅良部).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OMsOB-2RScwrlFfxAGlkqw-z3y7VniAU35ISQPHky98teFuDuXiQDeF3SLcdhHIvf6OGVpydzozKOHub_PDUQHhyHiiBnwn3Vt71maAE6AWYu7MxFVGAB0rokWRk7ffdXiVkbaCrmfnB/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OMsOB-2RScwrlFfxAGlkqw-z3y7VniAU35ISQPHky98teFuDuXiQDeF3SLcdhHIvf6OGVpydzozKOHub_PDUQHhyHiiBnwn3Vt71maAE6AWYu7MxFVGAB0rokWRk7ffdXiVkbaCrmfnB/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Inside of Main Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">According to the local narratives, Mikeirinomikoto exterminated a demon named Kihachi (鬼八) and settled a palace there. On</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> the other hand, according to the shrine's articles, a son of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a> rooted Kihachifushi (demon) out. Later on, the offspring of Emperor Jimmu was enshrined as Jussha Daimyojin.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Alternatively, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mikeirinomikoto rescued his future wife, </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Unomehime, from the demon Kihachi and they were married, later on, another narrative depicted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UTTemjbXNsC1lTaz9zhv5DQVaN37Lr-wpv02e-w3JXjs3NkW2HYVhB4ANQ6_kEDoO3zBWsFNqTY3nSZR3UhV5h_OF8dnrCLyxWNRDvOnRI4O8lR5mIk4LLl8m1eimEXiMBYaHE-FNo0l/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UTTemjbXNsC1lTaz9zhv5DQVaN37Lr-wpv02e-w3JXjs3NkW2HYVhB4ANQ6_kEDoO3zBWsFNqTY3nSZR3UhV5h_OF8dnrCLyxWNRDvOnRI4O8lR5mIk4LLl8m1eimEXiMBYaHE-FNo0l/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It is widely recognized that the shrine initiated its history when </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mikeirinomikoto enshrined </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Himuka Sandai deities</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> by building <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himorogi" target="_blank">Himorogi</a> (sacred altar/</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E7%B1%AC" target="_blank">神籬</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">). Since then descendants of </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mikeirinomikoto's offspring worshipped enshrined deities. Later on </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Mikeirinomikoto himself and other Jussha Daimyojin deities were also included as enshrined deities. Eventually, during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Suinin" target="_blank">Emperor Suinin</a> (</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9E%82%E4%BB%81%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" target="_blank">垂仁天皇</a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">)'s reign (29 BC- 70 AD), the buildings were made.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM30_dMoYFGS9_QXKbVfReKs6J7_GrGBmEDeqRcCIPLkhjrStDcctwYxBEO9aYcmGMyz4tTAN0nmHwOh6wIJ3SKz7gplMXixJUU_RsJj6tRtl4t5iY1M_FfoVJR4r_ZPsIIOFVG9yL6WGw/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM30_dMoYFGS9_QXKbVfReKs6J7_GrGBmEDeqRcCIPLkhjrStDcctwYxBEO9aYcmGMyz4tTAN0nmHwOh6wIJ3SKz7gplMXixJUU_RsJj6tRtl4t5iY1M_FfoVJR4r_ZPsIIOFVG9yL6WGw/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="text-align: start;">The cedar tree named "Couple cedar/</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15.104px; text-align: start;">夫婦杉</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">" is well known for benefiting a couple (1) happy marriage, (2) family safety and well-being (3) prosperity after making a circle around the tree three times. The nickname came from the fact that two independent-looking cedar trees were branched from the same root.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oijQODBbcu8w2E7GIm9rrFl0UyVihhQ7IjPwVBv7yfK1pzbCc9KqhbahwsIpWPmChBR7-rXRsgT0NBjrTssZA6b1Bwi76OCVe5DTXfthoKtE6rOj8gcLgvwa3afuNjoJZ2Cg2CJjeG7n/s1600/Takachiho+shrine_6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oijQODBbcu8w2E7GIm9rrFl0UyVihhQ7IjPwVBv7yfK1pzbCc9KqhbahwsIpWPmChBR7-rXRsgT0NBjrTssZA6b1Bwi76OCVe5DTXfthoKtE6rOj8gcLgvwa3afuNjoJZ2Cg2CJjeG7n/s1640/Takachiho+shrine_6.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3357.228488096777!2d131.30051391464485!3d32.70655569488316!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35472ce8730bc035%3A0xbedd34618e78cbfa!2sTakachiho%20Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1567896453079!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px;" width="400"></iframe><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">
</span></div>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-37242466845219324872019-08-25T21:39:00.002+02:002019-08-25T23:31:23.469+02:00Takachiho Kagura Performance Part 2<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the part 2 entry of Takachiho Night Kagura performance. If you are curious about it, please visit <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2019/04/takachiho-kagura-performance.html" target="_blank">part one entry</a> to get to know more about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mUSHO1frCblrWiZ1J66o0Kc_TlY_07RHzPSkqjE0tPg1ZFRAdlltpPkIwsWmS03-itbAd0UBtYmCIoE2Ma1OeJgSr-0G26CpWfvuMOOMtnuAA6iRWIHFhFRSe0P6DeGBf8Bi31_UuMxw/s1600/Izanagi_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdUbTqhVjkxSgwE6Bxk0vZbYX5QIp0-BIUAsI9SHhRiW4dNar6w_N1BoqPqHTPrQbJzocRnum0FUa6ikSFXa5Xonlx7mDbCsRsNMP6lPr_RF14bsR31LFLpgoIZFyoQeMqCW2O_EPWKck/s1600/Izanagi_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdUbTqhVjkxSgwE6Bxk0vZbYX5QIp0-BIUAsI9SHhRiW4dNar6w_N1BoqPqHTPrQbJzocRnum0FUa6ikSFXa5Xonlx7mDbCsRsNMP6lPr_RF14bsR31LFLpgoIZFyoQeMqCW2O_EPWKck/s1640/Izanagi_23.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The night Kagura performance goes on to the last chapter:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">(4) Dance performance of Goshintai (御神体の舞</span><span style="text-align: justify;">)</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The performance was considered to depict the process of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuniumi" target="_blank">formation of the country</a> (called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuniumi" target="_blank">Kuniumi</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E7%94%A3%E3%81%BF" target="_blank">国産み</a>) that was conducted by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" target="_blank">Izanagi</a> and his spouse, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanami</a> in Japan myths (Kojiki and Nihon Shoki). They are enshrined in several shrines in Takachiho because they are parents of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, it is said that the performance was originated from the ritual ceremony of bumper crops called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niiname-no-Matsuri" target="_blank">Niiname-sai </a>(<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%98%97%E7%A5%AD" target="_blank">新嘗祭</a> = harvest festival). Needless to say, crop means rice </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in Japan</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and the sake is made from rice. That's why the performance was also called "the dance performance of brewing sake", where a pair of male and female deities (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Izanagi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Izanam</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">i</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in the case of Takachiho night kagura) cooperate to make sake from freshly harvested rice for devoting to Shinto deities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKgTfMTg-0BlpU2vOZNQD7Chv4A2TZgonrJb3w8-j6ZVC5C8r4HnfQc-VHXwgZHbVM7svl2_Qzxkiine9DRyF6WWMgTRikd3JztAgaPmygKmNv9ZELYNidXkpiBat9eB7RSbP7VQ8jA2E/s1600/Izanagi_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKgTfMTg-0BlpU2vOZNQD7Chv4A2TZgonrJb3w8-j6ZVC5C8r4HnfQc-VHXwgZHbVM7svl2_Qzxkiine9DRyF6WWMgTRikd3JztAgaPmygKmNv9ZELYNidXkpiBat9eB7RSbP7VQ8jA2E/s1640/Izanagi_22.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the ceremony we mankind are allowed to eat devoted rice and sake. Through this process of sharing the same foods with shinto deities mankind feel their worshipping deities as a part of their flesh and soul, ancient Japanese believed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to Japan mythology, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanagi" target="_blank">Izanagi</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">Izanam</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izanami" target="_blank">i</a> appear in two chapters called Kuniumi (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuniumi" target="_blank">formation of the country</a>) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamiumi" target="_blank">Kamiumi</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(birth of gods</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%A3%E3%81%BF" target="_blank">神産み</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). However, they didn't make sake, as far as I am concerned. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sukunahikona" target="_blank">Sukunabikona</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">スクナビコナ</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is a deity of brewing rice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's why, unlike previous 3 kaguras described <a href="https://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2019/04/takachiho-kagura-performance.html" target="_blank">here</a>, this dance performance is not based on mythologies, instead, it's more oriented toward entertainment and comedy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9Ljs4O_TvkMnxGiE5ALUKint348IhsLS0vuw-tDVhpDIbsWXYh7oc2bId5nsJRSEum43H3JfdqPbC8SvWaGREvx0XHUxgxf-dStXQBUb0r9Dr9z9id4B1oLSj8xg020LavYwEEqM86Lx/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9Ljs4O_TvkMnxGiE5ALUKint348IhsLS0vuw-tDVhpDIbsWXYh7oc2bId5nsJRSEum43H3JfdqPbC8SvWaGREvx0XHUxgxf-dStXQBUb0r9Dr9z9id4B1oLSj8xg020LavYwEEqM86Lx/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Izamagi (male deity with red mask on the left) and his wife Izanami (white mask on the right) appear on stage by carrying instruments/tools for brewing rice. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqcWkz4Qrr63NnhCEwpvTVpzgKWwGcLcSh5doJvwvfwomBsjoTaWrEFuzbnmu3YVptPSWfo52WPnQ-rqeil5a3KIkKUGI1DsfOCzg4ir7AtjTmRrdj-5ytYcUjvtm4LHcIJ966I9rOUuR/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqcWkz4Qrr63NnhCEwpvTVpzgKWwGcLcSh5doJvwvfwomBsjoTaWrEFuzbnmu3YVptPSWfo52WPnQ-rqeil5a3KIkKUGI1DsfOCzg4ir7AtjTmRrdj-5ytYcUjvtm4LHcIJ966I9rOUuR/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">They make booze cheerfully</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa884WoAF6FHrIjTK4JzbUN3TWjkbxzO0yGd8zP1BREeGA07Ndvr_YtqavvfeYYZfM2Bp12PoTmTYjiyhJGB_Euyt8L4DTtpDzyQgplzVwN5rySQDKU5tfCD-00mhYqsMzUuwLzEOZVug/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa884WoAF6FHrIjTK4JzbUN3TWjkbxzO0yGd8zP1BREeGA07Ndvr_YtqavvfeYYZfM2Bp12PoTmTYjiyhJGB_Euyt8L4DTtpDzyQgplzVwN5rySQDKU5tfCD-00mhYqsMzUuwLzEOZVug/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_5.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">and comically</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTTedYtw_0lYAArzUmUaxapSJKEGPLXmQLqZO7xl0UTLeoPGyCViYW-80hRGbyVPLUM-33rygYJMEYjvKG4CRQjc4rFMPmf_R8U7A2jxXa-R4d5970t3Nha_vM-SpuRbmKJRemy2x9O3n/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTTedYtw_0lYAArzUmUaxapSJKEGPLXmQLqZO7xl0UTLeoPGyCViYW-80hRGbyVPLUM-33rygYJMEYjvKG4CRQjc4rFMPmf_R8U7A2jxXa-R4d5970t3Nha_vM-SpuRbmKJRemy2x9O3n/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">time for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanpai" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Kanpai</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;"> (cheers)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5BecYi0Q5xFcoMT0eavuf8jxXmKYqw0A1GgR6KrJaxjy22FsenxJ6EepY4SIufe8i8FsDr4h4gcBmiVxmjLG9Cj4FOerPKxnZg9eGeTFKjNJGRp8wqX4Rm9q_Vk8dfIJTOUKCHUxmXHB/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5BecYi0Q5xFcoMT0eavuf8jxXmKYqw0A1GgR6KrJaxjy22FsenxJ6EepY4SIufe8i8FsDr4h4gcBmiVxmjLG9Cj4FOerPKxnZg9eGeTFKjNJGRp8wqX4Rm9q_Vk8dfIJTOUKCHUxmXHB/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_7.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">one more kanpai</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtAuVlchKkWbPK4i-8DXSu_41x_kVQAlIJqFv-AacI4kjViZ6VflsAOd2VSRZjCZoVuG-uYxtn9egtypiQ3NAKrQCYGx4Ap59k_tDfwjzR13B_m4ilwlZyJPPkv32ZVd8ROpDmitFGvrF/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtAuVlchKkWbPK4i-8DXSu_41x_kVQAlIJqFv-AacI4kjViZ6VflsAOd2VSRZjCZoVuG-uYxtn9egtypiQ3NAKrQCYGx4Ap59k_tDfwjzR13B_m4ilwlZyJPPkv32ZVd8ROpDmitFGvrF/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_8.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">me too</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnstMdpzAnzrWWIO9tIvEtDSV-2TLoXdbxQq12QheTkc3g-VMZdjrcyYsty7SJMQLrcPJOzm-vmPeSOaCUx_WNlExr0sB2mgC5k53I61mJivCthrnnTsui478CwLWcZH1nnZ4fX5EzY_cZ/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnstMdpzAnzrWWIO9tIvEtDSV-2TLoXdbxQq12QheTkc3g-VMZdjrcyYsty7SJMQLrcPJOzm-vmPeSOaCUx_WNlExr0sB2mgC5k53I61mJivCthrnnTsui478CwLWcZH1nnZ4fX5EzY_cZ/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_9.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">me three</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasGJ4o4FqEns5twSUftcbVY8gB4TN2z7CZFZowJcA4cnZlzR2eJARP1yO12aM2DSe7gbcDbnWti01lvIcFoZfhZdm2q0RsXIS7p1GMTbpRhVjJRdJdh85WT7xhflauJ_iQBv2FtHYl59l/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasGJ4o4FqEns5twSUftcbVY8gB4TN2z7CZFZowJcA4cnZlzR2eJARP1yO12aM2DSe7gbcDbnWti01lvIcFoZfhZdm2q0RsXIS7p1GMTbpRhVjJRdJdh85WT7xhflauJ_iQBv2FtHYl59l/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_10.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Izanami has had enough but her drunk husband wouldn't let her go...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3361dBlTR0XPO5fVGNcRugvA8r2FLGANI-VWstZvC1NeTKHDppQXXF9Hd1m0TZ0P671mSpMaxp_TYw3vjnZkyElTBUC8WAQMHBNE85G021pI92inKdE4Ee0ekKQj01kM5nOYkNYdDzux7/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3361dBlTR0XPO5fVGNcRugvA8r2FLGANI-VWstZvC1NeTKHDppQXXF9Hd1m0TZ0P671mSpMaxp_TYw3vjnZkyElTBUC8WAQMHBNE85G021pI92inKdE4Ee0ekKQj01kM5nOYkNYdDzux7/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_11.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">She spilled</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJz9RdyJnygjN7dZyXdA2ifUNikE3_EfXLvnio_KEAdXRcozReIj-8yNUKzKSCiVU5nyTIv_MqOmli-3berP_1v9FtcQYP2yuUIA4jw1I2KrL8HVNuvri0ARrNLsC_r7PfoKGJGUL1pFP/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJz9RdyJnygjN7dZyXdA2ifUNikE3_EfXLvnio_KEAdXRcozReIj-8yNUKzKSCiVU5nyTIv_MqOmli-3berP_1v9FtcQYP2yuUIA4jw1I2KrL8HVNuvri0ARrNLsC_r7PfoKGJGUL1pFP/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_12.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;">but not </span><i style="text-align: justify;">that </i><span style="text-align: justify;">much</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Rav8VUqC7rHEdVkjMwHL0evD59YYSCl_B0-U627PM0YeS0Mdmkx8ScGWHOWS8wv2Nu_d1aABt9JvKQ4qee8s6GWcT10tUgJWqpMKEZAudfURnQGWoCC2SiM4lwTjmUmBnEmYyWyuQMI-/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Rav8VUqC7rHEdVkjMwHL0evD59YYSCl_B0-U627PM0YeS0Mdmkx8ScGWHOWS8wv2Nu_d1aABt9JvKQ4qee8s6GWcT10tUgJWqpMKEZAudfURnQGWoCC2SiM4lwTjmUmBnEmYyWyuQMI-/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_13.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">That's the consequence</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5yKM9XRX86M_5KGjuuLpbf22DSIZiOB5JVYZCHR-ovE9bN5WH6LR1PEErdDFA1HkK66spQBmWWSdWaF7Bh-WzjbMBU4Sn3NkmUan0kzmduRZSj1bgOWsD6t-hePaEeaEjJb-lufbQFej/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5yKM9XRX86M_5KGjuuLpbf22DSIZiOB5JVYZCHR-ovE9bN5WH6LR1PEErdDFA1HkK66spQBmWWSdWaF7Bh-WzjbMBU4Sn3NkmUan0kzmduRZSj1bgOWsD6t-hePaEeaEjJb-lufbQFej/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_22.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Izamagi doesn't behave himself. He found a pretty lass in a crowd.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qkKLMDips9tjg-5gPNONHyyZcUFdvzxn1wgufA4hIY72zGgLg66f7bYpqJFUGDmag01awjSxpkv90dfth2ajH1sKTOjI91SOIFCrF9SfTsUVyyu_L17baEECcOkBKuZ9FGPaaEKqaLrp/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qkKLMDips9tjg-5gPNONHyyZcUFdvzxn1wgufA4hIY72zGgLg66f7bYpqJFUGDmag01awjSxpkv90dfth2ajH1sKTOjI91SOIFCrF9SfTsUVyyu_L17baEECcOkBKuZ9FGPaaEKqaLrp/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_23.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Izanami said to Izanagi "She is taken. Give it up."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87d6O0S8aNfBfe3Bh8pF_iVchFEGqMTsSaaYt4VKPY3Nz3z2x8ZLad-CXQfUFJzP6YTPs6LAtxraRW2VNwPnirkn_UZ5vWBjusrPJHi06yJXh8NELNd3df_3XY1NuOtJY7tjLm-jmciPU/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87d6O0S8aNfBfe3Bh8pF_iVchFEGqMTsSaaYt4VKPY3Nz3z2x8ZLad-CXQfUFJzP6YTPs6LAtxraRW2VNwPnirkn_UZ5vWBjusrPJHi06yJXh8NELNd3df_3XY1NuOtJY7tjLm-jmciPU/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_14.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Now it's her turn!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAH9aovheNhXOMG3cweaqTPV-Xj97rRvS-6QCpGwJEDnElutZuM0mlQWsbgUErcwLMq5Ol6aQgd17S9pbyCstZleRd-74P5qQrxoPJE5RmmZXbK340gVRsSwSpQFsxSXwj2WNi360KtBD/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAH9aovheNhXOMG3cweaqTPV-Xj97rRvS-6QCpGwJEDnElutZuM0mlQWsbgUErcwLMq5Ol6aQgd17S9pbyCstZleRd-74P5qQrxoPJE5RmmZXbK340gVRsSwSpQFsxSXwj2WNi360KtBD/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_15.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">God's punishment for an innocent mankind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8VOLBeod1RPYAKq-d4-ytbXEwjgCNu-vRY7aiiFgg9m1JXcm-WiTN8uFj2F3fE9BtRGNN3lGj-wh9SWLvGqKzM9yQEk36Ze4uFGApkbNYS2_VKofr8mmJ-0rUHjcPEsklxoPBTeznjho/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8VOLBeod1RPYAKq-d4-ytbXEwjgCNu-vRY7aiiFgg9m1JXcm-WiTN8uFj2F3fE9BtRGNN3lGj-wh9SWLvGqKzM9yQEk36Ze4uFGApkbNYS2_VKofr8mmJ-0rUHjcPEsklxoPBTeznjho/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_16.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Sake tastes much better after the punishment</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_o10nPy-CYa_nLkXjYJw6OY-2eBIExRiqckgw34kvPf57spDMyKskFyTkNDG3Ydkr5Z2crDzBz680ZSZbQVrj0HvfREiSdcmPbGC8H1jzdnkLXIAa0Gj84dHHifaxA5Gq3WawAbcfoIK/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_o10nPy-CYa_nLkXjYJw6OY-2eBIExRiqckgw34kvPf57spDMyKskFyTkNDG3Ydkr5Z2crDzBz680ZSZbQVrj0HvfREiSdcmPbGC8H1jzdnkLXIAa0Gj84dHHifaxA5Gq3WawAbcfoIK/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_17.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">If so, then please go ahead, my Darling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpIMC_Ki4IZHnuLPwBfO0O6PREbZbJdl4Y8G_IjRSsVpUh_X7aa7_VevZzILqeexOQeuJBs-WKYwTrtF-8GuUDxrV23vkk-Wsr9GWditjHX6Tyjsbuhx_saVEGT1gd9uwBL2kYX6hOWHv/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpIMC_Ki4IZHnuLPwBfO0O6PREbZbJdl4Y8G_IjRSsVpUh_X7aa7_VevZzILqeexOQeuJBs-WKYwTrtF-8GuUDxrV23vkk-Wsr9GWditjHX6Tyjsbuhx_saVEGT1gd9uwBL2kYX6hOWHv/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_18.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BTW, do you know the meaning of Kanpai? Kan(乾=dry=empty)-pai (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">杯=glass=barrel in this case</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVzebAXrwXPCo6GVuvadJQiZldg_i_G_BP0RdHi3g43byAOybBfi2RmEdlXUm8cklPWjYO5ZN1TZu0UAnlVbdnx83Rt7zzFvuduLOY6NWGgx4KBVPqfzlr-mRyWqNGbIxlVo_6NYuTM0z/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVzebAXrwXPCo6GVuvadJQiZldg_i_G_BP0RdHi3g43byAOybBfi2RmEdlXUm8cklPWjYO5ZN1TZu0UAnlVbdnx83Rt7zzFvuduLOY6NWGgx4KBVPqfzlr-mRyWqNGbIxlVo_6NYuTM0z/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_19.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's the shinto deity's way of "Kanpai= Empty it out."</span><span style="font-family: "times";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPICvxzvn-kgND6czGisrvdVLK-VADuVIVweWsRkRORYrERdvq3q-DLu8OAvNeNO5lArD_g1twhUposvqeB3Ri7rzibEvrgJKhITC40XfG3IlU-6ShFgOt1tYdCTEAEhVbx74ozBtAHwZW/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPICvxzvn-kgND6czGisrvdVLK-VADuVIVweWsRkRORYrERdvq3q-DLu8OAvNeNO5lArD_g1twhUposvqeB3Ri7rzibEvrgJKhITC40XfG3IlU-6ShFgOt1tYdCTEAEhVbx74ozBtAHwZW/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_20.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Confidential ritual ceremony???</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p5zgKEnK9HU6lbk6Cvx_925cx00ww3Gi6xLHfZfQB8n-BMT3jcImo3tcjfmaU29QiKmglnRJaDav0PcnKLeBKteQ0m3cx684WduKGOXIyuCSHkUYqkG9zgd5oreESnOxvTaB2VhZgBr4/s1600/Izanagi_Izanami_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p5zgKEnK9HU6lbk6Cvx_925cx00ww3Gi6xLHfZfQB8n-BMT3jcImo3tcjfmaU29QiKmglnRJaDav0PcnKLeBKteQ0m3cx684WduKGOXIyuCSHkUYqkG9zgd5oreESnOxvTaB2VhZgBr4/s1640/Izanagi_Izanami_21.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Are you all right my Dear?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtZPUNf1jloHjwcOAN-99T_NUnjIvw7C35nWMYQBfFynmRxZqryN9UwzKtaOQZq_Gpjg7QXTguLFxCa8q-8SafisDSWW-9KU_reNYkEVdwad8s-0Tzu3UG_MW0EZaCgPtbT2VU0xGbJAh/s1600/Izanagi_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtZPUNf1jloHjwcOAN-99T_NUnjIvw7C35nWMYQBfFynmRxZqryN9UwzKtaOQZq_Gpjg7QXTguLFxCa8q-8SafisDSWW-9KU_reNYkEVdwad8s-0Tzu3UG_MW0EZaCgPtbT2VU0xGbJAh/s1640/Izanagi_24.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For sure, he's got a mission of sharing rice with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhjF1Lqs7khxCup5WB7cg0d_itQSGyNboZmnCfKnETZc5ikw710sNGFd50z_5TUDDzj9jvhuak4h6_X13YKQLj58tEc_TZoe8hyphenhyphenijF_ZNvMxyECFXb22ZS70xEqrF-0tVJG42MyAbndUN/s1600/Izanagi_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhjF1Lqs7khxCup5WB7cg0d_itQSGyNboZmnCfKnETZc5ikw710sNGFd50z_5TUDDzj9jvhuak4h6_X13YKQLj58tEc_TZoe8hyphenhyphenijF_ZNvMxyECFXb22ZS70xEqrF-0tVJG42MyAbndUN/s1640/Izanagi_25.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Fin</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3357.2286579425618!2d131.30050854935325!3d32.706551180900085!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35472ce8730bc035%3A0xbedd34618e78cbfa!2sTakachiho+Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1555179808284!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px;" width="400"></iframe><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-1708658126703731862019-04-13T20:25:00.000+02:002019-04-13T21:19:04.474+02:00Takachiho Kagura Performance<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/en/" target="_blank">Takachiko</a> (<a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/" target="_blank">高千穂</a>) is well-known as a town of Myths where traditional dance performance called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagura" target="_blank">Kagura</a> (神楽)" takes place for visitors almost every night at Kagura-den Hall (神楽殿) of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takachiho_Shrine" target="_blank">Takachiho shrine</a> (<a href="http://www.town-takachiho.jp/culture/cat131/post_81.html" target="_blank">高千穂神社</a>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJumy6OGV8QAWwAfmripVq00bELkUrN9uSO-Fr5wouATFI64vxZ6m57vps8BpPET1GUYvON7IMGInewBRhcn-fLlYEHQVaAynt172qSsoMp-JHtJfapehH6n9PCYLH3N2oqlvvDcIFSBq-/s1600/Amano_Uzume_1.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJumy6OGV8QAWwAfmripVq00bELkUrN9uSO-Fr5wouATFI64vxZ6m57vps8BpPET1GUYvON7IMGInewBRhcn-fLlYEHQVaAynt172qSsoMp-JHtJfapehH6n9PCYLH3N2oqlvvDcIFSBq-/s1640/Amano_Uzume_1.2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amano Uzume</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the first palace of Takachiho shrine, Takachiho sumera-gami deities (高千穂皇神) are enshrined whereas in the second palace Jyusha daimyojin deities (十社大明神) are enshrined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Takachiho sumera-gami deities are said to be a general term of so called deities of Himuka sandai and their spouse deities. "Himuka saidai (日向三代)" means three generations of deities settled in Himuka/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">日向 where Takachiho locates</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that include <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8B%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AE" target="_blank">ニニギ</a> : grandchild of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> and the first generation of Himuka and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konohanasakuya-hime" target="_blank">Konohana sakuyabime</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%8E%E3%83%8F%E3%83%8A%E3%83%8E%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A4%E3%83%93%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">木花之佐久夜毘売</a> is his wife</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoori" target="_blank">Hoori</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9B%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA" target="_blank">ホオリ</a>: second son of Ninigi- second generation whose spouse is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotama-hime" target="_blank">Toyotamahime</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A8%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">トヨタマヒメ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and Ugayafukiaezu (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A4%E3%83%95%E3%82%AD%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A8%E3%82%BA" target="_blank">鸕鶿草葺不合尊</a>: son of Hoori and hence the third generation, who is also the father of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" target="_blank">first Emperor, Jimmu</a>. His spouse is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamayori-hime" target="_blank">Tamayoribime</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E%E3%83%A8%E3%83%AA%E3%83%93%E3%83%A1_(%E6%97%A5%E5%90%91%E7%A5%9E%E8%A9%B1)" target="_blank">タマヨリビメ</a> who is a younger sister of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotama-hime" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Toyotamahime</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jyusha daimyojin (= ten great shining deities) include the older brother of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Emperor Jimmu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Mikenuno-mikoto (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E6%AF%9B%E5%85%A5%E9%87%8E%E5%91%BD" target="_blank">三毛入野命</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), his spouse (Unomehime/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">鵜目姫</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and offsprings, who are Mikotaro (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">御子太郎</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Jiro (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">二郎</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Saburo (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">三郎</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Unemi (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">畝見</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Teruno (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">照野</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Ohto (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">大戸</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), Reisha (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">霊社</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), and Asarabe (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">浅良部</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to the shrine's narrative, the shrine launched its history </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">when </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mikenuno-mikoto built <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himorogi" target="_blank">Himorogi</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E7%B1%AC" target="_blank">神籬</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) to enshrine </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Takachiho sumera-gami deities (they are his ancestors). D</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">uring <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Suinin" target="_blank">Emperor Suinin</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9E%82%E4%BB%81%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%87" target="_blank">垂仁天皇</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) 's era, the shrine building was made.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Kaguraden hall, night kagura takes place almost every night. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It costs 700 JPY, consisting of 4 famous stages that are based on Japan mythologies. Along with traditional instruments orchestra, following performances are provided. It is registered as List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(1) Dance performance of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Tajikarao" target="_blank">Amano Tajikarao</a> (手力雄の舞)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Due to the conflict made between Amaterasu and her younger brother, Susanowo, Amaeterasu hid herself into cave called "Amano Iwato". His dance depicts the scene where </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amano Tajikarao tries to find where Amaterasu hid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqBaaf9iiWWFCUCsGOY8rC2KLyabeccdF7MItevnOZpI73cfQwoq8IrfTHeiwW1MCGgXaU-sFRcqOzR0JUzCRhD_wKVhkakRUKjs1_WQIbSNezbcMiRgBAzmXyXvjyGfRazPAyFX_K-f9/s1600/Tajikarao_w_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqBaaf9iiWWFCUCsGOY8rC2KLyabeccdF7MItevnOZpI73cfQwoq8IrfTHeiwW1MCGgXaU-sFRcqOzR0JUzCRhD_wKVhkakRUKjs1_WQIbSNezbcMiRgBAzmXyXvjyGfRazPAyFX_K-f9/s1640/Tajikarao_w_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XEPdyojCSkLekPRJAMAUrR1lcu8jcnib0LXc9KHoIrvdej4NOeugQQ6jbDz2PC2rjCrT-I0ycAZruuRPrxjWLLh7gSHG7SMcK0Hc_8uTtWXZPP9IbD5klPHf0WedERyYo82N1s-ky0MY/s1600/Tajikarao_w_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XEPdyojCSkLekPRJAMAUrR1lcu8jcnib0LXc9KHoIrvdej4NOeugQQ6jbDz2PC2rjCrT-I0ycAZruuRPrxjWLLh7gSHG7SMcK0Hc_8uTtWXZPP9IbD5klPHf0WedERyYo82N1s-ky0MY/s1640/Tajikarao_w_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqjYcrXTlHFyb825q-EPij3FkLNuwb5D-WPOiqN6sgiiFpDZPM4epeyG5Us9exCnRvUjpJ2RE5uYLFfAxaoa1vE0eJcddLuekO6ONH5_YrYBnBRMYgXxV4J2_G3u0FlUq8z-CFjEcBj35/s1600/Tajikarao_w_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqjYcrXTlHFyb825q-EPij3FkLNuwb5D-WPOiqN6sgiiFpDZPM4epeyG5Us9exCnRvUjpJ2RE5uYLFfAxaoa1vE0eJcddLuekO6ONH5_YrYBnBRMYgXxV4J2_G3u0FlUq8z-CFjEcBj35/s1640/Tajikarao_w_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(2) Dance performance of Amano Uzume (鈿女の舞)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Thanks to Amano Tajikarao's efforts on finding Amaterasu, it is clear where Amaterasu hides herself. Now Amano Uzume tries to draw Amaterasu's attention by dancing in a funny way that made numerous deities bursted into laughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcqrbE5WqK9NQgBhOeWRn-c3FuPNjSmhqzPqp8Zrtr6ztOME2rYmtVwIr0vRqcqcXMHh9Smqwx66YALWB3P16kqDr0fC91hK_cXKoV52kC4EV7pKFd2cI5iY6q-zrrmhLMc1KTuzWPmXM/s1600/Amano_Uzume42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcqrbE5WqK9NQgBhOeWRn-c3FuPNjSmhqzPqp8Zrtr6ztOME2rYmtVwIr0vRqcqcXMHh9Smqwx66YALWB3P16kqDr0fC91hK_cXKoV52kC4EV7pKFd2cI5iY6q-zrrmhLMc1KTuzWPmXM/s1640/Amano_Uzume42.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxgBlyHshW6mvvxrVkrYfP6LK0yUnfaIXicokWLehb3cAlfolRL-ciYCWm5_0GwTwNTA0tiTPNekaW0J3i0BCHYtbpbcbSCozgYXnqs2H_n03-l2fpPo6q48etJL8ijJJ4lKMVfs5t_tT/s1600/Amano_Uzume_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxgBlyHshW6mvvxrVkrYfP6LK0yUnfaIXicokWLehb3cAlfolRL-ciYCWm5_0GwTwNTA0tiTPNekaW0J3i0BCHYtbpbcbSCozgYXnqs2H_n03-l2fpPo6q48etJL8ijJJ4lKMVfs5t_tT/s1640/Amano_Uzume_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(3) Totori dance performance (戸取の舞</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Again, Amano Tajikarao appears with red mask. He tries to break the door and eventually take it away so that Amaterasu can get herself out from the cave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VNRD0ES8TcbA27ha-BmkcBNVZPIL1Wy0bnrQEH7YH6qykCDywsZ4wKLv7RIDjIoObg1oh1JpQ6pNQyGGAoLcLtHE7hAOGN3kV0xpzzXL6ZPQbqo_dsSyXg7G5b9VoEHGpKSTamtIW-mp/s1600/Tajikarao_r_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VNRD0ES8TcbA27ha-BmkcBNVZPIL1Wy0bnrQEH7YH6qykCDywsZ4wKLv7RIDjIoObg1oh1JpQ6pNQyGGAoLcLtHE7hAOGN3kV0xpzzXL6ZPQbqo_dsSyXg7G5b9VoEHGpKSTamtIW-mp/s1640/Tajikarao_r_1.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdyd-Qbs3Bz6edxz1sTlvf5L2fjWixztxASt7ScN3nna86FQh_JLvd3uAG2908ene1xzMCEzaR7nBWrBkJsFYxFvbZTGHuaOrDtn1t6lBgLD8I50nqLlIwvIZsXasjTxkrGTqBGh1_9BE/s1600/Tajikarao_r_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdyd-Qbs3Bz6edxz1sTlvf5L2fjWixztxASt7ScN3nna86FQh_JLvd3uAG2908ene1xzMCEzaR7nBWrBkJsFYxFvbZTGHuaOrDtn1t6lBgLD8I50nqLlIwvIZsXasjTxkrGTqBGh1_9BE/s1640/Tajikarao_r_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1U3Mn-ftm8yHPUO1B8UpfBnZ0cjsmPgy9J52dWkJlG5DslRgVsGMrsrqnkI1cnMwhcGyk9dWZGG3qtcK59vKdjaIV7ad2_C05sQAh6dUSI2hsTskqBVpJAduUAt5RpXc-dpIxXyFReXh/s1600/Tajikarao_r_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1U3Mn-ftm8yHPUO1B8UpfBnZ0cjsmPgy9J52dWkJlG5DslRgVsGMrsrqnkI1cnMwhcGyk9dWZGG3qtcK59vKdjaIV7ad2_C05sQAh6dUSI2hsTskqBVpJAduUAt5RpXc-dpIxXyFReXh/s1640/Tajikarao_r_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note that Amaterasu (shrine) revealed eventually</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa0UrMZPpFNrG9KEs0_8qUZbyA327VoxGvslvGbXY-3ntUrW581ldl4gpAVLXhpJ3W0AU_62vNJ8BcrebQ7QIvJ2Gyfvm_taJE9bnB0_cOl1XKLLJxblvi5N3BRi7YI4kBQG9Rm-QWCGw/s1600/Tajikarao_r_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa0UrMZPpFNrG9KEs0_8qUZbyA327VoxGvslvGbXY-3ntUrW581ldl4gpAVLXhpJ3W0AU_62vNJ8BcrebQ7QIvJ2Gyfvm_taJE9bnB0_cOl1XKLLJxblvi5N3BRi7YI4kBQG9Rm-QWCGw/s1640/Tajikarao_r_4.jpg" width="560" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(4) Dance performance of Goshintai (御神体の舞</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> This is bit unusual. A couple of deities, Izanagi and Izanami make sake (Japanese wine), dedicate and enjoy drinking it cheerfully.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will post photos taken during (4) in the following post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3357.2286579425618!2d131.30050854935325!3d32.706551180900085!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35472ce8730bc035%3A0xbedd34618e78cbfa!2sTakachiho+Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1555179808284!5m2!1sen!2scz" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px;" width="400"></iframe><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-42323502428261482042018-12-24T21:41:00.000+01:002018-12-24T22:58:20.229+01:00Dazaifu Tenmangu<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en" target="_blank">Dazaifu Tenmangu</a> (<a href="http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/" target="_blank">太宰府天満宮</a>) is a shinto shrine located in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazaifu,_Fukuoka" target="_blank">Dazaifu</a> of current Fukuoka Prefecture. F</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">rom the 8th to the 12th centuries </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazaifu_(government)" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dazaifu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> served as a local government dealing with foreign affairs (trading and military headquarter) and ruling several provinces in northern part of Kyushu.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDL8xd9NKfTsGiI_4XZ36nh_J5HlYwtbC5a4MBN1rr3DeFC3lITs3Xy8by2LtuHBtTOY7jOOSqIP3UzB_DvfhjOxmDMBHibag-4wmnJ68KJRofVHlH-3NZvqUxvz_NLRME9S2y13X1G_o/s1600/Tenmangu_cow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDL8xd9NKfTsGiI_4XZ36nh_J5HlYwtbC5a4MBN1rr3DeFC3lITs3Xy8by2LtuHBtTOY7jOOSqIP3UzB_DvfhjOxmDMBHibag-4wmnJ68KJRofVHlH-3NZvqUxvz_NLRME9S2y13X1G_o/s1640/Tenmangu_cow2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en" target="_blank">Dazaifu Tenmangu</a> launched its history as a mausoleum of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugawara_no_Michizane" target="_blank">Michizane Sugawara</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8F%85%E5%8E%9F%E9%81%93%E7%9C%9F" target="_blank">菅原 道真</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">845 –903 A.D.), a scholar, poet, and politician of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period" target="_blank">Heian Period</a>. Although several candidates are listed as Michizane's birthplace, he is said to be born in current Sugawara town in Nara city (well, town is named after his clan). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5pmf_EB7xonQQL0l2fhvl4o82f3yTcxmvHrSFDJgfXeiw01r5ps8fg0VqklHAxkrDaSrsivZNWIakuCyk0knZWVh0xvmeSaHhWgPgsc2wMC1LEeumMg5HFI1ss3ET2Xf5PDXE2T6VG_A/s1600/Tenmangu_Michizane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5pmf_EB7xonQQL0l2fhvl4o82f3yTcxmvHrSFDJgfXeiw01r5ps8fg0VqklHAxkrDaSrsivZNWIakuCyk0knZWVh0xvmeSaHhWgPgsc2wMC1LEeumMg5HFI1ss3ET2Xf5PDXE2T6VG_A/s640/Tenmangu_Michizane.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Statue of Michizane Sugawara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was a man of numerous talents in terns of studying and poets. After graduating from university, he developed his career in the court as a scholar, then, thanks to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Uda" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Emperor Uda</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'s support, became a bureaucrat. For more detailed info about his career, see </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugawara_no_Michizane" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">his Wiki</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In pre-modern time of Japan, the position of career was assigned according to the hereditary title of the family. Politicians and Bureaucrats started watching him with envy and malice as his position ascended. He was even encouraged by his opponent, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyoshi_Kiyotsura" target="_blank">Kiyotsura Miyoshi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E5%96%84%E6%B8%85%E8%A1%8C" target="_blank">三善清行</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), to retire from politics and enjoy the life but he refused to do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 901, through the political maneuvering of his rival, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Tokihira" target="_blank">Tokihira </a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiwara_no_Tokihira" target="_blank">Fujiwara</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E6%99%82%E5%B9%B3" target="_blank">藤原時平</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Michizane was demoted from his aristocratic rank of junior second to a minor local post at Dazaifu that is far from the Kyoto Capital. Two year later from the dispatch (903 AD) he passed away there with great grief and despair, people who knew him thought so... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBDVmlaFF6WgV_GQmBXRcHGZ6QGnwxq3mtD445EelXllTL_nzKXvkQvZiAsy-juONc6RV-NYPg-8QoslQH3jV4JY88-gXg7f6TXorqU9c3okSn9RZcyN4Nl4OhvmLSMmm0uue61YBaYfd/s1600/Dazaifu_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1200" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBDVmlaFF6WgV_GQmBXRcHGZ6QGnwxq3mtD445EelXllTL_nzKXvkQvZiAsy-juONc6RV-NYPg-8QoslQH3jV4JY88-gXg7f6TXorqU9c3okSn9RZcyN4Nl4OhvmLSMmm0uue61YBaYfd/s640/Dazaifu_map.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Dazaifu - Tenmangu is located at north-east (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AC%BC%E9%96%80" target="_blank">鬼門</a>) of Dazaifu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is said that he passed away at Enokisha (榎社) and his body was buried at Anrakuji Temple (安楽寺). His body was carried by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-wagon" target="_blank">ox wagon</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%89%9B%E8%BB%8A" target="_blank">牛車</a>) to the temple, however, the ox stopped pulling his body in temple's </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">precinct. According to this narrative, his </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">monastery was built by Yasuyuki Umasake (味酒安行</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) at the very place where ox wagon lied down. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yasuyuki Umasake called Michizane's </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">monastery </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Amabara-san Byoin Anrakuji temple (pronunciation???/天原山庿院安楽寺)" in AD 905.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Later on the name was changed to Anrakuji temple Tenmangu (安楽寺天満宮). That's why statues of cow can be seen in Tenmangu. Another coincidence. Michizane was born in AD 805 when animal of the year was cow!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">11 statues of cow are scattered </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in shrine's </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">precinct.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How many of them could I happen to find???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIar0BlBS8Fu3VPeVpBfP5Iqc5fnUkR6iAeGEaJpC5VUUaw6BVF1qP3BPYBrPQEuRiBJK7VaRCb8BGKAl5IwJsNhHKVNcwjdHLqtkW492jPO3zP5o5eAW8Le2Zu9p094VU5cX7S4SEMzU/s1600/Tenmangu_cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIar0BlBS8Fu3VPeVpBfP5Iqc5fnUkR6iAeGEaJpC5VUUaw6BVF1qP3BPYBrPQEuRiBJK7VaRCb8BGKAl5IwJsNhHKVNcwjdHLqtkW492jPO3zP5o5eAW8Le2Zu9p094VU5cX7S4SEMzU/s1640/Tenmangu_cow.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cow/bull with red scarf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9xIPBnEJMgTNu5S55gsRimBi0U6nNcD-mjOL2uwHubdLgp32TRZgwufJZlL3_HFDDxwGrZDJiZZ7mh9PH1oJ5o1gBviaRabx2wsiH0TUl4tiX36Pr5kmPug5TJ7Rba2K9QOdjTwntwY9/s1600/Tenmangu_cow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9xIPBnEJMgTNu5S55gsRimBi0U6nNcD-mjOL2uwHubdLgp32TRZgwufJZlL3_HFDDxwGrZDJiZZ7mh9PH1oJ5o1gBviaRabx2wsiH0TUl4tiX36Pr5kmPug5TJ7Rba2K9QOdjTwntwY9/s1640/Tenmangu_cow4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa3r4lvI7qS5qKpSmHFCCg4yAmoWHcaL-PjaXLre0Tq2E7vpbtu4KneOvmQGVZav4tUj-BJoEzFdGns-MFMo9no3TT6NXygC6iafgeiovI0EQpsUxyL6PsgyzbEZ4GAZjbF5Vx5agNWZG/s1600/Tenmangu_cow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa3r4lvI7qS5qKpSmHFCCg4yAmoWHcaL-PjaXLre0Tq2E7vpbtu4KneOvmQGVZav4tUj-BJoEzFdGns-MFMo9no3TT6NXygC6iafgeiovI0EQpsUxyL6PsgyzbEZ4GAZjbF5Vx5agNWZG/s1640/Tenmangu_cow5.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tip of right horn missing???</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhepAD8kgyCfPliq_lkvdm3DkgtxvJ9qdsF4vTFqdcOfgYf49DjyE8gOlW3XAKQA4752bvDd0NxBJvKmDsbBKBiS5GWJQ6M9ELKQckd7x4Czo1W5nzSWVq3hzlYh_BoN-lOR7FKdEprxuN/s1600/Tenmangu_cow6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhepAD8kgyCfPliq_lkvdm3DkgtxvJ9qdsF4vTFqdcOfgYf49DjyE8gOlW3XAKQA4752bvDd0NxBJvKmDsbBKBiS5GWJQ6M9ELKQckd7x4Czo1W5nzSWVq3hzlYh_BoN-lOR7FKdEprxuN/s1640/Tenmangu_cow6.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheslr5rv5oMTrJpg2FUmFmbeSj5pywDfUk_zEge2j3ZxtBGyOIQAF6UppBVRJP7OYmzcMG9yQ1Glk5e64dV3EFFnatk4zs6ZaR5XKFDNR0yN2qIeJ6JfalhJnmyiImyrlaXIb7Z3FHb1jW/s1600/Tenmangu_cow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheslr5rv5oMTrJpg2FUmFmbeSj5pywDfUk_zEge2j3ZxtBGyOIQAF6UppBVRJP7OYmzcMG9yQ1Glk5e64dV3EFFnatk4zs6ZaR5XKFDNR0yN2qIeJ6JfalhJnmyiImyrlaXIb7Z3FHb1jW/s1640/Tenmangu_cow3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Relaxing under shadow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11D3P_kDlnspMWwq5afFwTqv-dipJ-OQATnmha8EkDZ8fE3m508p8Bgf3Bxt_FMo44pePLsEQFKB9WAXqItJ97ydcfxL947DPlaUo9CTrl94xCezutt3SjXHqfA2m4h7i_Z_-jue2LJI/s1600/Tenmangu_anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11D3P_kDlnspMWwq5afFwTqv-dipJ-OQATnmha8EkDZ8fE3m508p8Bgf3Bxt_FMo44pePLsEQFKB9WAXqItJ97ydcfxL947DPlaUo9CTrl94xCezutt3SjXHqfA2m4h7i_Z_-jue2LJI/s1640/Tenmangu_anonymous.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My favorite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnVvL00oQ-_315UXo_iP9Ncbn2T9tunGHzDV_gibPfw448tQ-wG3xCdTclUeMqNiakqaR_bf5Uqjzg7GPmpZkOgdSKuOQzYQWC5VoIn8Xdn_K8D8YgPiXxhNkG0yShctF3oxj-M1kqnNt/s1600/Tenmangu_kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnVvL00oQ-_315UXo_iP9Ncbn2T9tunGHzDV_gibPfw448tQ-wG3xCdTclUeMqNiakqaR_bf5Uqjzg7GPmpZkOgdSKuOQzYQWC5VoIn8Xdn_K8D8YgPiXxhNkG0yShctF3oxj-M1kqnNt/s1640/Tenmangu_kitty.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Calf with white (stray) cat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I found only 8 unfortunately during relatively short stay surrounded by countless numbers of foreigners mostly Chinese visitors. I heard more Chinese conversation than that of Japanese!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Plum called Tobi Ume (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A3%9B%E6%A2%85" target="_blank">飛梅</a>) in Japanese is the sacred tree of Tenmangu. Three stocks of Tobi Ume trees grown in front of Main Hall were transferred from Enoki sha where Michizane passed away, meaning they are 1100 years old and still bloom every February!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberYbuJOP5-JzY6XGEgRlFBB5S_oEGucYgHiICWbBdzQ4VXIoRc1xbBJeBVhHqsO1qr0E9S9jumkhXzBNB6nDSnFMRS6Jl4p-QoJTkVdcFOtr-yY3i4DURib7MPhWtKahPg1YzQWStKWi/s1600/Tenmangu_Main_Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjberYbuJOP5-JzY6XGEgRlFBB5S_oEGucYgHiICWbBdzQ4VXIoRc1xbBJeBVhHqsO1qr0E9S9jumkhXzBNB6nDSnFMRS6Jl4p-QoJTkVdcFOtr-yY3i4DURib7MPhWtKahPg1YzQWStKWi/s1640/Tenmangu_Main_Hall.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Plum trees in front of Main Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVUJy0vuQnGPePY6TL55ZTN6LnWP7OBr_I_5aCOAORF8G_ZLm4wox2k2aGYB0eOH6EVfWZalR1_NB45oCgNbRxSt2rb1JHfjZoWyyB-oYWQhGRx2FELdLN6FHLWm51uMBGIgBUJvAmfWC/s1600/Tenmangu_hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVUJy0vuQnGPePY6TL55ZTN6LnWP7OBr_I_5aCOAORF8G_ZLm4wox2k2aGYB0eOH6EVfWZalR1_NB45oCgNbRxSt2rb1JHfjZoWyyB-oYWQhGRx2FELdLN6FHLWm51uMBGIgBUJvAmfWC/s1640/Tenmangu_hall.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of Main Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Other than 11 cows, are giraffe, owl (behind giraffe) and deers there, as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZHcccGzrKIDaSQhW_8Y8t8YfZjWGWrsWaRP2AX1CKjQmf1uYIpFao1a_GMjil8-_Up2gfyfMHoN1tQiJqDEsPSTzJn0_8kRx8Wx0wvTKA7oD2r2ehyphenhyphenSiVw4FIIPTn7QRuiM6unHdCMSj/s1600/Tenmangu_giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZHcccGzrKIDaSQhW_8Y8t8YfZjWGWrsWaRP2AX1CKjQmf1uYIpFao1a_GMjil8-_Up2gfyfMHoN1tQiJqDEsPSTzJn0_8kRx8Wx0wvTKA7oD2r2ehyphenhyphenSiVw4FIIPTn7QRuiM6unHdCMSj/s1640/Tenmangu_giraffe.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Giraffe as an imaginary creature</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5fZJy64d7Gp-cTK2GUfE9TDqCcDQJRvA3dvquqIkG1WNOVSZCeZa8e-UXNz5vA2jbK8Epr9AgGgRLl-c1E863vJKTKfU-HiSJOaM9r51WC74g9LFrUdOvmS4lQuE5l2uRzowPbUaRvXE/s1600/Tenmangu_deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5fZJy64d7Gp-cTK2GUfE9TDqCcDQJRvA3dvquqIkG1WNOVSZCeZa8e-UXNz5vA2jbK8Epr9AgGgRLl-c1E863vJKTKfU-HiSJOaM9r51WC74g9LFrUdOvmS4lQuE5l2uRzowPbUaRvXE/s1640/Tenmangu_deer.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JlOVKyV7fEkU77J3RztMRu1e3TJvNfm3HzN5LKIlMpuywIw8rnoJWouH7cGk7UZbU7aA-nXip4T7Ony8DN-E6tLjdE4q7KmtWw5sCkii1bWfpxdAqq2-XLX0gg8ae6O1miYNDPOkpiRX/s1600/Tenmangu_statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JlOVKyV7fEkU77J3RztMRu1e3TJvNfm3HzN5LKIlMpuywIw8rnoJWouH7cGk7UZbU7aA-nXip4T7Ony8DN-E6tLjdE4q7KmtWw5sCkii1bWfpxdAqq2-XLX0gg8ae6O1miYNDPOkpiRX/s1640/Tenmangu_statue.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Statue of Lion???</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah, monkey performance took place there. Actually that <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E5%85%89%E7%8C%BF%E8%BB%8D%E5%9B%A3" target="_blank">monkey</a> is born in my prefecture where Nikko city locates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxPVsIkZ9XEB_qL6V0skUbco-epfPobhvhGeC60Hx5YQpGa1rj52Zg6yPWqLx2616y13HYvxUIH4I4iklQLHXXBocgLVE4eknuxMqMD_qs_t_jUbmc8FiDeihNQDegH700LztJ9RL_5gE/s1600/Tenmangu_monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxPVsIkZ9XEB_qL6V0skUbco-epfPobhvhGeC60Hx5YQpGa1rj52Zg6yPWqLx2616y13HYvxUIH4I4iklQLHXXBocgLVE4eknuxMqMD_qs_t_jUbmc8FiDeihNQDegH700LztJ9RL_5gE/s1640/Tenmangu_monkey.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today he is well-known as a deity of studying but this was not the case from the beginning. Originally he was revered as Tenman-dai zizai Tenjin (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E6%BA%80%E5%A4%A7%E8%87%AA%E5%9C%A8%E5%A4%A9%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">天満大自在天神</a>) because, a</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fter Michizane's death (903 AD),</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> several coincidences took place in Kyoto. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These include calamities such as a death of Michizane's rival, Tokihira Fujiwara in 909, Seiryo-den Palace (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E6%B6%BC%E6%AE%BF" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">清涼殿</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) struck by lightning (</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%85%E6%B6%BC%E6%AE%BF%E8%90%BD%E9%9B%B7%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">清涼殿落雷事件</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) in 930 that resulted in couple of bureaucrat's death as well as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Daigo" target="_blank">Emperor Daigo</a> (醍醐天皇), drought to starvation, plague breakout, and so on. Whenever the disasters and calamities struck in Kyoto capital, people freaked out and feared that Michizane ('s evil spirit) caused them. To calm his spirit down, <a href="http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp/top_en.php" target="_blank">Kitano Tenmangu</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp/" target="_blank">北野天満宮</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) was built in 947. That's how Michizane was enshrined as Temjin deity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in olden days people believed that the river is the border between the life and death. The bridge is, <i>l</i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>iterally</i>,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> the path to connect two distinct world. Politicians and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">bureaucrats who persecuted Michizane to death with despair didn't want his spirit to come back to their world and punish them as a vengeance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIGT_eGYjTPm1qalAkVKD-XsjxN11Hnc2Eo2AO7zAZg3iZQgBWhswTGdhCYj1czzmLVlz9-x2eDSbSbYWuFX9DZUYNJrgZK9ASV1OfcvvF_dJN2_ButMzzeMuJlI9qGyXOvoMAIk1RlgJ/s1600/Official_map_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIGT_eGYjTPm1qalAkVKD-XsjxN11Hnc2Eo2AO7zAZg3iZQgBWhswTGdhCYj1czzmLVlz9-x2eDSbSbYWuFX9DZUYNJrgZK9ASV1OfcvvF_dJN2_ButMzzeMuJlI9qGyXOvoMAIk1RlgJ/s400/Official_map_2.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image is from official site with modifications, indicating the position and the number of bridges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Dazaifu Tenmangu there are pond and river making across the main path (参道, highlighted in red line). In order to get to main hall where Michizane's spirit resides, six bridges await for you. In other words, to interpret the very fact based on Michizane's point of view, his spirit needs to come across six times to get into <i>our living </i>world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWJAGyUyu4ptvKDBtbhBssliV1QKWepvKiwtk39yye_MpML_pEuhCe1KpgE59SurPX4zmXz6QBdf2FMnOY19S3H8dq_U01uFBwCrVld7ekSIrjR2VI7K7Dc9GzpcRYYRp8TCkygs9baon/s1600/Tenmangu_bridge_pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWJAGyUyu4ptvKDBtbhBssliV1QKWepvKiwtk39yye_MpML_pEuhCe1KpgE59SurPX4zmXz6QBdf2FMnOY19S3H8dq_U01uFBwCrVld7ekSIrjR2VI7K7Dc9GzpcRYYRp8TCkygs9baon/s1640/Tenmangu_bridge_pond.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge #1 called Taiko (= drum) bridge (太鼓橋) representing "past"<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q4QFNbwVrUZFEouy0rIAqwwRBiUhgnROokU5Q9st2IKXZPfQn9WRO2S-6a7UnhOuFG4gWW-Js7kNr4VqmtdIuKt1StRQHMJWxxs3qy-Gb-7i_a725Ro19wuuZaLhnjyzaLYaRT5zrvJD/s1600/Tenmangu_bridge_pond3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q4QFNbwVrUZFEouy0rIAqwwRBiUhgnROokU5Q9st2IKXZPfQn9WRO2S-6a7UnhOuFG4gWW-Js7kNr4VqmtdIuKt1StRQHMJWxxs3qy-Gb-7i_a725Ro19wuuZaLhnjyzaLYaRT5zrvJD/s1640/Tenmangu_bridge_pond3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bridge #2 called Hira (= flat) bridge (平橋) representing "present"</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVcjQh-JjY9M2EvxJOciiJ0ZCdakk6uP84Tv7N2EcCJSWjIZDTw0PFc8RaCJa86Wj0TPTjj3UvPuKStSDRWkcx2Z0nd6WQOWwaap1YoZu_2zcmnQUhLXTZovkawEEnqa9VRs82M3LM10U/s1600/Tenmangu_bridge_pond2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVcjQh-JjY9M2EvxJOciiJ0ZCdakk6uP84Tv7N2EcCJSWjIZDTw0PFc8RaCJa86Wj0TPTjj3UvPuKStSDRWkcx2Z0nd6WQOWwaap1YoZu_2zcmnQUhLXTZovkawEEnqa9VRs82M3LM10U/s1640/Tenmangu_bridge_pond2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bridge #3 called again Taiko (=drum) bridge, representing "future". Local high school lass drawing by the bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsfl0XTe9RqwmwjgCoYJqKWGvSg8P7RwhCd-pFuZEU6_q2dcitrx-vUL4B2-GZJWQo2wW9a9WOveSN7d2HhX_7KefBpu8cQbRep09LqMwAu2lNwSYQHWhyphenhyphencGwKDv3WwcFMgjO9ZNyO_eK/s1600/Tenmangu_bridge_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsfl0XTe9RqwmwjgCoYJqKWGvSg8P7RwhCd-pFuZEU6_q2dcitrx-vUL4B2-GZJWQo2wW9a9WOveSN7d2HhX_7KefBpu8cQbRep09LqMwAu2lNwSYQHWhyphenhyphencGwKDv3WwcFMgjO9ZNyO_eK/s1640/Tenmangu_bridge_small.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bridges 4 through 6 are quite shocking to me. Despite the fact that they are small in size, these bridges gave a big impression on me. "How fearful had ancient people who were in political power been to Michizane's spirit???, I wondered... They really wanted to confine his spirit in the world of death, I assume.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3326.2374258246628!2d130.53261935027243!3d33.521212152880544!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35419b9f2aebfbcd%3A0xb824d1aba75fae97!2z5aSq5a6w5bqc5aSp5rqA5a6u!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1545683933364" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
span.s2 {font: 14.0px 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic ProN'; font-kerning: none; color: #777777; -webkit-text-stroke: 0px #777777}
</style>Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-5168224125784401192018-11-11T23:44:00.000+01:002018-11-12T00:02:04.835+01:00Kato Shrine in Kumamoto<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat%C5%8D_Shrine" target="_blank">Kato shrine</a> (<a href="http://www.kato-jinja.or.jp/index.html" target="_blank">加藤神社</a>) is located in the territory of <a href="https://kumamoto-guide.jp/kumamoto-castle/en/admission/" target="_blank">Kumamoto Castle</a> (<a href="https://kumamoto-guide.jp/kumamoto-castle/" target="_blank">熊本城</a>). The enshrined deities are, as name of shrine says, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat%C5%8D_Kiyomasa" target="_blank">Kiyomasa Kato</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%A0%E8%97%A4%E6%B8%85%E6%AD%A3" target="_blank">加藤清正</a>), as well as Kaneyoshi Ohki (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%9C%A8%E5%85%BC%E8%83%BD" target="_blank">大木兼能</a>) and Kinkan (金官).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfuadZIkPNcjhhvB_MsI2WGcJ1vgPITN8kjxglXh4xliXwSxVnxbC6r2YF0jt808vP-LQqatWVPh0jtSiruEEfEYRQgCzjq6Z-hT2kedTGOOvwqrAdLJQnhsi-Z7ipONjPQDNalWlSzzr/s1600/Kato_Shrine_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfuadZIkPNcjhhvB_MsI2WGcJ1vgPITN8kjxglXh4xliXwSxVnxbC6r2YF0jt808vP-LQqatWVPh0jtSiruEEfEYRQgCzjq6Z-hT2kedTGOOvwqrAdLJQnhsi-Z7ipONjPQDNalWlSzzr/s1640/Kato_Shrine_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kiyomasa, born in 1562 in current Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture, was distant relative of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi" target="_blank">Hideyoshi Toyotomi</a> (AD1537-1598). Kiyomasa served for Hideyoshi till Hideyoshi passed away, in return, Hideyoshi cherished Kiyomasa. In 1586 when Kiyomasa was 24 years old, he was granted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higo_Province" target="_blank">Higo Province</a> (current Kumamoto prefecture) by Hideyoshi and settled in Kumamoto castle (隈本城). Later on he reconstructed the castle and changed the character of "Kuma" from "隈" to "熊" and the castle was described as current one, "<a href="https://kumamoto-guide.jp/kumamoto-castle/" target="_blank">熊本城</a>". Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier castles in Japan, along with Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle. Thirteen structures in the castle complex are designated Important Cultural Property.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzmlmPI6_OQvMHkEn8j2eOgLTOn-qtaawTlWT6qiYlVejBBRQgcMsiXBAew4mJCx7OUdo3buUEkmjbNkSuUkP0GJs6wScaE1MgXvMverVcbqUAVCKAhRsq2cCayAb1b4xx_5g6WI-L0Aq/s1600/Kato_Shrine_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzmlmPI6_OQvMHkEn8j2eOgLTOn-qtaawTlWT6qiYlVejBBRQgcMsiXBAew4mJCx7OUdo3buUEkmjbNkSuUkP0GJs6wScaE1MgXvMverVcbqUAVCKAhRsq2cCayAb1b4xx_5g6WI-L0Aq/s1640/Kato_Shrine_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Torii Gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Owing to Kiyomasa's talents as politician, he ruled Higo province by irrigation, cultivation and trading. He was worshipped by locals and hence he was buried in the prestigious temple called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honmy%C5%8D-ji" target="_blank">Honmyo-ji temple</a>" (<a href="http://www.honmyouji.jp/" target="_blank">本妙寺</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)". In 1868 the shrine was separated from Honmyo-ji and was initially called "Nishikiyama shrine (錦山神社)". In 1909 the name of shrine is changed to "Kato shrine".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWO0WD1WyQbcD2ENam-sxfAmcrDofrCI3gaM8ZMvQaHsvWcJQEZC-IkU5z5aEZa_evjKN8u2fdOhExehOkuffMEwgXrMmpyiLUqGZUh4ag9FbqY4LAY_eLhx7sO8gJs6rpVEsqwuPH9ol/s1600/Kato_Shrine_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWO0WD1WyQbcD2ENam-sxfAmcrDofrCI3gaM8ZMvQaHsvWcJQEZC-IkU5z5aEZa_evjKN8u2fdOhExehOkuffMEwgXrMmpyiLUqGZUh4ag9FbqY4LAY_eLhx7sO8gJs6rpVEsqwuPH9ol/s1640/Kato_Shrine_6.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Main Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His spirit was transferred to 90 shrines located all over Japan. In the past there used to be Kato shrines even in Hawaii and in Korea!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc4mxwmVsEXh-P75CRNj-97dKk5N1p-0YwgnuYXwfan57g54S-LpcF_GdMbw9O__WcKjtRqqIN9MDhZy1BLFr8uAEh96DEAvyHXgzRx6NekxEq2Er2eirDXxaSfEFXLBXSiQetZ7VamyG/s1600/Kato_Shrine_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc4mxwmVsEXh-P75CRNj-97dKk5N1p-0YwgnuYXwfan57g54S-LpcF_GdMbw9O__WcKjtRqqIN9MDhZy1BLFr8uAEh96DEAvyHXgzRx6NekxEq2Er2eirDXxaSfEFXLBXSiQetZ7VamyG/s1640/Kato_Shrine_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inside of Main Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kiyomasa was said to be unusually tall guy that his height reached over 190 cm! Besides, he wore tall helmet called "Nagaeboshinari kabuto (長烏帽子形兜)" that made him to look even taller!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mlt6_vv3LUf0BHDpGZhV6cs7rfr5qxOKjMzuB4ELqPNNS7UvPzF1oBtzIX9xX48_m1fPm1oCaPRa_kf6sq5xND7ntmeDLJPIwGT-Ns_EOr2Ky43iKmnyMXx-drSTzO7BqEPSG3QCn_vU/s1600/Statue_of_Kato_Kiyomasa_in_front_of_Kumamoto_Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mlt6_vv3LUf0BHDpGZhV6cs7rfr5qxOKjMzuB4ELqPNNS7UvPzF1oBtzIX9xX48_m1fPm1oCaPRa_kf6sq5xND7ntmeDLJPIwGT-Ns_EOr2Ky43iKmnyMXx-drSTzO7BqEPSG3QCn_vU/s320/Statue_of_Kato_Kiyomasa_in_front_of_Kumamoto_Castle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Statue of Kiyomasa. Image from <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%A0%E8%97%A4%E6%B8%85%E6%AD%A3#/media/File:Statue_of_Kato_Kiyomasa_in_front_of_Kumamoto_Castle.jpg" target="_blank">Wiki</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When he was little, his nickname was Toranosuke (虎之助</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). Tora means tiger in Japanese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0IgRjl1pvo42izPEK7PrLBRAam4oyFlEkjllrneLI2LjuPSmQbO88X3jOVyQ6xtUcQHBK1NlVXEjo8H-s8s9B6EtuNW2wW1DKVE-1LDRQYbDtyNoEG57sytAbrR34h8mHYLn9SILFwqr/s1600/Kato_Shrine_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0IgRjl1pvo42izPEK7PrLBRAam4oyFlEkjllrneLI2LjuPSmQbO88X3jOVyQ6xtUcQHBK1NlVXEjo8H-s8s9B6EtuNW2wW1DKVE-1LDRQYbDtyNoEG57sytAbrR34h8mHYLn9SILFwqr/s1640/Kato_Shrine_8.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Statue of Tora</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He had two emblems. One is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycodon" target="_blank">Chinese bellflower/Platycodon</a> (桔梗) and the second "Snake eye" that was frequently used in his body armor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEwR9LmGFnw8J8YzsZZ9JKIOJnljeLgE5F5zl6g17GcndimUxpp373k2ix5GNv8ZA9mHQHT_TgnEH_HrrbrCWUupm5UgJDXsiz06-si3v9yoKU-zFXPBnHt7IjOmMd2_ekH56m2GPwxVp/s1600/Kato_Shrine_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEwR9LmGFnw8J8YzsZZ9JKIOJnljeLgE5F5zl6g17GcndimUxpp373k2ix5GNv8ZA9mHQHT_TgnEH_HrrbrCWUupm5UgJDXsiz06-si3v9yoKU-zFXPBnHt7IjOmMd2_ekH56m2GPwxVp/s1640/Kato_Shrine_5.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chinese bellflower (left) and Snake Eye (right)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I visited, Kumamoto castle Kiyomasa constructed was heavily damaged by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kumamoto_earthquakes" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">earthquake in 2016</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and many places in the castle were </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">off-limits</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbbIDQk8y7Lgl0JagLNqeXg2nDRXilRRVFOimGNFrFLpciW7GvWYcgNt1Chcj51Ts-mLLnzuB-jfEE8TpJcbtp3QEk0diJVCBOrPsR21c8aUGUfGz1u4-Z55O5_FyNh7KNpjkiGs8UMA3/s1600/Kato_Shrine_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbbIDQk8y7Lgl0JagLNqeXg2nDRXilRRVFOimGNFrFLpciW7GvWYcgNt1Chcj51Ts-mLLnzuB-jfEE8TpJcbtp3QEk0diJVCBOrPsR21c8aUGUfGz1u4-Z55O5_FyNh7KNpjkiGs8UMA3/s1640/Kato_Shrine_7.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">被災者に心からお悔やみ申し上げます。</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHcJxbJpmZyDH5mjj7TNsF6CWqIlTfrmMsAb8MDCYfJlcLVE0H25buqQ6tqw822BRZ_0raE05_DPLo8pAmJBkyU0bILvX4sGYyzKQuL7vhEX4pFfLkg9sY_j8tX4-X9UPLBdwKliK3xrv/s1600/Kato_Shrine_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHcJxbJpmZyDH5mjj7TNsF6CWqIlTfrmMsAb8MDCYfJlcLVE0H25buqQ6tqw822BRZ_0raE05_DPLo8pAmJBkyU0bILvX4sGYyzKQuL7vhEX4pFfLkg9sY_j8tX4-X9UPLBdwKliK3xrv/s1640/Kato_Shrine_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3353.4388122201894!2d130.70314291446005!3d32.8071362897577!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3540f411e738d24b%3A0xfecc702f3997ccad!2sKato+Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1541977280968" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe></div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-65956485829521265662018-09-24T22:16:00.000+02:002018-09-24T22:16:46.489+02:00Tokyo International Forum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVifpfB6gy5XnBkjRZ7rhBuoL4EMlPVoUI24FrWd3VO2gw2mesg_Uafqbcl3r32Kc_r5lHFX9OTKgRaFhc_vyKHpy_5woOJ43uO3kUSzZ1S1RHdd_mEQLFnnaDkFsIXrCdvwK2jPcXNI1/s1600/Tokyo_international_forum_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVifpfB6gy5XnBkjRZ7rhBuoL4EMlPVoUI24FrWd3VO2gw2mesg_Uafqbcl3r32Kc_r5lHFX9OTKgRaFhc_vyKHpy_5woOJ43uO3kUSzZ1S1RHdd_mEQLFnnaDkFsIXrCdvwK2jPcXNI1/s1640/Tokyo_international_forum_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d51856.224038965316!2d139.7642996130787!3d35.67665720980035!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0xc4ca6a002ded263d!2sTokyo+International+Forum!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1537820114965" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-56717805680673631312018-09-01T20:36:00.002+02:002018-09-02T10:54:11.475+02:00Amanoyasugawara in Takachiho<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This is the 200th entry in this blog that was launched in October, 2010!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of my dreams came true! I've been so desperate to visit <a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/en/" target="_blank">Takachiho</a> (<a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/" target="_blank">高千穂</a>), <a href="https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/1212_kagura.html" target="_blank">a town of Japan myths</a>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Takachiho district in <a href="http://www.kanko-miyazaki.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank">Miyazaki Prefecture</a> is said to be the place where, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8B%E3%83%8B%E3%82%AE" target="_blank">ニニギ</a>), grandson of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E7%85%A7%E5%A4%A7%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">アマテラス</a>), descended from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takama-ga-hara" target="_blank">Taka-amahara</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E5%A4%A9%E5%8E%9F" target="_blank">高天原</a>) to the peak of Takachiho to govern the world. The mission is called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenson_k%C5%8Drin" target="_blank">Tenson Kohrin</a>" <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%AD%AB%E9%99%8D%E8%87%A8" target="_blank">天孫降臨</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">" -</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">天孫(</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tenson: grandchild of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>= <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a>) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">降臨</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">kohrin: descending from heaven</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's still controversial where Tak</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">achiho is.</span> In fact</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, there are numerous places (self-)proclaiming "Takachiho as the place where </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ninigi</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> descended" all over Japan. Surprisingly candidate exists even in Korea!!! Among them, </span><a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/en/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Takachiho</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> in </span><a href="http://www.kanko-miyazaki.jp/english/index.html" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Miyazaki Prefecture</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is widely recognized as highly likely the place...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To support <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a>, several deities accompanied to complete his mission. That includes </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" target="_blank">Amano-koyane</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%85%90%E5%B1%8B%E5%91%BD" target="_blank">天児屋命</a>- ancestor deity of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">Nakatomi clan</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakatomi_clan" target="_blank">)</a> ,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" target="_blank">Futodama</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%83%88%E3%83%80%E3%83%9E" target="_blank">フトダマ</a>- ancestor deity of Inbe clan/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BF%8C%E9%83%A8%E6%B0%8F" target="_blank">忌部氏</a> and a son of Takami-musubi/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A0%E3%82%B9%E3%83%93" target="_blank">タカミムスビ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Uzume" target="_blank">Amano-uzume</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A1%E3%83%8E%E3%82%A6%E3%82%BA%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">アマノウズメ</a>- ancestor deity of Sarumeno-kimi/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8C%BF%E5%A5%B3%E5%90%9B" target="_blank">猿女君</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishikori-dome_no_Mikoto" target="_blank">Ishikoritobe</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B3%E3%83%AA%E3%83%89%E3%83%A1" target="_blank">イシコリトベ</a>- deity specialized in mirror-making</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> was commanded </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">to rule (= conquer) the world, Amaterasu bestowed him <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Regalia_of_Japan" target="_blank">the three Sacred Treasures of Japan</a> (Imperial regalia of Japan) that consist of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yata_no_Kagami" target="_blank">Yata kagami</a>/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E5%92%AB%E9%8F%A1" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">八咫鏡</a> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(mirror</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusanagi" target="_blank">Ameno-murakumono-tsurugi</a>/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%8F%A2%E9%9B%B2%E5%89%A3" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">天叢雲剣</a> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(sword</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magatama#Yasakani_no_Magatama" target="_blank">Yasakanino-magatama</a>/</span><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E5%B0%BA%E7%93%8A%E5%8B%BE%E7%8E%89" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">八尺瓊勾玉</a> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(jewel</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). Then a couple of more deities are appointed to support <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a> that are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omoikane_(Shinto)" target="_blank">Omoikane</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%83%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8D" target="_blank">オモイカネ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- a deity of intelligence), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Tajikarao" target="_blank">Ameno-tajikarao</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A1%E3%83%8E%E3%82%BF%E3%83%82%E3%82%AB%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AA" target="_blank">アメノタヂカラヲ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- deity of power) and Amano-iwatowake (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E7%9F%B3%E9%96%80%E5%88%A5%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">あまのいわとわけ</a> - a son of <a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" target="_blank">Futodama</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let's assume that <a href="http://takachiho-kanko.info/en/" target="_blank">Takachiho</a> in Miyazaki is the place of "Ninigi-descending" and move on to the other chapter in Japan myths, named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amano-Iwato" target="_blank">Iwato Kakure</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%B2%A9%E6%88%B8" target="_blank">岩戸隠れ</a>). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://amanoiwato-jinja.jp/publics/index/1#googtrans(ja|en)" target="_blank">Amano-iwato shrine</a> (<a href="http://amanoiwato-jinja.jp/" target="_blank">天岩戸神社</a>), a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s the name says,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is believed to be the place where <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amano-Iwato" target="_blank">Iwato Kakure</a> took place. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amano-Iwato (天岩戸) literally means "The cave of the sun goddess" or "heavenly rock cave".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a result of ritual celemony called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukehi" target="_blank">Ukei</a>" (<a href="http://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2015/12/maroudo-shrine-in-itsukushima-shrine.html" target="_blank">see more in detail in my old entry</a>) made between <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> and her younger brother, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>, that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a> claimed himself to be the winner with no clear justification... <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>, a winner of a game, plunged himself into a series of unbearable, reckless and rowdy acts in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>'s territory. Japan myths denote that Susanowo buried irrigation ditches along rice fields (causing rice drought to death), scattered his excretions (shxts) in Amaterasu's Palace (<i>disgusting!!!</i>) and so on. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>, however, didn't blame him and that stirred <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>'s acts even worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One day when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> was in the weaver's building and knitted the robe to dedicate to the deity, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a> made a hall in the ceiling of weaver's building and threw the flayed (skin-peeled) horse through the hole. One of weavers is terrified with that and she passed away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That was beyond <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>'s mercy. Instead of punishing him, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> decided to hide herself in the Ameno-Iwato cave named Gyoboga-iwaya (仰慕窟</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). The darkness and disasters overwhelmed an entire world b</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ecause </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is considered to be a deity of the Sun(light).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkp263_qXkv53xtKdbFX135KCKbH5Ddbqa4OUxTfAH-Y2_69q0WxznH85czTrU1gnJsY8KSFprpIWIsMjeh2MYl9ebBrBFDW1qPmau7Yc53nN2rMQYFPBnt8xIs-u04RfNaQWVI62IiQl/s1600/Amano_Iwato_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkp263_qXkv53xtKdbFX135KCKbH5Ddbqa4OUxTfAH-Y2_69q0WxznH85czTrU1gnJsY8KSFprpIWIsMjeh2MYl9ebBrBFDW1qPmau7Yc53nN2rMQYFPBnt8xIs-u04RfNaQWVI62IiQl/s1640/Amano_Iwato_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Gyoboga-iwaya (仰慕窟</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Millions of deities got together at the Amano-yasugawara (天安河原</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) to solve the problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmtdt9UdGctKgI7Jl4yQDJ2YLftH6Lus5lYcbiatx1xqcYf236okuZG3n5LW0UhM2hPesB7i6mkCGLdDr81fylQ1Dr6FKQ3shSaF5-hwBd4ixV4Hb9nso8oZL0HiH3pMguODG9Hixvd4k/s1600/Amano_Iwato_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmtdt9UdGctKgI7Jl4yQDJ2YLftH6Lus5lYcbiatx1xqcYf236okuZG3n5LW0UhM2hPesB7i6mkCGLdDr81fylQ1Dr6FKQ3shSaF5-hwBd4ixV4Hb9nso8oZL0HiH3pMguODG9Hixvd4k/s1640/Amano_Iwato_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amano-yasugawara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omoikane_(Shinto)" target="_blank">Omoikane</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%83%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8D" target="_blank">オモイカネ</a>), </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a deity of intelligence, raised several ideas and asked other deities favors to performed several ritual ceremonies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(1) Naganakidori (= long crowing roosters </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">長鳴鶏</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) are gathered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(2) Find Amatsumara (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E6%B4%A5%E9%BA%BB%E7%BE%85" target="_blank">天津麻羅</a>: a specialist in</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalsmith" target="_blank">metalsmith</a>) to support <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishikori-dome_no_Mikoto" target="_blank">Ishikoritobe</a> to make <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yata_no_Kagami" target="_blank">Yata kagami</a> (Imperial regalia. See above) from rocks and irons found in the upper stream of Amano-yasugawara.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2R3RG7azN-Vdxq1UBC2ap-iF1j9OAhg4XXABxVdL-58rdTRxAiOXTyAN0Ciz9ryG3Fw2A4WLptMlpqVkMmblxgld1cZ5mrnA2bI-HJp6jN5Z08W04DYX7EfEJlffnRRD_OsirSDhKk6C/s1600/Amano_Iwato_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2R3RG7azN-Vdxq1UBC2ap-iF1j9OAhg4XXABxVdL-58rdTRxAiOXTyAN0Ciz9ryG3Fw2A4WLptMlpqVkMmblxgld1cZ5mrnA2bI-HJp6jN5Z08W04DYX7EfEJlffnRRD_OsirSDhKk6C/s1640/Amano_Iwato_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amano-yasugawara - a place to supply rocks and irons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(3) Tamaoya (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%89%E7%A5%96%E5%91%BD" target="_blank">玉祖命</a>: literally means "ancestor deity of jewel") </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">made </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magatama#Yasakani_no_Magatama" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Yasakanino-magatama</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (another Imperial regalia).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(4) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amano-koyane</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Futodama</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> performed "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futomani" target="_blank">Futomani</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%AA%E5%8D%A0" target="_blank">太占</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)", </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a traditional Shinto system of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination" target="_blank">divination</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(5) Dig sakaki (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleyera_japonica" target="_blank"><i>Cleyera japonica</i> tree</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B5%E3%82%AB%E3%82%AD" target="_blank">サカキ</a>) in the soil, cut branches and hang </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yata_no_Kagami" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Yata kagami</a>,<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magatama#Yasakani_no_Magatama" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Yasakanino-maga</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magatama#Yasakani_no_Magatama" target="_blank">tama</a> and fuhaku (= weaving/布帛) up on branches of sakaki tree. <a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" target="_blank">Futodama</a> used this decoration as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gohei" target="_blank">Gohei</a> (=wooden wands/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BE%A1%E5%B9%A3" target="_blank">御幣</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI9cPwHywyvAjR0SSXIISwOt9UqXJmSlzUkajutfj9wof4oPOQ8bcEN5N3e8J20kZBNARzTgM2K7DR00UtuFd-dr2f450KhjfH-nsNthVmZjR06q4hpfMR1BoBlw4IgNVlGB7HI_UtDA_/s1600/Tamagushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI9cPwHywyvAjR0SSXIISwOt9UqXJmSlzUkajutfj9wof4oPOQ8bcEN5N3e8J20kZBNARzTgM2K7DR00UtuFd-dr2f450KhjfH-nsNthVmZjR06q4hpfMR1BoBlw4IgNVlGB7HI_UtDA_/s320/Tamagushi.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sakaki tree branches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(6) </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" target="_blank">Amano-koyane</a> addressed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norito" target="_blank">Norito</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9D%E8%A9%9E" target="_blank">祝詞</a>/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">= liturgical texts or ritual incantations</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(7) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Tajikarao" target="_blank">Ameno-tajikarao</a> stood by the side of Amano-iwato.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(8) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Uzume" target="_blank">Amano-uzume</a> (female deity) performed an explicit dance that bursted all the participated deities into laughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Her performance caught <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>'s attention!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> opened the gate of Amano-iwato just <i>a little bit </i>and wondered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"What's going on outside of the world without me (sunlight)???"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Uzume" target="_blank">Amano-uzume</a> replied to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> that even superior deity have appeared at last since you've hidden yourself in the cave and we are grateful for that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Koyane" target="_blank">Amano-koyane</a> and <a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" target="_blank">Futodama</a> brought the mirror in front of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>. When Amaterasu saw her own face on the mirror, she misunderstood that what she sees in the mirror is the superior deity they mentioned. She, then, opened the door further to gaze superior deity. Now the space <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> made is wide enough for </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Tajikarao" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ameno-tajikarao</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> to drag her out from the cave to outside of the w</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">orld.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As soon as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> came out from the cave, <a href="http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=52" target="_blank">Futodama</a> fastened <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimenawa" target="_blank">shimenawa</a> (= enclosed rope/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B3%A8%E9%80%A3%E7%B8%84" target="_blank">注連縄</a>, meaning "Keep OUT"</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and begged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> not to hide herself again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3g92ZI9X1WNUkyjztCbDX8tny27c4gKOAk9cnzKr2RR32HyreA5H5hin9QjAphOZepSH1bQzyR2k8bgPf1hSfAC14W-VFR_GaLZe7M9GZb27g_u5UYEpkDSM17pbwAm72S546WZy5jpv/s1600/Miyajitake_shrine_shimenawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3g92ZI9X1WNUkyjztCbDX8tny27c4gKOAk9cnzKr2RR32HyreA5H5hin9QjAphOZepSH1bQzyR2k8bgPf1hSfAC14W-VFR_GaLZe7M9GZb27g_u5UYEpkDSM17pbwAm72S546WZy5jpv/s320/Miyajitake_shrine_shimenawa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shimenawa</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eventually the world is lightened. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When thinking about the cause of the disaster, it was all due to a series of unbearable misbehaviours of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a>. Numerous deities sentenced him a guilty to force him to shave his beard (a symbol of the power then) and tear all of his nails off from hands and feet as punishment. He was, eventually, exiled from Amaterasu's homeland (heaven).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGnuDOBBTblFuAueTnFJjkd09VkIwS-8TMDmljKKOe84pBYzMNYybNF1pnGWWjOi40wkAHU2JIaOyP6SJr3aYqnIcRxqQhM-Wl4uAdQ_RCPq-yS2QwDOVweTWkRB2gAOco7t1Ail2Rr92/s1600/Amano_Iwato_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGnuDOBBTblFuAueTnFJjkd09VkIwS-8TMDmljKKOe84pBYzMNYybNF1pnGWWjOi40wkAHU2JIaOyP6SJr3aYqnIcRxqQhM-Wl4uAdQ_RCPq-yS2QwDOVweTWkRB2gAOco7t1Ail2Rr92/s1640/Amano_Iwato_8.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omoikane (思兼神) and numerous deities (八百萬神) are enshrined there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Whew!!! This is the introduction and b</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ackground info about Amano-iwato.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 1970 two shrines are combined and collectively called <a href="http://amanoiwato-jinja.jp/publics/index/1#googtrans(ja|en)" target="_blank">Amano-iwato shrine</a>. It is comprised of two palaces - East (東本宮) and West Palace (西</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">本宮</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, the enshrined deity in <a href="http://amanoiwato-jinja.jp/publics/index/1#googtrans(ja|en)" target="_blank">Amano-iwato shrine</a> on both palaces is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a>, however, they employ different names of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> - Amaterasu-ohmikami (天照皇大神 - ancestor deity of the Sun in Japan Royal family) in East and Oh-hirume </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in West. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh-hirume,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">大日孁尊, means </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">大/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">great, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">日孁/noble miko serving to the Sun. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">孁 is considered to be the same as </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">巫 in the past, meaning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miko" target="_blank">miko</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B7%AB%E5%A5%B3" target="_blank">巫女</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The West palace started its history as a place to worship Amano-yasugawara and the cave where <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amano-Iwato" target="_blank">Iwato Kakure</a> took place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNCaqzAHpKtOq2dQ3x9KT1KYnfTHGzlBwm9ME3SdghApqPoZISNW_zJB2ycrFrz9k26lEkvJQOvg_DKZw1_tL-Wd9nIien4DcaZ6FGlaqxpYeVU1caw7zBTo3lbpBEh6Ys6wx1Ce5i4O2/s1600/Amano_Iwato_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNCaqzAHpKtOq2dQ3x9KT1KYnfTHGzlBwm9ME3SdghApqPoZISNW_zJB2ycrFrz9k26lEkvJQOvg_DKZw1_tL-Wd9nIien4DcaZ6FGlaqxpYeVU1caw7zBTo3lbpBEh6Ys6wx1Ce5i4O2/s1640/Amano_Iwato_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Torii and hall in the cave</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's not clear when the shrine was launched but they say that the history started when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninigi-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Ninigi</a>, who recalled what happened to Amaterasu there (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amano-Iwato" target="_blank">Iwato Kakure</a>), visited there and enshrined his grandmom, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu" target="_blank">Amaterasu</a> there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amano-yasugawara lied by the Iwato river - 500 meter away from the West Palace of </span><a href="http://amanoiwato-jinja.jp/publics/index/1#googtrans(ja|en)" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amano-iwato shrine</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. When there is a heavy rain, it is not accessible due to the increased mass of Iwato river. That happens from time to time, especially when typhoon arrives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVzmvlupQJWCsxTeJcpHYxsIjdapCrgTQ_nwwdu8XAbc9uGsYtQ3Wno1yYSdw_RO1R9lf8Oa-F8iW5dD7Ke8c-NNBZbXo6Ks6CmyuvqE0zdUR4Df-Qg537j6Veggg9iml4f89rglG1X0A/s1600/Amano_Iwato_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVzmvlupQJWCsxTeJcpHYxsIjdapCrgTQ_nwwdu8XAbc9uGsYtQ3Wno1yYSdw_RO1R9lf8Oa-F8iW5dD7Ke8c-NNBZbXo6Ks6CmyuvqE0zdUR4Df-Qg537j6Veggg9iml4f89rglG1X0A/s1640/Amano_Iwato_5.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Visitors build a pile of pebbles there. Based on <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E5%B2%A9%E6%88%B8%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">Wiki in Japanese</a>, such custom started </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">spontaneously</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">after the World War II.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIye4L6YN0xsekLKhsnuP90tiUHh_39AlUg6e7-Q2njt01h2xSulWT-JA-RyX4-AiToD2635AthhkVUQB2Ars4Nd3AH6X1gx1ckQ-tXHGOcaRRD3m3fEKxtWgjpmq1k0-7Od8zDhGxr-a/s1600/Amano_Iwato_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIye4L6YN0xsekLKhsnuP90tiUHh_39AlUg6e7-Q2njt01h2xSulWT-JA-RyX4-AiToD2635AthhkVUQB2Ars4Nd3AH6X1gx1ckQ-tXHGOcaRRD3m3fEKxtWgjpmq1k0-7Od8zDhGxr-a/s1640/Amano_Iwato_7.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That <i>really </i>gives mysterious vibe there.</span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgxA8Hsa5AZPnSmzmnZz0_GIQZd7Y7WyTAKSb_8to7kfNkP67a2PEK-JF0wcrg8bE0uuw07jYxVecia-ChxQhm0NtrqR41c8HCyhy7M_-JT9Rp9IxmouOzID4f4a9Q-IIE3tXMbbmDGzA/s1600/Amano_Iwato_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgxA8Hsa5AZPnSmzmnZz0_GIQZd7Y7WyTAKSb_8to7kfNkP67a2PEK-JF0wcrg8bE0uuw07jYxVecia-ChxQhm0NtrqR41c8HCyhy7M_-JT9Rp9IxmouOzID4f4a9Q-IIE3tXMbbmDGzA/s1640/Amano_Iwato_10.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you for reading (or scrolling down) to the end of 200th entry made by Shinto <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku" target="_blank">otaku</a>!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3356.0571029154985!2d131.35091905040846!3d32.737674380890645!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35472bdb70b832bd%3A0x58a8b2c1602a72ab!2sAmanoyasugawara+Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1535812608865" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-52212380247378285782018-08-21T22:31:00.000+02:002018-08-21T23:27:04.598+02:00Takahashi Inari Shrine In Kumamoto<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takahashi_Inari_Shrine" target="_blank">Takahashi Inari Shrine</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E6%A9%8B%E7%A8%B2%E8%8D%B7%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE" target="_blank">高橋稲荷神社</a>), located in Kumamoto city, <span style="text-align: justify;">is considered (or <i>self-proclaimed)</i> to be one of the five main Inari shrines</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> in Japan. The other include <a href="http://inari.jp/en/" target="_blank">Kyoto Fushimi Inari-taisha</a> (<a href="http://inari.jp/" target="_blank">京都伏見稲荷大社</a>), </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.toyokawainari.jp/we/wp-content/uploads/pamphlet_e.pdf" target="_blank">Toyokawa Inari</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.toyokawainari.jp/" target="_blank">豊川稲荷</a> - it belongs to Myogenji Temple/妙嚴寺</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) in Aichi Prefecture, <a href="https://www.inari.ne.jp/en/index.html" target="_blank">Saijo Inari</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.inari.ne.jp/" target="_blank">最上稲荷</a> - again it belongs to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren_Buddhism" target="_blank">Nichiren sect</a> temple, Myo-kyo ji/妙教寺</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) in Okayama Prefecture and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.yutokusan.jp/en/" target="_blank">Yuutoku Inari shrine</a> (<a href="https://www.yutokusan.jp/" target="_blank">祐徳稲荷神社</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) in Saga Prefecture. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3UN_E5MrqSCKEzsFkLw2PXbR46KiEw-LtuDlF7CtbOouzga-nPPGJXN0zgelZ07Sf6stoRLtgS4hBperh6pzdpngmIOkX4GLHk1nq3VwuBc6FOFenQqXlCrC5TpZO5QvZpht9NAYZ_sK/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3UN_E5MrqSCKEzsFkLw2PXbR46KiEw-LtuDlF7CtbOouzga-nPPGJXN0zgelZ07Sf6stoRLtgS4hBperh6pzdpngmIOkX4GLHk1nq3VwuBc6FOFenQqXlCrC5TpZO5QvZpht9NAYZ_sK/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jinmon Gate/神門</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The history of Takahashi Inari shrine dated back to 1496 when the first owner of <a href="https://kumamoto-guide.jp/kumamoto-castle/en/admission/" target="_blank">Kumamoto castle</a>, Chikagazu Kanokogi (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B9%BF%E5%AD%90%E6%9C%A8%E8%A6%AA%E5%93%A1" target="_blank">鹿子木 親員</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), built the Jodai castle</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">上代城</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">at the Mt. Inari summit. The shrine was founded for safe-guarding the castle by transferring the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inari_%C5%8Ckami" target="_blank">Inari deity</a> spirit from </span><a href="http://inari.jp/en/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kyoto Fushimi Inari-taisha</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. The original shrine was burnt into ashes in 1541 when Jodai castle</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> was destroyed in the war...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx88ACnZe4t6czSYICmROXwH8TnYxv_9bYseNSwWbu8gg3nmt4ahyphenhyphenXmhjSoecCdTdWVSrogsvt0Q-_KeN7Mxnhyphenhyphenz7HPXC4FtuPN3ommx2q8R0sv9DhAmZL2E59KDovqm72XMO-kf_r5En8/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx88ACnZe4t6czSYICmROXwH8TnYxv_9bYseNSwWbu8gg3nmt4ahyphenhyphenXmhjSoecCdTdWVSrogsvt0Q-_KeN7Mxnhyphenhyphenz7HPXC4FtuPN3ommx2q8R0sv9DhAmZL2E59KDovqm72XMO-kf_r5En8/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_3.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Haiden Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu" target="_blank">Ieyasu Tokugawa</a> founded <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate" target="_blank">Tokugawa shogunate</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosokawa_clan" target="_blank">Hosokawa clan</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B4%B0%E5%B7%9D%E6%B0%8F" target="_blank">細川氏</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) was appointed to be the owner of <a href="https://kumamoto-guide.jp/kumamoto-castle/en/admission/" target="_blank">Kumamoto castle</a>. In 1661, the priest in Kaizoji temple (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">海蔵寺</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) where spirits of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosokawa_clan" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hosokawa cla</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosokawa_clan" target="_blank">n</a>'s ancestors<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">were taken care of, was inspired in his dream to re-build Takahashi Inari shrine shrine at the current place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBj0mgg80m-ApxMdA61CwiSJjLGoAn7VT3hQ9CwYLvAs2iBTGA8EOm4HeCEcYy2qWf_ulgf7txIzzH_GvyR6Kt96v_ol_Z2jQZKTW-Tg4f3I7P4XSbejM0OVB1tt07Bgj8F0UDhPLbNwn/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBj0mgg80m-ApxMdA61CwiSJjLGoAn7VT3hQ9CwYLvAs2iBTGA8EOm4HeCEcYy2qWf_ulgf7txIzzH_GvyR6Kt96v_ol_Z2jQZKTW-Tg4f3I7P4XSbejM0OVB1tt07Bgj8F0UDhPLbNwn/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_5.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since then, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosokawa_clan" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hosokawa clan</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> worshipped and supported the shrine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9tkhuDujIQTFoXKgPW76x6EVLheYThfTYQXgFNbEqNEQgEgptLmP_4p9CMjMGUXrsLFVgtCdqzqCDP4eg9c5EvukSBpCk9PzFYog2VcqOjeVf03rirxqZKn-3T4BrceUFDrt2BsD2dvP/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9tkhuDujIQTFoXKgPW76x6EVLheYThfTYQXgFNbEqNEQgEgptLmP_4p9CMjMGUXrsLFVgtCdqzqCDP4eg9c5EvukSBpCk9PzFYog2VcqOjeVf03rirxqZKn-3T4BrceUFDrt2BsD2dvP/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The enshrined deity is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukanomitama" target="_blank">Ukanomitama</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8E%E3%83%9F%E3%82%BF%E3%83%9E" target="_blank">ウカノミタマ</a>). Inari shrines are said to exist around 3,000 in Japan and an additional 30,000 Inari shrines exist as as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsumatsusha" target="_blank">auxiliary shrine</a> (sessha/摂社). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUNjcK2F15KjV5e2jmEFXIURt56CzSP1djVLiZx2mLtW43wrJTcpVIpH_5Lqd4mAI4P8kA6HdjlTCMhsgD979XZ0hwu-iPfuK7ILDQv-qPLVqXy_MPF1eEWOYht8MZue6zLNdPlqdFYlF/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUNjcK2F15KjV5e2jmEFXIURt56CzSP1djVLiZx2mLtW43wrJTcpVIpH_5Lqd4mAI4P8kA6HdjlTCMhsgD979XZ0hwu-iPfuK7ILDQv-qPLVqXy_MPF1eEWOYht8MZue6zLNdPlqdFYlF/s640/Takahashi+Inari_7.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although Ukanomitama is enshrined in such a great number of shrines, we know very little about this shinto deity. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The name of Ukanomitama, indeed, appear in the myths but <i><b>no</b></i> depictions as to who she is (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ukanomitama is thought to be a female deity</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and what she's done can be found in mythologies- </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kojiki</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Shoki" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Nihon shoki</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw6xAYDKjimt-6guQV27FNVzJBuVGap8oYJlYeT8OPifwkC_QdUHfcRT6m7_9qa7acu5GU3dZR4OdCTrd5Bjaf7ZNkSahmwpPyTrv0yc8JD3JCN3VSTxZueiCgJA3vpfWvXUz7kZTJ091/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw6xAYDKjimt-6guQV27FNVzJBuVGap8oYJlYeT8OPifwkC_QdUHfcRT6m7_9qa7acu5GU3dZR4OdCTrd5Bjaf7ZNkSahmwpPyTrv0yc8JD3JCN3VSTxZueiCgJA3vpfWvXUz7kZTJ091/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_8.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Big torii gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Uka (ウカ/倉稲)" in <i>Uka</i>nomitama is thought to mean "cereals or foods" and Inari (稲荷) in <i>Inari</i> shrine is considered to mean "ripening rice". People come to visit the shrine hoping for bumper crops (五穀豊穣) and success in business (商売繁盛). Alternatively, another Kanji,鋳成 (いなり), is applied to "Inari", meaning "casting iron". Several hypothesis have been raised to explain Inari shrine based on the production of iron. I'd love to exhibit several facts about it but I'd refrain from it here in this entry...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc_UgCLvwq-xYBfH_Gp6fTVDWscN6t0kU9zwTNJEQkJETBQCSQtc9yS5r3uujlGzEXS42Tk_t0vlQ4bJoW6SBVJFvroafI0lByU9CvExfOH8v0phNH8yUe0fp__-MuQmjpNirmDWjx19A/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivc_UgCLvwq-xYBfH_Gp6fTVDWscN6t0kU9zwTNJEQkJETBQCSQtc9yS5r3uujlGzEXS42Tk_t0vlQ4bJoW6SBVJFvroafI0lByU9CvExfOH8v0phNH8yUe0fp__-MuQmjpNirmDWjx19A/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_9.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Note the "五穀豊穣" flag</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ukanomitama is a daughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto" target="_blank">Susanowo</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B5%E3%83%8E%E3%82%AA" target="_blank">スサノオ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) and Kamu-ooichihime (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E5%A4%A7%E5%B8%82%E6%AF%94%E5%A3%B2" target="_blank">カムオオイチヒメ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). Kamu-ooichihime, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">a daughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Cyamatsumi" target="_blank">Ohyamatsumi</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%A4%E3%83%9E%E3%83%84%E3%83%9F" target="_blank">オオヤマヅミ</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, is alternatively called Ohtoshi-mioya kami (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">大歳御祖神</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). Brother of Ukanomitama is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshigami" target="_blank">Ohtoshi/Toshigami</a> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B9%B4%E7%A5%9E" target="_blank">トシカミ</a>) - a deity (kami) of the year (toshi/</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">年</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), who appears in New Year's day. The traditional ritual ceremonies in New Year's day in Japan are originally to welcome the "Year of deity, Toshikami", BTW.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueJhNx4jGjA8KrEzwiBycg_ow7ebMB4xOnXAulAHHcrBlhQdRWeXyhXXnKYjFKR08XGDc1l0rSwcfGzlExNTukKnU61n6BfMAJWUta90h4D_I9desOnUHepfFYThEyJtPsJPHpAZGaHLO/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueJhNx4jGjA8KrEzwiBycg_ow7ebMB4xOnXAulAHHcrBlhQdRWeXyhXXnKYjFKR08XGDc1l0rSwcfGzlExNTukKnU61n6BfMAJWUta90h4D_I9desOnUHepfFYThEyJtPsJPHpAZGaHLO/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_6.jpg" width="720" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Countless number of red torii gates</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inari shrine is easily recognizable by it's characteristic of multiple red torii gates and foxes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVgwkrdadWoo6L08lGmTftr6lBbKkFXWsrIGnyCAbmb4so5_FSTYJ4989kPOEL0SzNecO2vHqKfBEiPueh5q-7n4T2imHYhFkD3sVbrGNt3mA-cYv6FvCdfKe3F3kMOVWvQy9bx7mxM1Z/s1600/Takahashi+Inari_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVgwkrdadWoo6L08lGmTftr6lBbKkFXWsrIGnyCAbmb4so5_FSTYJ4989kPOEL0SzNecO2vHqKfBEiPueh5q-7n4T2imHYhFkD3sVbrGNt3mA-cYv6FvCdfKe3F3kMOVWvQy9bx7mxM1Z/s1640/Takahashi+Inari_4.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gold foxes in Haiden Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The highest ranking, Sho-ichi</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">i</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A3%E4%B8%80%E4%BD%8D" target="_blank">正一位</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), is bestowed to the Inari shrine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc4FNv9ZiA1cyJAjHGOFkZboNqBa2UsESACodRxC8b_6KI-PNSn4cBuyXAUxHEh5o_CYz3iDYwh0tR5fUCZuGAgtseS-pmrzkjWpQTUjDASustY52GNo8RcYQxLfzpyAf4mPn1qFIPOrh/s1600/ranking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc4FNv9ZiA1cyJAjHGOFkZboNqBa2UsESACodRxC8b_6KI-PNSn4cBuyXAUxHEh5o_CYz3iDYwh0tR5fUCZuGAgtseS-pmrzkjWpQTUjDASustY52GNo8RcYQxLfzpyAf4mPn1qFIPOrh/s1640/ranking.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">正一位- the ultimate ranking bestowed. Photo is taken elsewhere... </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Due to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kumamoto_earthquakes" target="_blank">Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016</a>, several places (such as stone lanterns) are still damaged.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1677.1760845852978!2d130.65749097578075!3d32.78292025022903!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3540f5159466f4e5%3A0x8f2eb180b7723762!2sTakahashiinari+Shrine!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1534707441768" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-10774650536871962862018-07-06T19:53:00.000+02:002018-07-06T23:39:01.940+02:00Hakozakigu Revisited<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is part three entry of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakozaki_Shrine" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Hakozakigu </a><span style="text-align: justify;">(</span><a href="http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">筥崎宮)</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span> in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chikuzen_Province" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Chikuzen Province</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> (current </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fukuoka Prefecture). Please visit </span><a href="http://extractingabstract.blogspot.com/2016/05/hakozakigu.html" target="_blank">part one entry</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for background info.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5OCyn_SmQ8GFsnezUT-R3JAl_RILCPdkg-DoaAbjHnbBoBce4laxtOGn7-y33rpssdNptwkkd3NgpBmQ2c2SPIafmrkyDj0bqJympihp0dUyIw1mu6g07c7mwWXyE4_6Sjy52xlCsrCs/s1640/Red_Torii.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="720" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red torii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Why did I visit again?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was raining when I visited for the first time and couldn't see the second and the third <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii" target="_blank">Torii</a> gates.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPYZrenbkfPyFZzlz8gZ3V1G5d03te_4C01jEfsVUg5tQ6cjJnvFV5-cKCaoJIr6kn9gRa_FjnwE_iWvvHIArxnikuyEukHu5PxHSZSbtf-o_4Fs2hE3OIgZMibrDeT957U8osVRPBNza/s640/Hakozaki_Torii_map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="720" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Guide map from their <a href="http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/keidai/" target="_blank">HP</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPYZrenbkfPyFZzlz8gZ3V1G5d03te_4C01jEfsVUg5tQ6cjJnvFV5-cKCaoJIr6kn9gRa_FjnwE_iWvvHIArxnikuyEukHu5PxHSZSbtf-o_4Fs2hE3OIgZMibrDeT957U8osVRPBNza/s1600/Hakozaki_Torii_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The God of weather blessed me this time! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Based on their <a href="http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/" target="_blank">website</a>, the Torii gates are numbered from the closest one and in April 2018 the 88-year-old-and-16-meter-tall third tori, located adjacent to stone lantern, was removed for safety reason (in case of falling apart). Instead of removing, it could have been renovated... Pity, isn't it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBiQDDUtqpfU7EqdBQ1QO5maoosLYNdPNQAI0s8n6KXa1XIm8NM7iudNpZtNr6QEmybaxouR46dUOvEwp-OIWdPDJyyzYwrp4R2XFH6haQXRXJuRegfFv4aubp_mguCe0pTG10hx8JFS-/s1600/Stone_Lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBiQDDUtqpfU7EqdBQ1QO5maoosLYNdPNQAI0s8n6KXa1XIm8NM7iudNpZtNr6QEmybaxouR46dUOvEwp-OIWdPDJyyzYwrp4R2XFH6haQXRXJuRegfFv4aubp_mguCe0pTG10hx8JFS-/s1640/Stone_Lantern.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stone lantarn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What intrigues me is that the current 3rd red Torii stands at the shore named Oshioihama (お潮井浜), which looks like entrance is wide-open to the sea for welcoming visitors from the sea. Well, that might be the case in the past when there was no subway or bus to get there. People in an ancient time used to sail by boat, I assume. Currently, the red 4th torii is in the territory of Fukuoka prefecture Shinto ministry bureau and it was not accessible when office is closed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXV3eSwDzdijJly_NJh1GYw6hs8APu9XvG9vJdflsRqGyTyjivQDQvRWUZGNBEU1e3CNpOBRkLnDo-0u8LZEmSQo2OzTBXdSPSYalPEFLgzzk17dvr8CgQTxcuKi-t24sd1vDxzPIaB5Y/s1600/Red_Torii_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXV3eSwDzdijJly_NJh1GYw6hs8APu9XvG9vJdflsRqGyTyjivQDQvRWUZGNBEU1e3CNpOBRkLnDo-0u8LZEmSQo2OzTBXdSPSYalPEFLgzzk17dvr8CgQTxcuKi-t24sd1vDxzPIaB5Y/s1640/Red_Torii_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Torii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The second torii is made to imitate the first one. They look alike in shape but you have quite different impression most probably due to the color - the second one is marble-alike and the first one obsidian looking. A title “Hachimangu (八幡宮)” is written in the frame. Hachiman is a nickname of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_%C5%8Cjin" target="_blank">Emperor Ohjin</a>, who, along with his mom <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Jing%C5%AB" target="_blank">Empress Jingu</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamayori-hime" target="_blank">Princess Tamayori</a> (玉依姫), is enshrined at Hakozakigu.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgZcAz7j1_eHeREJaISPUWXyYUgbibEYxcHLJgYS3SVOSp_RB1XXdj4Cdy4i1-GlQp_NsWpAqhhi00IF_upbWu3GDCLVjT0v3LITyq9ePFrPX4HPYyJFzrBi9bVhwNm-Sg9rOrwX1SOqQ/s1600/Second_Torii_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgZcAz7j1_eHeREJaISPUWXyYUgbibEYxcHLJgYS3SVOSp_RB1XXdj4Cdy4i1-GlQp_NsWpAqhhi00IF_upbWu3GDCLVjT0v3LITyq9ePFrPX4HPYyJFzrBi9bVhwNm-Sg9rOrwX1SOqQ/s1640/Second_Torii_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 2nd Torii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their torii has their own characteristic features in its shape. When you take a close look at it carefully, pillars are composed of three blocks and get thicker toward the bottom. The top rail (Kasagi/笠木) is curled upward on margins. Both of top and bottom rail have the same width. Due to its unique features, their tori is called “Hakozaki torii”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UKQkW0dmY5zwWabqRNbLrJ4RE1lLdSJ_Mi-BV7oBJymGfXnSFXLtN4Rtr6PGqtSjRGvKzHlLaOrBrIn8I4JCaiIGn3ZTZFTP3W5zTUooIj_rW4TM7FCWuHZr0u5ybiYA6DtYB4Z1ydct/s1600/Second_Torii_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UKQkW0dmY5zwWabqRNbLrJ4RE1lLdSJ_Mi-BV7oBJymGfXnSFXLtN4Rtr6PGqtSjRGvKzHlLaOrBrIn8I4JCaiIGn3ZTZFTP3W5zTUooIj_rW4TM7FCWuHZr0u5ybiYA6DtYB4Z1ydct/s640/Second_Torii_1.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The current first torii is built in 1609. When I got closer and closer to the shrine, something caught my eyes. Three flags were hang-up in front of Romon gate (cherry gate/桜門). As described in the first entry, this shrine is politically controversial sort. Two flags are familiar to me and easily recognizable but the one to the left was…. Belgium flag???</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwsPuECdxwfH4xB2RiZbXVvf9DYPnLq_lF_HFWoLsekopnc6Hik20fRli1CBV_z0h859p6WiZIPG9E0PrD9ZVcZazLPuHxtQV2F0YKyxVj75_rSDBMhbKL3MgbUSTd_vPBjN56FYrV1Wf/s1600/First_Torii_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwsPuECdxwfH4xB2RiZbXVvf9DYPnLq_lF_HFWoLsekopnc6Hik20fRli1CBV_z0h859p6WiZIPG9E0PrD9ZVcZazLPuHxtQV2F0YKyxVj75_rSDBMhbKL3MgbUSTd_vPBjN56FYrV1Wf/s1640/First_Torii_1.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First torii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The right flag comprised of two black, yellow and red triangles is a semaphore flag of Imperial Japan Navy. It is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_flag" target="_blank">Z flag</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyiXMpp1MFDpxerh1lsbEOu-uG4-S-T0ld_ri12jPh9Ys3XrgBJpSFcWZlDMhYFV3w3LJC9Y-JHfuq2R8RgHp1sQ3gzgiV1AY8N81pg7AIXYKdc0Z4flnyQHhbwGkJEmTrHLe-8MngQW8/s1600/First_Torii_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyiXMpp1MFDpxerh1lsbEOu-uG4-S-T0ld_ri12jPh9Ys3XrgBJpSFcWZlDMhYFV3w3LJC9Y-JHfuq2R8RgHp1sQ3gzgiV1AY8N81pg7AIXYKdc0Z4flnyQHhbwGkJEmTrHLe-8MngQW8/s1640/First_Torii_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">First torii and Romon gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>How come???</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP8hbvQ1NEQdYrKka_0msVtdYqFSm7a2fBi1HYaD0I6AL4XrjvAd5zLmW49RSUsI8AEyj3hZVq_JWGVCSpvXH_QELmMACd2oQnc-RcbrNXcoazRZ5HoHVib6Bk62KxaTnG_eWiVYlGbNC/s1600/Romon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJP8hbvQ1NEQdYrKka_0msVtdYqFSm7a2fBi1HYaD0I6AL4XrjvAd5zLmW49RSUsI8AEyj3hZVq_JWGVCSpvXH_QELmMACd2oQnc-RcbrNXcoazRZ5HoHVib6Bk62KxaTnG_eWiVYlGbNC/s1640/Romon.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Controversial display at Romom Gate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is a reason. The answer is in this entry. May 27 is the opening fire day with Russo-Japanese naval war in 1905 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tsushima" target="_blank">Battle of Tsushima</a>) and preparation for the ceremony was ongoing when I visited there (although it wasn’t May 27 when I was there). </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDUiAoS8QY8OUf3PwcsL3gjwr-AfDXsKaZCRZVio_klEcCGvBlUdJ5mH7LjogfV9IKzOQ-PFeeIrs9GxBTCd9_sPz29dkMr15O7apZ_LpOd4bxUJ7ZcCy-OqwsjjRdQwq7lgNCNI88O5e/s1600/Flags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDUiAoS8QY8OUf3PwcsL3gjwr-AfDXsKaZCRZVio_klEcCGvBlUdJ5mH7LjogfV9IKzOQ-PFeeIrs9GxBTCd9_sPz29dkMr15O7apZ_LpOd4bxUJ7ZcCy-OqwsjjRdQwq7lgNCNI88O5e/s1640/Flags.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blue sky!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you already noticed, the sky was utterly blue!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0OBDszPFDURrC8P5g39l8m9zq9IPYBE4Hy2jNQYOF448dO5jIbc20wsb3jKmELpq18iDjVf1XBpOA5sRTju23j84ztt3FOcKCu01K-5FwOAW5OX5iqL6DSk-VGemPs6TKIm23YMqmcEY/s1600/Romon_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0OBDszPFDURrC8P5g39l8m9zq9IPYBE4Hy2jNQYOF448dO5jIbc20wsb3jKmELpq18iDjVf1XBpOA5sRTju23j84ztt3FOcKCu01K-5FwOAW5OX5iqL6DSk-VGemPs6TKIm23YMqmcEY/s1640/Romon_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are curious about this shrine, here is an official <a href="http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/pdf/english.pdf" target="_blank">pdf </a>in English!!! It's very well-documented and you are strongly encouraged to check <a href="http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/pdf/english.pdf" target="_blank">it</a> out.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3322.641978957097!2d130.42121611487943!3d33.614592680727256!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x35418e2fb31b25ff%3A0xbc8de79819e78c6a!2sHakozakigu!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shu!4v1530896640286" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px;" width="400"></iframe><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-53606099530429591892018-06-16T22:22:00.000+02:002018-06-16T23:17:43.796+02:00Koinobori - Carp Streamers in Breeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: start;">Koinobori (鯉のぼり) - a carp kites fit well in the blue spring sky in Japan!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4oeDrb3lrxv0fm_k4iF_ws5pzZ9A6i3euXGmBM3cCiIKzGXB6BhjRR5vreE6Unigw7WwfM6NlWkI-I61DdrpLpOBeX3q7Ss8Hsx0h6gTy9A7bvSErHrwjvRfwi01GGw3RL06IZTXe7Y0/s1600/red_carp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4oeDrb3lrxv0fm_k4iF_ws5pzZ9A6i3euXGmBM3cCiIKzGXB6BhjRR5vreE6Unigw7WwfM6NlWkI-I61DdrpLpOBeX3q7Ss8Hsx0h6gTy9A7bvSErHrwjvRfwi01GGw3RL06IZTXe7Y0/s1640/red_carp.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A tradition of hanging carp-shaped windsocks up in Children's Day, May 5th, was originated from Chinese mythology. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In an ancient China, the Dragon's gate (<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BB%E9%BE%8D%E9%96%80" target="_blank">登龍門</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) is believed to be the swift stream of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_River" target="_blank">Yellow river</a> located at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanxi" target="_blank">Shanxi province</a>. The gate was made through excavating the legendary mountain, Mt. Dragon (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">龍門山</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). The construction was ordered </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by "</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_the_Great" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ye the Great</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">", a founder of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xia_dynasty" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Xia dynasty</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (2070-1600 BC), according to <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BB%E9%BE%8D%E9%96%80" target="_blank">Wiki in Japanese</a> (Chinese Wiki says Mt. Dragon is located at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luoyang" target="_blank">Luoyang</a>). </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Numerous fish tried to leap such devastating rapids of the Dragon's gate, however, none of them were successful.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Except </i>carp! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A carp that can accomplish the mission eventually turned into the Dragon, according to Chinese myth. Dragon is a symbol of power, strength, fortune and so on. It also represents imperial power. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The image of a carp jumping over Dragon’s Gate is an old and enduring Chinese cultural symbol for courage, perseverance, and accomplishment. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Japan, May 5th (called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_no_sekku" target="_blank">Tango no sekku</a>/<a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AB%AF%E5%8D%88" target="_blank">端午の節句</a>) </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is one the five annual ceremonies that were traditionally held at the Japanese imperial court. Interestingly, in ancient Japan, May 5th was the one for women but around Edo period, it became what it is in present time (for </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">boy's ceremony</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I visited <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yodohime_jinja" target="_blank">Yodohime shrine</a> (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://yodohime-jinja.jimdo.com/?logout=1" target="_blank">與止日女神社</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">), the most prestigious shrine in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizen_Province" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hizen Province</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (current Saga Prefecture), the spring festival (<a href="https://www.sagabai.com/main/?cont=event&eid=30886" target="_blank">第40回川上峡春まつり</a>) took place in Kase river (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%98%89%E7%80%AC%E5%B7%9D" target="_blank">嘉瀬川</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">) that runs by Yodohime shrine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakizdCOCslSjaAxz-SY55hyI0eAoHsLZG1Ddh5lwhC8RnsBVdQ5ta1vFJdbEgKO3WIaCKtzB3EPN9oA1_SfwmnfEQds2tS9cw9TjuQzDNYrRNOL3ZyXi-1z6f_CnPed8KpHdx9Ta70x0b/s1600/black_carp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakizdCOCslSjaAxz-SY55hyI0eAoHsLZG1Ddh5lwhC8RnsBVdQ5ta1vFJdbEgKO3WIaCKtzB3EPN9oA1_SfwmnfEQds2tS9cw9TjuQzDNYrRNOL3ZyXi-1z6f_CnPed8KpHdx9Ta70x0b/s1640/black_carp.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rescued black carp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather was nice and the sky was blue. But not much wind... They don't look like a triumphal carps transforming into dragon... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rather they look gasping:(((</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK6ojzw8_wgXlTkbo9wDKpSCARp3QrmJwW3HHoEeU46hxskxvwM2FNvbwgj6bGvhcQ-PiNV7pfFLjzsT4EwCQj_DQRJvfnX0W0D5I-gzbOWU0hz5RRVAOLjLwo4H1Atz20OT3t62T1MtE/s1600/carps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK6ojzw8_wgXlTkbo9wDKpSCARp3QrmJwW3HHoEeU46hxskxvwM2FNvbwgj6bGvhcQ-PiNV7pfFLjzsT4EwCQj_DQRJvfnX0W0D5I-gzbOWU0hz5RRVAOLjLwo4H1Atz20OT3t62T1MtE/s1640/carps.jpg" width="720" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gasping for breath...</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to an occasional breeze, they looked alive... a <i>bit.</i></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ1pvI0mFRmOeqiuRpcOrUDe_aA25RD1m8PrZyypKROPb8iVUrx3TeIF1qqgDgD2JM2WolUdWb76arwAcZHWAC7tRf_LfnIvGTqCBsek-9dmsed-yVAL6tQB1R1yDzRjGZLB-4jm6tiUr/s1600/carps_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ1pvI0mFRmOeqiuRpcOrUDe_aA25RD1m8PrZyypKROPb8iVUrx3TeIF1qqgDgD2JM2WolUdWb76arwAcZHWAC7tRf_LfnIvGTqCBsek-9dmsed-yVAL6tQB1R1yDzRjGZLB-4jm6tiUr/s1640/carps_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<i>Boys be ambitious</i>" by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Clark" target="_blank">William S. Clark</a>.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3333.657440973621!2d130.26636875017013!3d33.32777006291298!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3541c9aa0a2aad87%3A0x5e5aa568ebf7f3a7!2z5bed5LiK5bOh!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1529179175725" style="border: 0;" width="400"></iframe>
</div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980983243722085726.post-46950070486328424632018-06-15T23:30:00.000+02:002018-06-16T18:55:11.426+02:00Big O in Tokyo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may wonder why this it is called "<a href="https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/en/tourists/attractions/" target="_blank"><i>Big O</i></a>". </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yes, it is indeed big wheel with 60 meter diameter and "O" is named from a "centerless" non-rotating structure. In 2006 it is listed as the world's largest centerless Ferris wheel by <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/" target="_blank">Guiness World Records</a>!!!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtm2Miek5ivuFaD5m74inGInI1H6PA-WsXLEO0wimBzjxWoTVpCEtfbgx5tcnbKyuyq8c3zSIYsREvSPXiEdPG_bAYTZhPiIBW_Jz6KEAI2MIocJNAYYT-haWgpVKu1cbDM68qm5Om2H2/s1600/Big-O_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtm2Miek5ivuFaD5m74inGInI1H6PA-WsXLEO0wimBzjxWoTVpCEtfbgx5tcnbKyuyq8c3zSIYsREvSPXiEdPG_bAYTZhPiIBW_Jz6KEAI2MIocJNAYYT-haWgpVKu1cbDM68qm5Om2H2/s1640/Big-O_2.jpg" width="720" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rail of roller coaster called "Thunder Dolphin" goes through the "O-ring" of Big O! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Exex1fdMIQ0lTMka7svNQKpL_5QcYKd6GGEPwHIVHmIbcwMEIgBeveCWB75xN5uunhqZNG0Ufc4m4x4ybreZx7O2uJdoC5qLYOJRHst8RmeLrcNd7Q6ZzzaHV6AbuXl3_grCBya2oGWH/s1600/Big-O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Exex1fdMIQ0lTMka7svNQKpL_5QcYKd6GGEPwHIVHmIbcwMEIgBeveCWB75xN5uunhqZNG0Ufc4m4x4ybreZx7O2uJdoC5qLYOJRHst8RmeLrcNd7Q6ZzzaHV6AbuXl3_grCBya2oGWH/s1640/Big-O.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's located very close to Tokyo Dome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d809.955040132574!2d139.7532456349268!3d35.70604291124109!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x60188c38bbf0efcd%3A0x9c054f5d664c72!2sBig+O!5e0!3m2!1sen!2scz!4v1529097569249" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px;" width="400"></iframe><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
Yoshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262500744784559114noreply@blogger.com0