Planning a run? One shrine in Tokyo, made famous by a long-running manga, has a protective charm just for you. Plus , you can carb up on pastries while you're there. Learn more about the unique strategies the shrine is using to increase visitors and stay afloat.
in 2017, at Tomioka Hachimangū Shrine, head priestess Nagako was murdered by her brother Shigenaga, who believed her role should belong to a man. Shockingly, he wasn’t alone in this belief: Japan's Association of Shinto Shrines refused to recognize Nagako for years.
Documented 100th different #presentation topic, this time the format and content completely unlike anything before, drawing from my familiarity with Kyōto #Buddhist temples (first photo), Shintō shrines, and festivals reenacting the Heian Period of over a thousand years ago. The slideshow is at at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379221428
The pechakucha (third photo) rapid-fire presentations were also a social event in Nishinomiya, between Ōsaka and Kōbe, involving Kōnan University students, teachers, and other English users. The editor of our book A Passion for Japan gave me a cameo in his presentation by discussing my chapter (last photo).
In the rest of Japan, November is known as Kannazuki (神無月), or the month in which there are no gods. However, in Izumo, it’s known as Kanarizuki (神在月), as all of Japan’s gods (八百万神; yaoorozu no kami) are said to be present there.
Where do Japan's gods go when they go to Izumo? They go to Izumo Jinja. Here's why you should follow them:
Over the centuries, the position of miko within Japan has shifted and changed. Yet it’s always remained an integral part of Japanese culture. Learn about the role of a miko (Shinto shrine maiden) in Japan - and see inside a new school that trains and certifies them.
Its fascinating how powerful #animism was at protecting the environment for most of existence. I just learned recently that the #nymphs in #Greek#mythology really no different than local #Shinto deities, or animal spirits of the Americas. Every rock, stream and tree had a spirit attached to it, and if one wanted to change or use the land, they had to know how to appeal to these spirits and do it sparingly.
Even #polytheists had some variety of lesser animistic spirits that get lost among the big names. Of course, major roman brownies got upgraded to gods when they saw and liked the Greek #pantheon.
To this day even if they don't actually believe in it, Icelanders use the concepts of land #elves as kind of an extra layer of bureaucracy before changing the land. Animists have been looked down on, as the most primitive form of religion. As modern science shows us that the environment is one of the most important things to protect, perhaps it is the most important and advanced form of #religion .
Wanton destruction of the planet only happened when we switched to #monotheism and converted all those spirits into evil #demons in our minds. It opened up many new scientific and technological advances but wrecked the planet. Perhaps we need some form of applied animistic bureaucracy such as giving all things a certain level of rights and autonomy to ensure they survive for future generations to also enjoy. #environmentalism
While kitsune are usually associated with Shinto and the god Inari, silver and gold foxes (known as ginko and kinko, or gingitsune and kingitsune) are servants of Dakini, a Buddhist goddess.
The Shintō shrine Jōnangū (城南宮) in Kyōto, was a palace of Emperors from the beginning of the #Heian Period in 794. It has #gardens from different periods since then, and a patch of pink and white #plum blossoms around a big stone lantern is a most stunning sight to behold. Several years ago the head priest showed me around and explained the history in Japanese. Jōnangū is not well known to tourists, but it draws many reverent Japanese.
The third photo is of a teahouse and a reddish variety of plum blossoms. The last photo shows what my American friend whom I guided got: a seal written in #calligraphy by the shrine maiden (o-miko-san). Jōnangū is written down the center, with yesterday's date down the left side. The right side is what the shrine especially offers: houyoke - a #prayer to avoid obstacles or worries, such as with one's family. There is a great demand for such #blessings nowadays.
The Shinto Hadaka Matsuri, translated as the “Naked Festival,” begins in early February. This year, some changes will take place at various Shinto shrines, and one celebration will begin allowing women to participate for the first time in 1,250 years.
A rewatch of Spirited Away has me thinking about Shinto. Do I know anyone who could recommend a really good book about how #Shinto works? Specifically folk beliefs?
While I was in Japan I took so many photos at Fushimi Inari Shrine, and at other Inari Shrines, so I'm thinking of sharing them with the hashtag #DailyInari. I don't know if you can follow hashtags here but maybe keep an eye out if you are interested. #InariShrine#Japan#JapanTravel#Kyoto#TravelPhotography#Shinto#kitsune
Some unedited, out-of-camera photos from today’s day trip to Katori Jingū, a popular Shinto shrine outside of Sawara, northeast of Narita (Chiba Prefecture). The shrine has a stone lantern lined approach that begins after some shops and restaurants found around the shrine's parking lot. Katori Jingū's oldest standing structures are its black painted main building and vermilion gate, which date from the year 1700.
The Kashihara shrine (橿原神宮) area of Nara is a cradle of Japanese civilization formerly known as Yamato. I especially didn't want to miss the archaeological museum, so a couple of its treasures are included here. The shrine is dedicated to the legendary first Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇). The Buddhist temple Kumedera (久米寺) near Kashihara Jingū is a Shingon temple, but it predates the founder Kūkai. It was where Kūkai found the indecipherable Mahāvairocana Sūtra (大日経) that justified his precious voyage to Chang'an, as I alluded recently in the journal paper "Translation Issues in the Rapid Transmission of Esoteric Buddhism from India to China to Japan" at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371965557
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima, an island near Hiroshima on the Inland Sea of Japan. The shrine itself is breathtakingly beautiful, surrounded by the waters at high tide. At low tide you can approach the torii more closely, and the exposed sands teem with marine life. The whole island is definitely worth exploring, including the cable car ascent through ancient forest to the summit of Misen mountain