Toshogu Memorial Shrines

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. Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 . (1543 - 1616) .
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Toshogu Shrines,
Memorial Monuments for Tokugawa Ieyasu
東照宮　徳川家康


.......................... 1543 - 1616
http://www.samurai-archives.com/ieyasu.html

. Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 . (1543 - 1616) .
- Introduction -

Tokugawa Ieyasu is the founder of the Edo Shogunate, he was the first shogun and osthumously became some kind of protecting deity with his own shrine in the Nikko Mountains, north of Tokyo (an auspicious place to protect his city according to Chinese Feng-Shui Geomantic lore).
The correct spelling of the name should be Tooshoo-Guu in Nikkoo.
日光の東照宮

You can read more about the heroes who were active around 1600 to unite the many fiefdoms of Japan, the three most famous of them are Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and our Ieyasu.
http://www2.kanawa.com/japan/figure7.html


For our Haiku friends, here is the famous story to shed light on the temperament of these three:
When confronted with a nightingale in a cage, which would not sing, each had his own approach to this situation.

Nobunaga<>
If the bird does not sing, kill it!
Hideyoshi<>
If the bird does not sing, I will make it sing!
Ieyasu<>
If the bird does not sing, I will wait until it sings!

As you might imagine from the above episode, Ieyasu outlived and out-waited his opponents and then took over power, like a ripe apple falling into his hands.

Anyway, Ieyasu was an impressive figure and I will talk about him in another story, but here we are concerned with him after his death. His heirs and the nation needed a hero to unite for the future, so memorial shrines (Toshogu) were build, first in Kunoo-San. Another reason for building these luxurious shirnes, some critics say, was to make the local daimyoo, who were ordered with the buildings, spend so much money, they would not have a penny left to plot further fighting.

Tokugawa Ieyasu was obsessed with food and medicine to prolong his life. But he also liked to try new things, like the "tempora", tempura introduced by the Portugese missionaries.
The name refers to the time when the Catholics were not allowed to eat meat, quattuor tempora.
Ieyasu ate too much of it one day, became sick and died shortly after !

More details about his life:
http://www.samurai-archives.com/ieyasu.html

Latest research found that Ieyasu did not die of food poisoning or stomach cancer, but of a cancer of the pancreas.

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Kunoo-San Toshogu 久能山の東照宮 Kuno San, Mount Kunô



Ieyasu died in 1616, and was buried at Mount Kuno-San in Shizuoka Prefecture according to his will. The shrine is situated on a steep hill overlooking the beach, but you can easily reach it nowadays via a ropeway from the other side, driving over some spectacular rock formations, called the “Rocks like folding screens” (byoobu-yama).

Anyway the detailed story of Kunoo-San (various spellings) is here:
https://www.toshogu.or.jp/

Mount Kunô (Kunôsan)

Utagawa Kuniteru II (Kunitsuna II; here signed as Kunitsuna)

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Ueno Toshogu 上野の東照宮


There is another famous Toshogu Shrine at Ueno, in the heart of Tokyo, built in 1650. This is the most convenient of the Toshogu Shrines to visit on a short Japan trip, and it gives you a vivid impression of this particular style of architecture, which I would like to call “Chinese Baroque”, overloaded with decorations, a symphony in colours and shapes, just overwhelming in all the details.
Look at it here:
http://www.edo-ya.com/guide/spots/toshogu.htm

徳川家康は元和2年（1616）4月17日駿府（静岡市）で死去し，死後日光東照宮に葬られた。その威光を末永く示すため，各所に家康を祀る東照宮が建立されたが，江戸では江戸城内紅葉山と浅草寺境内に東照宮が建てられた。寛永3年（1626）伊勢国津藩主藤堂高虎は，幕府の許可を得て自邸内に上野東照宮を造り，一般市民にも参拝させていた。寛永19年に浅草にあった東照宮が浅草寺からの火で類焼したため，急遽上野の東照宮が大名諸侯の参詣の場所となる。正保3年（1646）には正式に東照宮の宮号も授けられた。　しかし三代将軍家光は，高虎の建てた東照宮が気に入らず，社殿の全面造り替えを命じ，慶安4年（1651）4月に完成した。社殿は国重要文化財の指定を受け，唐門，透塀，拝殿，幣殿，本殿からなり，日光東照宮と同じ権現造りが用いられた。写真は拝殿で，その桁行七間（15.2m），梁間三間（6.3m）本殿の前方に建ち，本殿との間を石の間でつなぐ「権現造り」である。唐門の透塀に囲まれ，入母屋造り正面千鳥破風といった大きな銅葺の屋根である。黒漆の腰組が縁を保ち，柱から唐戸に至るまで金箔を使い，長押上段は鳳凰が彫刻され，金銀緑青からなる極彩色となっている。唐草蒔絵の長押，それに中央を高くした折上格天井は，狩野探幽筆の彩色唐獅子が描かれている。拝殿内陣正面の「東照宮」の勅額は，紺青と緑青の中に純金で書かれ，後水尾天皇の筆で慶安4年に納められたものである。
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~dz3y-tyd/jinjya/tousyouguu/tousyouguu.html

Woodblock Print of the Pagoda by Kawase Hasui
http://www.wlotus.com/KawaseHasui/Ueno%20Toshogu%20Shrine%20in%20Spring.htm


The Peonia Gardens at Ueno Toshogu
Reference

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Kawagoe Toshogu 川越東照宮 - Senba Toshogu 仙波東照宮



There are many Toshogu Shrine in Japan. But this shrine is one of the top three of Toshogu Shrine in Japan. The others are Kunosan Toshogu in Shizuoka Pref. and Nikko Toshogu in Tochigi Pref. TOKUGAWA Ieyasu was preliminarily buried at Kunosan. Since then, in accordance with the last words of Ieyasu, he was buried at Nikko. On the way to Nikko, the funeral procession stopped at Kawagoe. As a result anotherToshogu Shrine was constructed at Kawagoe.
His Buddhist priest-adviser Tenkai resided in the temple Kita-In in Kawagoe and had the Toshogu Shrine built in the compound to perform special rituals for four days, before the remains of Ieyasu moved on.

The Koma-Inu 狛犬of the shrine are especially beautiful.



. Tenkai 天海 - Jigen Daishi 慈眼大師　 . (1536-1643)

Here in Kawagoe, Daruma meets Ieyasu at the annual Daruma Fair on January 3.
You can see the Daruma market and beautiful pictures of the Shrine in snow and the interiour with the superb black laquer decorations. The Hollycock crest (aoi no go-mon) is the one of the Tokugawa Family until today.

At the Temple Kita-In 川越喜多院 there is a big Daruma Market too.



Look at the many pictures on this link.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/yume/dreams/main/English_Kawagoe_daruma_2003.htm

Jizoo with Daruma お地蔵様とだるま
http://2.pro.tok2.com/~dreams/photo/ztk/kawagoe/03_daruma/t_daruma_045.jpg

The Hollycock crest (aoi no go-mon) is the one of the Tokugawa Family until today.
http://2.pro.tok2.com/~dreams/photo/ztk/kawagoe/03_daruma/t_daruma_027.jpg





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Kishu Toshogu 紀州東照宮
In Wakanoura, Wakayama

. Wakanoura matsuri 和歌浦祭 Wakanoura Festival .
. . . and the Saiga dance 雑賀踊

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Nikko Toshogu (Nikkoo Tooshoo-Guu)
日光東照宮

This is of course the most famous of them all, with extensive buildings nestled in the mountains of Nikko, now a national park with the great Kegon Waterfall, Lake Chuuzen-ji and many more spectacular places. In Nikko you find the famous three monkeys: no see, no hear, no speak. And the sleeping cat, which is watching over the mice in the area. All the wonderful carvings are said to have been made by a master carver who had only his left arm to do all these masterpieces, Hidari-Jingoroo.

“The grand shrine at Nikko, the Toshogu, was built for Tokugawa Ieyasu after his death in 1616. Ieyasu left behind detailed instructions for his shrine, which were, for the most part, carried out by his grandson Iemitsu in the 1630s. This site contains about 30 buildings, while the entire Nikko site contains many more, including the Taiyuin which Iemitsu had built as a mausoleum for himself in 1653.”

Here you find a lot of pictures with Enlish explanations.
Nikko area belongs to the World Heritage.
http://www.city.nikko.tochigi.jp/heritage/english/w_top.htm




Walk around the temple compound.
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/V3613/nikko/html/walking_tour.html

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ealac/V3613/nikko/html/ieyasu_s_toshogu.html

More pictures
http://www.japan-guide.com/a/html/nikko_e.html
http://www.spm.co.jp/kantou-travel/kanto/tosyogu.htm

The complete picture tour, including the sleeping cat.
http://pictures.nicolas.delerue.org/japan/20040808_Nikko/


Sleeping Cat


http://pictures.nicolas.delerue.org/japan/20040808_Nikko/Nikko_5221.html

Three Monkeys and MANY MORE

http://web-japan.org/atlas/architecture/arc05.html
http://www.reggie.net/photo.php?albid=841&ph=4161644


There is a map with all the Toshogu Shrines of Japan.
http://www.toshogu.net/map.htm

And on this list, you can click on most of the names on the left to go further.
http://www.toshogu.net/list.htm


Matsuo Basho in Nikko
日光. (futa ara)　(二荒) .. Fudara



BAKU 獏 or 貘 a kind of tapir
It eats our nightmares, but also:


source :　kotonara
With more photos from Nikko

Since the BAKU eats iron, copper and all kinds of metal, it was depicted at the Toshogu many times in the hope it would prevent the making of weapons and thus prevent war against the Bakufu.

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Nikkoo Kaidoo 日光街道 Nikko Kaido Road
Nikko Reiheishi Kaido　日光例幣使街道 for imperial messengers
Nikko Onari Kaido　日光御成街道 for the Shogun

. Roads from Edo to Nikko .

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sake no izumi 酒の泉 Sake Spring
at Takinoo Shrine 滝尾神社, a subordinate shrine of Nikko Futarasan Shrine
別宮滝尾神社 酒の泉【さけのいずみ】

Sake brewed with this water is especially delicious.

- source : www.mct.gr.jp/world_h/futarasan

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. Teri-furi ningyoo 照り降り人形 "weather forecasting dolls" .

and this stone from Nikko

Terifuri-ishi - Weather Forecast Stone 照り降り石　日光

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ekiben 駅弁　station lunch at Nikko
masu sushi 日光鱒寿し Sushi from masu, local trout
placed on a layer of local yuba tofu skin and wrapped in large bamboo leaves.
the fish is marinated in salt and then in vinegar to give it its appetizing color.
The producer of this bento makes others too, all with ingredients from the area.
If he can not get local fish, he uses some sent over from Tsukiji market in Tokyo.



WASHOKU ... Japanese Food SAIJIKI

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H A I K U

元和2年4月17日（1616年6月1日）June 1
kigo for mid-summer

Ieyasu Ki 家康忌 Ieyasu Memorial Day

. Memorial Days and Famous Poeple .


kigo for early summer

Nikkoo Tooshooguu sai
日光東照宮祭 (にっこうとうしょうぐうさい)
Festival at Toshogu in Nikko
Nikkoo sai 日光祭（にっこうさい）Nikko festival
Tooshooguu sai 東照宮祭（とうしょうぐうさい）Toshogu festisval
yoinarisai 宵成祭（よいなりさい）"coming on the night before"
togyosai 渡御祭（とぎょさい）"honorable parade of the main deity"
May 17, 18

It used to be on the death aniversary day of Ieyasu, according to the lunar calendar on April 17.

On the night before the festival, the mikoshi of the three main shrines are carried to shrine Futarasan jinja to spend the night there (yoinarisai).




quote
A procession of 1,000 samurai warriors staged at a world heritage site
Shunki Reitaisai (Grand Festival of Spring)

The highlight of this festival is the procession called Hyakumono-Zoroe Sennin Gyoretsu of some 1,000 men dressed as samurai warriors on the 18th. Nikko Toshogu, which is registered as a World Heritage Site, is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) who founded the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo (Tokyo). This procession reproduces the scene of his grave being transferred from distant Shizuoka Prefecture to Nikko in accordance with Ieyasu's will.

The procession departs from a shrine called Otabisho by the Shinkyo Bridge located to the south of Futarasan-jinja Shrine. It is led by three portable shrines which carry the spirits of the three Shoguns, including Tokugawa Ieyasu. They are followed by Shinto priests on horseback and samurai warriors clad in full armor. There are no special attractions, but this enhances the grandiosity and elegance of the procession all the more, impressing the spectators with the dignity of the samurai warriors.

It is also worthwhile listening to the ancient court music and viewing the dance performances which are carried out upon the arrival of the portable shrines at Toshogu Shrine. The 17th features yabusame, with archers dressed in samurai style shooting at targets while on horseback. A similar procession is held in October but on about half the scale of the spring procession.
source : www.pelican-travel.net

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Toshogu shrine pines
I try to stay as still -
mist and dew

Alan Summers, Area 17, 2006


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. Nikkoo kisuge 日光黄菅 Amur Dailily .
lit. "yellow Suge from Nikko"
zenteika 禅庭花（ぜんていか）"Zen garden flower"
setteika せっていか
Hemerocallis middendorffii


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. Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 . (1543 - 1616) .

. WKD - Saijiki for Festivals and Ceremonies

. Law and Order 　法律 - Pax Tokugawa .
The Edo Period

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

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[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

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SUIJIN God of Water

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. Legends about Mizunokami .
. reisui 霊水 miraculous water .
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God of Water, Mizu no Kamisama 水の神様
Suijin-sama 水神様

町の冬　水神様の　石碑かな winter in town – the stone memorial of the God of Water 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 The Bridge beside this Stone The clear water is used to produce a great sake, Gozenshuu 御膳酒 BACK TO Katsuyama, a postal station of the Road to Izumo

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This memorial for the God of Water one is in the neighbourhood of Sendai, near a temple of Yakushi Nyorai at Hoozawa. This stone memorial is two meters wide and about eight meters high, all of one huge stone.

昭和５１年に撮影した「水神碑」です。昔、七北田川流域に住む人々は、かんばつのために凶作になると、「泉ケ岳」の最も険しい表コース（薬師寺コース）を登り、頂上で雨乞いをしていました。しかし頂上での雨乞いは大変だったので、明治２８年に七北田川の源流である南山腹、「樋沢川（ヒザ川）」の渓流のほとりに「水神碑」が建てられました。
「水神碑」は高さ２．０７メートル幅１．８メートルの巨大な石碑です。　
www.city.sendai.jp/

. . . CLICK here for more SUIJIN SAMA Photos !

Tsukaigawa 【つかい川】　 Sendai, Nanakitagawa
朴沢の「つかい川」の写真です。「つかい川」は農業用水や食事の後片付け、洗濯など、色々と活用されおり、生活には欠かせないもので、「使いがっての良い川」が変じて「つけがわ」とも「つかい川」とも言われるようになりました。　 「つかい川」では「ばったり・ばっかり」と言われる米をつく道具や「水車」なども使われていました。
http://www.city.sendai.jp/izumi/soumu/syasinkan/nanakitagawa.html

. Legends about Mizunokami .

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風水天地の神様 Gods of the four elements

Since in 2004 there were so many typhoons hitting Japan, I am now checking out about the Gods of the Elements, while Typhoon Nr. 22 is hanging around on October 8.

Especially the Gods of Water and Rain and the Wind need to be appeased these days.

I am very greatful for Mark Schumacher and his kind support and fruitful discussion of this subject.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml

On a page about the Mandala of the Diamond World, Kongookai Mandala 金剛界曼荼羅, one of the great Mandalas of Shingon Buddhism, I found a mention to the
four Diamond Protectors 四執金剛.

They are also called the Four Great Gods,
Shi no Ookami 四大神.

水神　Suijin
水天 Suiten God of Water

風神 Fuujin - Fujin (and Raijin 雷神 God of Thunder)
風天 Fuuten God of Wind

地神 Chijin
地天 Chiten God of Earth

火神 Kajin
火天 Katen God of Fire

Each of the gods also has his female counterpart, a sort of heavenly princess KI, 妃.

In other context, they may look different、as we will see below.

These gods may have evolved from animistic believes in India and Japan, whereby the reading of JIN may refer to a Japanese Deity and the reading of TEN to an Indian origin. In the pure Japanese Shintoo context, these names can also be read as for example Mizu no kamisama, Hi no Kamisama, see below.

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FOUR
refers to the four elements of
Earth, Water, Fire and Wind (Air).

The four elements of antiquity -- earth, water, air, and fire -- dominated natural philosophy for two thousand years. The premise that everything was formed from these four elements was developed by the Greek philosopher Empepedocles of Sicily, and continued to be believed until the rise of modern science.

Even today, earth, water, air, and fire are not bad symbols for the four states of matter -- solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

Science has discovered new ideas, but in the field of Mysticism these elements are still important today, to illustrate the oneness of all. The ancient symbol is found after each element below. Some mystics insist that these four elements be placed on the temple and home sanctum alter. Some even go so far as to have earth, water and air from Egypt, to commemorate the origin of the Mystery Schools that later migrated to many parts of the world.
source : salemos.tripod.com/

According to Mark, FOUR also occurs very frequently, both in ancient and traditional art in China and Japan, to represent the four directions (north, south, east, west), and also the fifth direction, the center (which in China refers to China itself).

As for the Shingon and other Mandalas, I refer you to Marks page.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mandala1.shtml

These four gods are also part of the 12 Deva Guardians, Juuni-Ten, with their origin mostly in Indian beliefs.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

The above mentioned four elements together with the void make up the Five Elements, usually represented in Stone Markers, Gorin-To.
Gorintoo 五輪塔（ごりんとう）



The earth, water, fire, wind and the sky, which Buddhists believe create everything of the universe. The bottom stone is a cube and called the Earth ring expressing the earth. From the second, a sphere (Water ring), triangular shape like pyramid (Fire ring), semi-sphere (Wind ring) and placed on top is peach-shaped hoju (mani in Sanskrit) and is called Sky ring.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/ishidoro.shtml

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The Water God, Sui-jin Suijin 水神
Sui-ten Suiten 水天

West; Water Deva; Skt : Varuna
Among the oldest Vedic gods; the personification of the heavens, and preserver of the universe; later becomes the lord of the Sun Gods, and still later the god of oceans and rivers.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

Sui-ten (Varuna) is a fair figure clothed in softly-colored and finely-decorated garments. He emerges gracefully from the dark-brown background like a water spirit, as his name, literally "water deva," suggests. His knees are highlighted with white gradations and decorated with delicate, finely detailed patterns. Such decorative techniques are characteristic of the late-Heian Period when production of Buddhist paintings was at its height.
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/syuzou/meihin/kaiga/butsuga/item05_07.html


Dikpalas or directional guardians, are stationed around the four corners of many temples. The northwest corner, with guardians Varuna and Vayu is shown here.
http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/khajuraho/khapar6.html

Varuna is also associated with or identical with the Dragon Deity (ryuujin, ryuuson), riding on a turtle or a dragon and living in the Palace in the Ocean (ryuugu). He holds a rope in his hand. In that version he has many snakes around his head. He is then also a protector of pregnancy and easy childbirth. Other sources present his vehicle, the animal he is riding on as a kind of crocodile-like sea monster, the Makara.
http://darumapilgrim.blogspot.com/2006/02/dietrich-seckel.html

Don’t miss this great page of Mark about the Dragons !
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/dragon.shtml

For the Makara, look here:
http://www.khandro.net/mysterious_makaras1.htm

. . . CLICK here for MAKARA Photos !

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As the God of Water, Mizu no Kamisama, Mizugami, Suijinsama, he is widely revered in Japan. Even in my own backyard, there is a small grotto with a stone saying 水神, who is supposed to bring enough rain for the rice fields in due time and on the other hand protect us from too much of it causing landslides and more water damage.



One link claims, 水神様とは下水菌のこと, Suijinsama is another name for the bacteria in the waste-water. The more you find in the water for cleaning the soil, the better is our environment.
It the bacteria are reduced due to environment pollution,the earth turns to salpeter, as for example near the thatched homes of Gokan Village in Toyama 五箇山.
source : bigai world

Here another episode from my own experience comes to mind.

When we remodeled our old farmhouse, we had to do something about grandfather’s toilet. It was just a small pond in the ground, with two beams over it where you had to balance real hard while performing your job. Below you was the open sewer.

The local carpenter decided to drain the sewage water, fill the hole up with earth and level it with the rest of the ground. But before doing anything to this smelling place, we were informed, we had to pacify the Suijinsama living in this pond.

With plenty of ricewine (for the god and the humans) and purifying salt and a lot of mumbling prayers, the God was informed that his palace was to go and he would be relocated in a wet rice field further down. After the water was drained, a pipe was stuck in the hole before it was filled up, so that the Suijinsama who might have been left in the place would find their way out. This pipe is still sticking out to this day.

. Toilet, Outhouse (benjo, no setchin, toire) .
Outhouse in the open, no setchin 野雪隠
"place to wash your hands" o te arai お手洗い
"place of convenience" benjo 便所
kawaya 厠
habakari 憚り
Japanese God of the Toilet - kawaya no kami 厠の神
benjogami 便所神 - 厠神 Benjogami
- - - and haiku about these topics - - -

The Shrines of Water Gods in Old Edo

Kanda Myōjin (Myoojin)
A shrine founded in the 10th century, dedicated in part to the God of the Sea (Suijinsama). Kanda Myōjin became the tutelary shrine for much Edo, the emblematic shrine for the Citizens of Edo, the Edokko.
　Kanda Myoojin Shrine 神田明神

. Shrine Onoterusaki jinja 小野照崎神社 .

. Suitenguu 水天宮 Shrine of the Water God .

There are thre Female Water Deities in Shintoo.
One is the Funadama, Soul of the Ship.

. funadama 船玉 / 船霊 / 船魂
guardian deity of a boat or ship .
- Introduction and Haiku -

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Benten on a dragon

. Benten, Benzaiten 弁天　/ 弁財天 　

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Munakata no Kami

. 宗像の神 - The Munakata Shinto Belief .
Shrine Munakata Taisha (宗像大社), Fukuoka
and related kigo

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New Year KIGO related to the Water Deities

Hatsu Suitenguu 初水天宮 (はつすいてんぐう)
first visit to the Suitengu Shrine


hatsu mi 初巳 (はつみ) "first snake"
first day of the snake
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
hatsu Benzaiten 初弁財天（はつべんざいてん）
first visit to a Benten shrine
..... hatsu Benten 初弁天（はつべんてん）

fuse mairi 布施参（ふせまいり）
visit a Benten shrine(mairi) and make an offering (fuse)


hatsu tatsu 初辰 (はつたつ) "first dragon"
first day of the dragon
..... jooshinnichi 上辰日（じょうしんにち）
Tatsu matsuri 辰祭（たつまつり）Dragon Festival
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

hatsu tatsu no mizu 初辰の水（はつたつのみず）
first water for the dragon
. . . shio no mizu 潮の水（しおのみず）"tide water"
to be thrown on the roof.

On this day people of old would throw water on the roof and pray for protection from fires during the coming year.

The Dragon, fifth of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac.

. WKD : New Year Ceremonies

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kigo for early summer

Yanagawa suitengu matsuri
柳川水天宮祭 (やながわすいてんぐうまつり)
festival at Shrine Suitengu in Yanagawa, Fukuoka
..... funabutai 船舞台（ふなぶたい）stage on a boat



Okinohata Suitengu Festival 沖の端水天宮祭り
(May 13 - 15) 沖端水天宮祭り
It used to be from the 5th day of the old fourth lunar month.
For three days and nights, three "divine boats" with girls playing shamisen moor along the canal beside the shrine. On a stage (sanjinmaru) on the boat Kabuki and kyogen performances are held to please the three deities of the shrine. While they perform, the boats float very gently along the canal.
Women pray for the health of their children and to protect them from drowning.

The town of Yanagawa was quite important in olden times as a stopover from Nagasaki and Amakusa (Kumamoto prefecture).
Now some music groups from the Netherlands also perform.



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kigo for mid-winter

. osame no Suitengu 納の水天宮 (おさめのすいてんぐう)
last visit to the Suitengu shrine .


. Munakata sai 宗像祭 (むなかたさい) Munakata festival .
koshiki sai 古式祭（こしきさい）festival in the old style
at the shrine Munakata Taisha in Fukuoka

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My Dragon Art Gallery
Gabi Greve

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The Wind God, Fuujin, Fuu-jin 風神 Fujin、
Fuu-ten 風天

. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Northwest; Wind Deva Skt : Vayu, Anila, Gandhavaha
Typically appears as a elderly person, with white hair, red body armor, and holding a scepter of the wind in the right hand. The term "Futen-goshin-gassho" refers to a hand sign in esoteric Buddhist practices, acheived by creating a "ring" with the index finger and the thumb.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

The characters for fuu-ten mean "wind deva," and, accordingly, Fu-ten holds a scepter of the wind in his right hand. He is depicted as an old man. The elongated petals on the hosoge flower and arabesque patterns emanate a sense of dignified substance. Heavy layers of color on the face, large-scale patterns, sophisticated brushwork and a double-layered halo all contribute to the uniqueness of this elaborate Fu-ten.

The Wind God and the Thunder God are another pair to threaten humanity.


Here they are on a famous folding screen.

Quote:
Both the Wind God and the Thunder God are originally subordinates to the Senju Kannon (Kannon-with-One-Thousand-Arms), and worshipped together with other twenty-eight Attendants. This is a copy of Sootatsu's crowning work by Koorin. While Sootatsu's original picture is characterized by a broad gold space and a composition with a strong feeling of tension, where the Wind God and the Thunder God face each other from both ends, Koorin showed a difference in creative sense by stabilizing the composition by placing the two gods at the center and trying to depict the figures of the two gods clearly with bright primary colors.
http://www.emuseum.jp/cgi/pkihon.cgi?SyoID=2&ID=w307&SubID=s000


For the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
and the 400th anniversary of the Rinpa School of Japanese Painting, artist Tara Yamamoto created an astonishing piece of art that threw a traditional twist on the two well known nintendo characters, Mario and Luigi.
In this painting, Mario and Luigi are depicted as the Japanese Deities Raijin and Fujin.
- source : facebook Japanese Art -

Also see Mark Schumachers page for some stunning pieces of Art about the Wind and Thunder God
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/28-bushu-kannon.shtml

Marugame tsurigane tako 丸亀釣り鐘凧 kite like a temple bell
from Shikoku
. with Raijin 雷神 pattern .

. Thunder and lightning .
God of Thunder, raijin 雷神

. Kamikaze 神風 the divine wind, .

. Typhoon legends - taifū 台風 伝説 Taifun Legenden .


source : blog.goo.ne.jp/gifu-ishikin
"Thunder Makes Itself Heard."

Fujin and Raijin were also seen as some kind of heavenly Oni　鬼 demons.

. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - Index - .

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The Earth God, Chi-jin 地神、Chi-ten　地天

Earth Deva; Skt : Prthivi
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Guards the downward direction; god of the earth.
Jiten's counterpart is Bonten (Brahman), who guards the upward direction.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

Ji-ten, whose name means "earth deva," guards the downward direction and is the god of the earth. He is also called Kenrochijin. The vivid colors and exquisite decorative elements give this scroll an almost luminous beauty that is representative of late-Heian aristocratic tastes.

On the more down-to-earth animistic beliefs of rural Japan, I think he comes as Yama no Kami and Ta no Kami, the God of the Mountains and the Fields, who changes his residence twice a year, retreating in autumn to the mountains and coming back in spring to the fields. This is a fascinating tale of its own.

In Shinto, when a mountain is considered an object of worship, a yamamiya may be established at the summit or on the side of the mountain, as at Sengen Jinja on Mt Fuji. In some cases, the yamamiya may be regarded as an "interior shrine" (okumiya) in contrast to a shrine located in a village (see satomiya) or lower on the mountain. Some scholars see the yamamiya associated originally with ancestor worship, and thus also with the dual complex of mountain god (yama no kami) and rice field god (ta no kami).
http://www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/bts/bts_y.html

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The Fire God, Ka-jin 火神、Ka-ten　火天

Southeast; Fire Deva; Skt : Agni
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
God of fire, invoked in Shingon fire rituals (Agni homa ritual); carries messages to the gods in the flames and smoke of fire; often depicted as old man with stern facial expression.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

. Kamagami 釜神 The Hearth Deity .
kamaotoko, kama otoko 釜男(カマオトコ) or
hi otoko 火男 "man of the fire"
Aragamisama, Koojinsama, Koojin sama 荒神様

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. Kappa, the water goblin 河童 - Kappapedia .

. Legends about Mizunokami .

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[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
- #fujin #raijin #suijin -
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Haguro San and Eboshi

[ . BACK to Daruma Museum TOP . ]
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.. .. .. .. .. Haguro San 羽黒山 . 羽黒出羽三山 Three mountains of Dewa

The Mountain of the Black Wings



Daruma san was here !
This is a Daruma Doll with a Tengu face from Haguro Mountain.

We will explore a little more about the black wings, the crow and the tengu in this story.

The Three Mountains of Dewa used to be part of a famous pilgrimage, representing LIFE (Haguro), DEATH (Gassan) and NEW BIRTH (at Yudono).

Here is an interesting quote to give you a first impression about the three mountains of Dewa.

The Dewa Sanzan; 'Three sacred mountains of Dewa',

bring visitors from all over Japan, to hike through the mountains, ski, admire the beautiful scenery, pray at the shrines and practice Shugendo, an ancient religion whose followers, called Yamabushi, practice asceticism at certain times of the year. In autumn, a week long pilgrimage around the three mountains takes place. In this, the Yamabushi do not wash, they are deprived of food and sleep, and perform purification rituals including long hikes, immersion in a cold waterfall and the nanban-ibushi (smoking out the barbarians) which involves spending time in a room filled with the smoke of burning peppers and other irritants!

The three sacred mountains of Dewa are
Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono.

Mount Haguro
is the smallest of the three mountains at just 414 metres, but is now the most visited. It is the most easily accessible and is certainly worth the 40 minute bus ride from Tsuruoka. The climb begins at the main torii entrance gate from where one descends the first flights of stone steps. From three one crosses a bridge and passes a waterfall on the path to the beautiful five storied pagoda. This serene wooden structure was built some 600 years ago and stands among 1000 year old cedar trees. From the pagoda the climb begins in earnest, up the 2,446 stone steps to the Gosaiden shrine and History museum at the summit. Due to the tall trees Haguro does not command the views of the other two mountains but the peaceful surroundings and attractive buildings provide an equally impressive serenity. The shukubo pilgrims lodges in the Toge district at the foot of the mountain offer a welcoming place to stay for all visitors and serve the meatless, fishless shojin food eaten by the Yamabushi.


http://www.yamagatakanko.com/

Mount Gassan which separates inland Yamagata from the coastal Shonai region, is the largest of the three mountains with a peak of 1984 metres. The mountain is in the centre of Yamagata prefecture and dominates the scenery from many regions, with its long white slopes and imposing size. Gassan receives huge amounts of snow, often up to 8 metres which means the Gassan ski slope is still in use until July. Unfortunately due to the winter snowfalls, the ski-slopes are not accessible until mid-April and there are also hiking courses for late summer. As Gassan is the largest mountain for miles around the views are breathtaking.

A little further towards the sea is Mount Yudono. This is usually the last of the three mountains visited by pilgrims as Haguro is said to represent birth, Gassan death and Yudono rebirth. The shrine at Mount Yudono is still religiously revered to the extent that photography is not permitted and all visitors must remove their footwear. The 'god' of the shrine is a large rock, coloured red by a mineral-rich hot spring. The walk up to the shrine also offers some beautiful scenery.
.. www.yamagatakanko.com/

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.......... Now let us look at Haguro in more detail.
The thatched roof of the unique hall is most famous.



Japanese links with many pictures
From Basho-An, with explanations of the travels of Basho in the area.
http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto07.htm
http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto06.htm
http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto05.htm
http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto04.htm
http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto08.htm


The name “Haguro” means “black wing” and the mountain got its name from a legend which recalls the story of an Imperial prince named Hachiko who ran away after the death of his Father. In a vision, he was guided to the peak of Haguro-san by a three-legged crow. He lived atop the mountain until aged 90 and was the first of the mountain’s famed “Yamabushi,” mountain priests. Nowadays, Haguro-san is the site of religious pilgrimage although some still choose the life of austerity. This once consisted of living in a cave, eating a diet of wild nuts and garlic and meditating under icy cold waterfalls. Yamabushi are distinctive with their checked jackets, white knickerbockers and small Jimmy Cooper style hats. Occasionally a haunting cry rings out around the hills. This is the conch shell horn used by the Yamabushi to call the spirits of the mountain…
http://www.insidejapantours.com/haguro.html


.............................More Links with Pictures
http://imaginatorium.org/hols99/haguroj.htm
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/ohta/shonai/photo/haguro/
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/ohta/shonai/photo/haguro/haguro07.htm .. .. (The Roof)
http://www2.odn.ne.jp/~hae72530/Kagakukan/Rekisi/Reizyo-1/hagurosan-1/hagurosan-1.htm


Prince Hachiko



出羽三山は、月山、羽黒山、湯殿山の総称であり、古くから山岳修験の山として知られている。開山は約1,400年前、第32代崇峻天皇の皇子である峰子皇子が三本足の霊烏に導かれ、羽黒山に登拝し、羽黒権現を獲得、山頂に祠を創建したのが始まりとされている。皇子はさらに月山権現と湯殿山権現を感得し、三山の開祖となった。以後、羽黒派古修験道として全国に広がったのである。
http://www.town.haguro.yamagata.jp/kankou/midokoro/haguro.html

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eboshi　えぼし, 烏帽子 formal headgear
tokin 頭巾. 頭襟 cap of a Yamabushi Mountain Ascetic

. eboshi　えぼし, 烏帽子 official headgear .



Tokin:
It is a small cap carried on the front of the cranium, which symbolically recalls the lotus on the top of the head of Fudo and which makes it possible for the yamabushi to protect the head when they pass under roots or trees. It can also be used of cup for drinking or to offer water to the Buddhas in mountain, where material is always missed. Its particular form is filled of symbols that all shugenjas must know. There exists a small black tokin, made out of plastic now, or enamelled very hard and very light paper more comfortable and practical in mountain.
It symbolizes the lotus which is on the top of the head of the Fudo Buddha.

When in town or during the ceremonies, the yamabushi can wear another cap:
Eboshi (cap of the wing of the crow) the black cap of En-No-Gyoja, which has several folds like a Swatiska and a small protuberance to return the plait coiled on the top of the head.
They can also carry the cap of brocade with broad sides to the shoulders (Nagai-tokin, long Tokin) not very practical in mountain, it is the usual cap of the Masters of the esotericism in particular and the whole of Mahayana in general.

- source : www.shugendo.fr/en


CLICK for more tokin photos.


. Tengu wearing a TOKIN .


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................ Links about Tengu 羽黒山金光坊

In English, Mark Schumacher has an informative page.
In this detail of a woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, the martial arts master Tsukahara Bokuden receives divine instruction in the art of fencing from a mysterious yamabushi (mountain priest) tengu named Enkai of Haguro Mountain.
. Tengu - 　 .

And about
. Deities at Dewa Sanzan 出羽三山 .


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. Mizu Tengu 水天狗 "Water Tengu" .

The most famous of them is Enkooboo 円光坊 Enko-Bo from Haguro San, one of the three mountains of Dewa.
山形県出羽三山にひとつ羽黒山の水天狗円光坊
He protected the people of the region who were involved in the transport of goods on the river 最上川 Mogamigawa.
七千日護摩行者長教 illustration shows him with a mouth like a bird or a Kappa.


source : ikkaisai on twitter
Scroll of Sankooboo 三光坊 Sanko-Bo and 水天狗 円光坊 Mizu Tengu Enko-Bo

. 羽黒山金光坊 - Konkobo, Mount Hagurosan - Yamagata .
One of the 四十八天狗 48 Tengu of Japan
(Maybe Konko-Bo and Sanko-Bo are two names for the same Tengu. Anyway, there have been quite a lot of minor Tengu on this mountain.)
羽黒山の三天狗 - The Three Tengu of Hagurosan:
Konko-Bo, Sanko-Bo and Enko-Bo.

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Shugendo (Shugendoo 修験道)
Mountain Ascetics and their Practise


Detailed explanation and good photos.
http://www.shugendo.fr/practices.html
Safekeep copy:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DarumaArchives-002/message/49


Living Mummies in Japan (by Gabi Greve)
About the special ascetic practise of Haguro to mumify your living body.
... Sokushinbutsu ...

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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Haiku Connection

Dewa sanzan matsuri 出羽三山祭 (でわさんざんまつり)
Dewa Festival
Haguro matsuri 羽黒花祭（はぐろはなまつり） Haguro festival
15th day of the 7th lunar month.
kigo for late summer
To pray for a good harvest.

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Yudono moode 湯殿詣 (ゆどのもうで) visit to Yudono
yudono gyoo 湯殿行（ゆどのぎょう）
austerity practise at Yudono
..... yudono gori 湯殿垢離（ゆどのごり）water ablutions at Yudono
kigo for all summer


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shoorei sai 松例祭 (しょうれいさい) pine torch festival
toshiya matsuri 歳夜祭（としやまつり）
hyaku taimatsu no jinji 百松明の神事
（ひゃくたいまつのしんじ） ritual of 100 pine torches
kigo for mid-winter



on the last day of the old year, leading into the new year.
The last day of the 100 day-long winter austerities of the yamabushi.

It was held in former times to ward off the epidemy of tsutsugamushi, scrub typhus, along the coast of Northern Japan, about 1300 years ago.
The epidemy demons were driven out with large pine torches.

quote
Shōreisai
The shōreisai takes place from December 31 to January 1 at Idewa Mitsuyama Jinja (Idewa Jinja) in Haguro Town, Higashitagawa County, Yamagata Prefecture.
It is also known as the toshiya matsuri. Idewa Mitsuyama Jinja is a composite of Gassan, Hagurosan, and Yudonosan Shrines, which all share a gōsaiden (composite shrine) on Haguro (-san is a suffix meaning "mountain," and all three shrines are located near the peaks of mountains in the region).

Originally, the mountain ascetics (shugenja, see shugendō) played a central role in the transmission of the shōreisai. Today, however, the shinshoku (priests) and the ujiko (parishioners) have taken this role. The ritual focuses on the severe purification rituals (saikai) undertaken by the two matsuhijiri (roughly, "pine saints," a type of shugenja), Ijō and Sendo. At the end of the purification period, December 30, a large torch is built in the taimatsu koya (torch shed) in the public space in front of the main shrine.

It is said that in the past, the shape of the torch was derived from harvest mites that aggravated the local populace. On the afternoon of December 31, the actual day of the festival, there is a ritual known as the tsunamaki gyōji (The Rope Shredding Ceremony). The rope of the torch is cut and pulled apart, and the participants scramble for pieces to take home. It is said that hanging the rope fibers from the eaves of a house prevents fires and ensures its prosperity.

In the evening, the festival continues at the gōsaiden (composite shrine). At eleven o'clock p.m. in the honden, in front of a person dressed as a sacred rabbit, the two people (genja, shugenja) representing Ijō and Sendo (the two matsuhijiri) have a contest of mystical abilities. At a signal from a conch shell horn, in the courtyard (kōtei) two groups of naked young people representing the two matsuhijiri pull the torch with a large rope and throw it into a designated pit in the snow.

This is called the tsutsugamushi okuri (Funeral of the Harvest Mite) ritual. At this point, the swiftness of the two matsuhijiri and the way in which the torch burns are used to determine the winner and loser, and to divine the yield for both land and sea.

Furthermore, around midnight, another ceremony known as the kuniwake shinji ("land dividing ritual") takes place. It is a ritual survey dividing the various areas such as Haguro, Kumano, and Hikosan. This is followed with a ritual at one in the morning to change the impure flames that burned the torch in the hinouchikae no shinji (The Flame Changing Ritual). For this ritual, two people made up with rouge and white face powder (kōfun) called matsu'uchi ("firestarters") carry flint and circle the kagami taimatsu (a large torch or bonfire) three times, and then transfer the flame to gunpowder in a chafing dish.



Finally, with the announcement of the victor in the matsuhijiri's contest at the honden, the complex conglomeration of rituals that is the shōreisai comes to an end.
source : Mogi Sakae, 2006, Kokugakuin


pine torch festival -
the pine saints jump high
into the New Year

Gabi Greve


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kigo with EBOSHI 烏帽子, about things that look like one
formal headwear for court nobles, Entenmuschel-Mütze


. eboshiou, eboshi uo えぼし魚（えぼしうお）"eboshi fish" 　
kigo for all summer


. . . . .


. katsuo no eboshi 鰹の烏帽子 (かつおのえぼし)
electric jellyfish
Portuguese man-of-war
Physalia physalis utriculus
kigo for early autumn

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. eboshigai 烏帽子貝（えぼしがい）pen-shell clam 　
"eboshi clam"
Pinna pectinata, tairagai 平貝
kigo for all winter


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eboshi saru 烏帽子猿

Monkey, the messenger of the deity Sanno Gongen 山王権現
. Monkey amulets .


我国は猿も烏帽子をかぶりけり
waga kuni wa saru mo eboshi o kaburi keri

in my province
even trained monkeys
wear noble hats

Kobayashi Issa　小林一茶
Tr. David Lanoue

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. Eboshi and the kickball game

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About Crows, Raven and Haiku (by Gabi Greve)
The worldwide Mythology of the Raven
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/2005/03/crow-karasu.html


............... Matsuo Basho at Mt. Haguro

http://www.bashouan.com/pzPhoto08.htm


Oku no Hosomichi ... 2007. Gabi Greve
with more haiku from Matsuo Basho




source : tumiegama - Basho and Pottery


涼しさやほの三日月の羽黒山
suzushisa ya hono mikazuki no Haguroyama

the coolness -
faintly the crescent moon
above Mount Haguro
Tr. Makoto Ueda






. My Photos from the Dewa Mountains .


その玉や羽黒にかへす法の月
sono tama ya Haguro ni kaesu nori no tsuki

his soul (like a jewel)
has returned to Mount Haguro -
moon of the Buddhist Law
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 1689 元禄2年6月4日.
Written for priest Betto Tenyuu Hoo-in 天佑法院.
Tenyuu was the 50st priest of the Haguro San complex.
He died in exile at Izu Island in 1674.

The word "tama" is often used for the soul or spirit of a dead person.

. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


quote
Temple Gyokusenji 　玉川寺 Gyokusen-Ji
Designated a national scenic site in 1987.
Gyokusenji Temple Garden was first created in the Muromachi Period (1450s) and later improved in the Edo Period (1640s) by Tenyu Betto, said to be the forefather of Mt. Haguro’s revival. The pond-centered garden is said to be western in style, and the aged rock arrangements represent the stillness and harshness similar to that experienced by a priest of the Zen sect undergoing apprenticeship. The garden instills those who gaze upon it with a mysterious peace of mind. In 1987, it was designated a national scenic site for its importance in understanding transitions in the culture of gardens in the Tohoku region, and in recognition of its outstanding gardenscape that makes creative use of the placement of rocks on the islet, among standing stones, and in the middle of the pond.

Gyokusenji Temple is enveloped in flowers throughout the four seasons and has come to be called the temple of flowers. The temple grounds are blooming with cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas, Japanese primrose, and iris in early summer, and Japanese clover and Japanese anemone in fall.
source : www.cradle-ds.jp/e-dewa


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. Gassan tamausagi 月山玉兎
The Treasure Rabbit from Mount Gassan .

. eboshi　えぼし, 烏帽子 official headgear .

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Star Shrines (Hoshi Jinja)

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Star Shrines, Hoshi Jinja 星神社

Myooken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩


hatsu Myooken 初妙見 (はつみょうけん)
First Myoken ceremony
kigo for the New Year


The Star Mandala Hokuto Mandala 北斗曼荼羅




....................................................... This topic is under construction.


Stars and Haiku
Haiku and Stars

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The following essay is Curtesy of Steve Renshaw and Saori Ihara



In Japan, the "unusual" natural phenomena almost invariably has a shrine nearby. The natural "object" may be a waterfall, an old twisted tree, an outcropping of rocks, or some other aspect of nature that ancient Buddhist and Shinto followers felt was associated with a particular deity. Star shrines are sometimes dedicated to the familiar Amaterasu (goddess of the sun). More often, they are dedicated to one of the three gods or deities who were said to be born from nothing and from which all came. Interestingly, these three deities have been associated with a number of "three star" asterisms in the sky including Orion's belt, the three stars that span Aquila's wings, and the three stars we associate with the head of Scorpio.

As you might guess from the foregoing, star shrines are usually associated in some way with a meteorite (real or imagined). Certainly, if an old twisted tree deserved deification, you can imagine what a "stone" falling from the heavens must have meant to local people in ancient times. Comets, while seen, were "intangible" and usually considered evil. Meteorites, on the other hand, were "tangible" and seen as a direct gift from the "heavenly deities". Of course, such associations for meteorites were not unique to ancient Japan.

Though in a somewhat different way, meteorites still inspire awe. Recent press reports of the furor raised by possible meteorite fragments in the Kanto area attest to the present day ability of these "visitors" to arouse wonder. This, of course, seems to happen all over the world when bolides have been seen or there is any reason to believe that a "stone" may have fallen.

Star shrines exist all over Japan, and there are about 80 in Kochi Prefecture alone. Some star shrines indeed were built around an actual fall and still have a meteorite or fragment of a meteorite enshrined. Some have had the original "stone" stolen (for which local people are usually quite embarrassed). In other cases, the original stone was (and is) not an actual meteorite but rather an indigenous (usually round) stone that locals found and thought must be a "stone from the heavens".

On the whole, star shrines seem simple in structure, not having the architectural flare often associated with temples and shrines in Japan. Most are usually located in wooded and quite peaceful areas. Star shrine construction, in terms of orientation and alignment, generally has no astronomical significance. Rather, it tends to reflect a mix of aesthetic choice and Confucian pragmatism.
http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/starshrn.htm

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Myoken Bosatsu (Myooken Bosatsu) 　妙見菩薩

This deity is a purely Japanese Bosatsu, presumably an amalgamation of the Shinto Deity Myooken Shin 妙見神 and the deity of the Northern Polar Star (Dipper). He (sometimes seen as a SHE) has been the protector deity of the clan of the CHIBA 千葉 since the Heian period. This clan later became followers of Nichiren, therefore Myooken is often venerated in temples of this sect.

Myooken protects from fires, brings luck and prosperity and heals illness of the eyes.
In Edo he was very popular, since there were many fires in the city. So festivals of Myooken were visted by many townspeople and always full of merrymaking.
He also takes care of the behaviour of human beings and writes your good and bad deeds in his notebook.

He is also venerated as a special protector deity of the land and country of Japan.

.. .. .. Iconographical Details of Myooken Bosatsu

He stands on a tortoise with a thick tail or rides a green dragon. He is accompanied by a vasall who carries pen and paper (remember, he registers all our deeds).
His hair is long and hanging down, like it was fashion in the Heian period.
He carries a sword and a wishfulfilling jewel.
Sometimes he is depicted with four arms, two of them carrying the sun and the moon.
Most of his statues are made of stone.


GERMAN / DEUTSCH

Er sieht alles und schreibt Gut und Böse auf. Rein japanische Gottheit, als Verschmelzung der Shintoo-Gottheit Myooken Shin, der Gottheit des nördlichen Polarsterns; seit der Heian-Zeit bekannt. Myooken Shin war die Schutzgottheit des Clans der Chiba, die sich schon bald zur Nichiren-Sekte bekehren ließen. Seit der Muromachi-Zeit in Tempeln der Nichiren-Sekte besonders verehrt. Schützt vor Brandkatastrophen, spendet Glück und Reichtum und heilt Augenkrankheiten. Bei den Bürgern der Stadt Edo besonders verehrt, weil es dort so oft zu Brandkatastrophen kam. Die Tempelfeste des Myooken waren immer besonders gut besucht.
Als spezielle Schutzgottheit des Landes (Japan) verehrt.

Ikonografie:
Auf einer Schildkröte mit dickem Schwanz oder auf einem grünen Drachen stehend. Begleitet von einem Gefolgsmann mit einem Tintenreibstein und Papier und Pinsel.
Lange, herabhängende Haare, Gewand der Heian-Zeit.
In den Händen ein Schwert oder das wunscherfüllende Juwel.
Manchmal mit vier Armen, dann mit Sonne und Mond in zwei Händen.
Statuen häufig aus Stein.

Zitat von Gabi Greve
... Buddhastatuen ... Who is Who


The Nine Stars Constellation
Kuyoo Mon ... 九曜紋 ... Nine Stars Crest ... and Taira no Masakado 平将門



. Shrine Hoshida Myoken Gu 星田妙見宮　Osaka .
Hoshida Jinja 星田神社



- quote
Big Dipper cult and Myoken worship in Japan
Since Yayoi times, the Big Dipper/Little Dipper etchings have been found carved on pottery for ritual use, so it can be assumed that some symbolism or ritual significance has been attached to the stars in the constellation since those times.
MORE
- source : japanesemythology.


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JAANUS has the following entry:

Sk: Sudrsti; also Sonshouou 尊星王 or
Hokushin Bosatsu 北辰菩薩.

Originally a deification of the Polestar (hokushin 北辰) but later also regarded as a deification of the Big Dipper (hokuto 北斗) because of confusion between the two. Although popularly regarded as a Bodhisattva, bosatsu 菩薩, and usually referred to as Myouken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩, properly speaking she belongs to the category of divinities (*ten 天), and in the jimon 寺門 branch of the Tendai 天台 sect she is equated with *Kichijouten 吉祥天.

She is invoked in particular for apotropaic purposes and also for the healing of eye diseases. In Japan she appears to have been widely revered as early as the Heian period, and in medieval times she came to be worshipped especially among powerful provincial clans as a tutelary deity of the warrior class, evolving into the partially Shintoized deity Myoukenjin 妙見神 .

At the same time she was also adopted by the Nichiren 日蓮 sect and remains the object of a popular cult today. Artistic representations of Myouken exhibit considerable diversity, and there is a set of twenty-six paintings, all different, at Daigoji 醍醐寺 Kyoto, but generally speaking she is depicted with either two or four arms and either seated on a cloud or standing on the back of a dragon. Myoukenjin has a halo showing the seven stars of the Big Dipper and holds a sword in one hand. There is also a mandala, 曼荼羅 centred on her (Myouken mandara 妙見曼荼羅).
http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/m/myouken.htm


.. .. .. .. The Star Mandala Hokuto Mandala 北斗曼荼羅

JAANUS text about this Mandala
http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/h/hokutomandara.htm
http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/h/hoshimandara.htm

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Japanese Page about the belief in the Myooken Deity

北極星や北斗七星を神格化してまつったもの、それが妙見信仰です。　
中国の道教が影響していて、６世紀ごろに日本にもたらされたと言われています。　平安時代には民間で信仰が盛んになり、貴族の間でも修法が盛んに行われ、その後も中世には武士に軍神として、近世には商家や町人に諸願成就の仏様として信仰を集めました。 　北辰妙見と言わることもあり、北辰の名は坂本竜馬の「北辰一刀流」などでも親しまれています。 　

日本の神話では、神々の筆頭にあげられる、天之御中主神（アメノミナカヌシノカミ）が一般になじみのある姿をしているのが、「妙見さん」とも言われています。　この神は、「古事記」の冒頭と「日本書紀」の一書第四に登場しています。　 　九州の三大祭りには妙見宮大祭というお祭りがあり、熊本県の八代神社で、１１月に神幸行列などがおこなわれています。（ちなみに、他の２つのお祭りは長崎のおくんち・博多祇園山笠です。）　 　

「妙見さん」のご利益は、主に長寿・息災・招福とされていますが、水晶のような澄みきった目で物事の真相を見極める能力に優れていることから、眼病の神様としても知られています。
http://www.nar-tomigaoka-h.ed.jp/tenmon/kaken/earth/sinkou.htm
http://www.nar-tomigaoka-h.ed.jp/tenmon/kaken/earth/bosatsu.html

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Story about Taking Back Silk Robes Once Stolen
Owing to the Petition to Bodhisattva Myoken



Once there was a house in front of the Kisakibe-dera in Ate district, Kii province. As ten silk robes were stolen from the owners, they prayered devotedly through Bodhisattva Myoken in the temple. The stolen silk robes were sold to a merchant in Kii. Hardly a week passed before a gale hit, and the robes were whisked south on the back of a deer to the original owners' garden; the deer then disappeared in the heavens. The merchant who had brought them, hearing that they were stolen goods, did not ask for them back but kept quiet.
http://nichirenscoffeehouse.net/books/MiraculousTale-i-34.html

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The Chiba Clan and Myooken Bosatsu


Myoken Emaki scroll 千葉妙見大縁起絵巻

The Chiba clan was the leading powerful clan of Kanto which it not only reigned throughout Chiba, but extended the influence to long distance Oshu or Kyushu once.　

"Myoken Bosatsu" deifies the polestar and the Big Dipper.　Mr. Chiba believed in it as the whole family's guardian deity.　The translation is said since "Myoken Bosatsu"　of "Seven Star Mountain Safe Temple" made the rain of a sword fall on an enemy's head and saved the crisis, when Yoshifumi Taira who is Mr. Chiba's beginning fought with Kunika which is an elder brother in the Ueno country Gumma-gun with Masakado Taira in 931.　

The Chiba's family crest originates in "Myoken Bosatsu" which deified the polestar in which it believes, and the Big Dipper. The strength of the faith to the Chiba whole family's star is expressed well.　It moves to Chiba, and Tsuneshige which is the posterity of a right sentence will build the Chiba castle in the present Inohana ruined castle park, and will have the powerful military strength in it.

And Tsuneatsu appeared. Yoritomo Minamotono who raised an army in Mountain in Izu is beaten by War, goes over the ground in Boso, and will measure recovery in 1180.　At this time, the powerful clan-band of warriors of the Kanto whole place all sided with Yoritomo, and the Kamakura shogunate was born from information that another influential person of Tsuneatsu or Boso and the extensive usual state of Kazusa sided with Yoritomo.　

By activity at this time, the Chiba whole family hardened large powerful clan's status as a vassal of the Kamakura shogunate. However, Mr. Hojo took lessons from the status of Shikken, and it became weak gradually.
source : www.city.chiba.jp


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Special Exhibition about the Stars and Mandala at Mt. Koya

仏教、密教では星宿、宿曜の名で呼ばれ、古く中国に伝わり、科学的によりどちらかというと陰陽道と交り合って、すべての事象は宿曜に反影して占星、吉凶などにあらわれ、星の運行によって運命も予知せられるとされた。仏教に伴ってわが国に入り、平安中期以降広く行われた。唐の不空訳の宿曜経二巻は七曜、十二宮、二十八宿の関係によって一生の運命を卜知して日々の吉凶を知る法を説いた経典であり、その他に一行撰の宿曜儀軌等十数部の経軌がある。　

これらの宿曜は神の住所又は神自体とされ胎蔵現図曼荼羅最外院及び北斗曼荼羅に、二十八宿は菩薩形として、十二宮、九曜は人や動物として図化され、星供、北斗供などの修法が行われている。

Seishuku　星宿・せいしゅく（摩伽天）




Toshuku 斗宿・としゅく（大光天）



© Copyright 高野山霊宝館 All Rights Reserved
http://www.reihokan.or.jp/syuzohin/hotoke/mandara/28syuku.html

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Starting from here, I checked about some of these shrines. At the end is a list of most shrines.

Kitakawamura Village, Kochi 北川村、高知


A Arrow Shooting Ceremony on January 8 of Years with an uneven number、every second year. Sometimes even a Tengu Goblin shows up for the festival, they say.
当日は、標高約300ｍの山上にある星神社の社殿で、神職と僧侶が弓矢に霊力をもたせる秘法の呪文を唱える。12人は次々と矢を放ち、ヤナマや割り膝、投げ出しなどという古式射法を披露し祭りは終わる。しかし、弓祭りが終わった夜には天狗が出ると伝えられているので気をつけよう。
http://www.attaka.or.jp/shogatu/hatu/hatu_13.html

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List of the shrines with a Stone (meteorite) reverd as God.


. Tono Hachimangu 　遠野郷八幡宮 .
Iwate


星の神社とは？降ってきた星がご神体、名前に星がつく、星神が祭神、など少しでも天体に関連する神社です．なお太陽は入れていません．


白石明神社：福島県石川町 : 天から降った白い石を祭ったとされる。
Shiraishi Myoojin, Fukushima Pref. Koyama Village
A white stone fell down from the sky and is now venerated.
Look at the old script here:
http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/meisyozue/kyotosyui/page7t/km_01_286.html

About the Myooken Hall (Myooken-Doo) in Yamashina
http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/meisyozue/kyotosyui/page7/km_01_289f.html


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［赤星神社：久留米市］ Akahoshi Jinja, Kururme Town
物部氏関連神社ページより．天津赤星＝筑紫弦田物部の祖，とかいてある．

［速星神社：富山］
祭神は五十筒男尊と住吉三神．筒がつく神ばかり．延喜式内社．

［北星神社：千葉県］
神社なのに本尊妙見菩薩．相馬氏時代の元妙見宮．神の使いのカメ像がある

［星神社：千葉県］ Hoshi Jinja, Chiba Pref.
沼南町の鷲野野城本丸あとにたつ妙見宮



Oki Island, Shrine Tama Wakasu Jinja Festival
隠岐の玉若酢神社の祭で、日月陰陽の和合を祈る
祭りの最大の特徴は、主斎神である日神・月神の御神体を１丈４尺４寸（約４メートル）の竿を頭上に捧げて御幸することで、地元では御尊像と呼んでいる。御尊像は、仏教の１２天部の日天・月天の手に捧げる宝珠を形どり、直径２尺余（約６０センチメートル）の円盤に日神は三本足のカラス、月神は白ウサギを浮き彫りにしている。

. Tamawakasumikoto Jinja 玉若酢命神社 .
Shimane

. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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［妙見大星神社：青森］
恒武天皇の時代の創建と伝えられる妙見社

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星辻神社：秋田市 : 達磨市というのが有名らしい。神社名の由来は不明
Hoshitsuji Shrine, Akita, Oga Peninsular, Yuumoto Village

Even a Daruma Market is held here. The origin of the shrine name is not clear.
征夷大将軍に命ぜられた坂上田村麻呂が、戦勝祈願のために北辰神社を延暦年中（西暦８００年頃）建立した。
星辻神社も妙見様と呼ばれるように、北辰妙見菩薩も祀った神社であっったが、神仏分離令により、神社としては本来の日本の神ではない妙見の名前を使用できなくなった。 　妙見という名前を削除しなかったところもあるから、その地域によって分離令の受け取り方が異なっていたのだろう。 　

星辻神社では、北斗七星や北極星を妙見菩薩と同じように神格化した天之御中主神が主祭神とされた。 　名前の由来に「北斗七星の第１星、魁星（かいせい）からきている。」という。 　
妙見菩薩を捨て去りがたく、神と仏がまじわる星から星辻神社と名づけたのかもしれない。


http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~kmitoh/gensou/hosituji.html


Daruma Festival at Hoshitsuji Jinja Shrine
Every Year on the 12 and 13 of April.
星辻神社だるま祭り . 毎年4月12・13日　大町一丁目


星辻神社大奉納祭
During the festival, there is a performance of the local Drummers, clad as Namahage Demons of the area.

Hoshitsuji Shrine Daruma Festival 星辻神社のだるま祭り Daruma Bread and Daruma Monaka wafers


Read my Story about the Namahage Demons
http://fudosama.blogspot.com/2005/02/oni-japanese-demons.html

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星宮神社：栃木県栃木市］ Hoshi no Miya, Ibaragi Town
大平山神社の中にある。建物は仏式らしい。


星宮神社：栃木県佐野市］
天明鋳物師作の明神鳥居が名物らしい。村上星宮神楽が伝わっている。


［星宮神社：栃木県粟野町］
変わった朱塗り？の神像があるらしい。


星宮神社：栃木県矢板市
太々神楽というのが伝わっている。

千葉神社 Chiba Jinja. Memorial Shrine of the Chiba Clan.
星辰信仰の一族として名高い千葉氏地元の神社。


［北辰神社：千葉県鴨川市］
そういう神社がある、ということ以外は不明。

［稲荷織姫神社：台東区］ Inari Orihime Jinja, Daitoo Ku, Tokyo
稲荷社に織姫神社が合祀されたらしい。織姫神社の神紋は五芒星。

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Oomika Jinja Shrine
Detail of foundation is not certain,but the deity is Takehatsuchi-no-mikoto, the tutelary god for Kuji-cho. It says in the classic document that a strong evil god,called Mikaboshikakaseo, occupied Ohmika area,took up his base camp on the top of Mount Ohmika, dominated over north-eastern district.

Takehatsuchi-no-mikoto,ordered the important charge to conquer the evil god instead of two gods in Kashima and Katori,succeeded to defeat the evil god, and suppressed Hitachi area.He stayed in Ohmika,and brought industrial development into practice such as salt and textile manufactures.

Huge pasania trees and other many kinds of plant are thickly grown in the grove of Ohmika Shrine,this grove is appointed as the natural monument of Hitachi-city.

［大甕神社(日立市)］ Oomika Jinja, Hitachi Town
甕星香々背男(古事記にでてくる悪い神)をこらしめた武葉槌命を祭った神社
http://www.jsdi.or.jp/~kirara70/minami/oshri.htm

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［上知我麻神社：熱田］
星崎の星宮社と関係が深い神社らしい

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［秩父神社(埼玉県秩父市］Chichibu Shrine in Chichibu Town
関東では有名な妙見宮。「北辰の梟」という鳥の彫像があって学問の神様だという。

Star Festival at the Chichibu Shrine
The Deity Myooken is celebrated.

団子坂に幟旗がたち、神々の集う旅所となる。旅所とは、武甲山の山の神様と、秩父神社の妙見様の出逢う場所。御花畑とも言う。山の神は男神、妙見様は女神。一年一度冬の深夜の逢瀬(おうせ）とか。亀の子石の上で遊ぶとか。玄武は北方の守り、水の神。龍と亀の星祭。日暮れと共に静かなる場に灯がともり、人々は集い、神々の巡行と共に御花畑に活気があふれ、花が咲く。

It is believed Myoken Bosatsu, the goddess of Chichibu Shrine, and the dragon god of Mount Buko meet once a year at a site called Otabijo -- literally, "a place of pilgrimage" -- symbolizing Horai, where the fruit of immortality is said to grow, on Dec. 3. The pair are supposed to meet at Kame-no-ko Ishi (Tortoise Stone). The tortoise symbolizes the earth (the goddess) and the dragon god symbolizes the sky.
© The Japan Times: Nov. 26, 2004
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［星宮神社：埼玉県坂戸市］ Hoshi no Miya Jinja
高麗川のそばにあるらしい神社。


［飯縄神社：勝沼町］Shrine in Katsunuma Town.
天から落ちてきた石をご神体とした神社. A meteorite is venerated.


星神社： 愛媛県越智郡大西町 Hoshi Jinja, Oonishi Town
おちてきた隕石を祭ったと言われる神社。


［押坂神社（長野県下伊那郡)］ Kamisaka Jinja. Nagano Pref.
住吉３神をオリオン３つ星とみて、祭る神社。
底筒之男命・中筒之男命・上筒之男命筒は星・三神はオリオン星座の三つの星を指す。オリオン座は冬の星座で真東から出て真西に沈むので古くから航海の指針とされ、海洋民族はこの三神を神として祀った
由緒 : 太古、オリオン星座を指針とした綿津見の海の民が、日本列島を北上し、神坂峠を越えて信濃に入った彼らが彼らの神を祀った


［音無神社：伊東市］ Otonashi Jinja, Ito Town Shizuoka.

年１回の天下の奇祭、尻つみ祭 shiritsumi matsuri りもここで。祭神は安産の神様、豊玉姫命（とよたまひめのみこと）だから、女性は一度お参りをしておくのもいいかも。
http://www.jalan.net/kanko/SPT_150730.html

光院住職が音無神社の星祭などの祭礼も受け持っていたと記されている.
奇祭としてしられる11月10日の尻摘祭が有名で、当日は社殿の灯火をすべて消し、話しをすることが禁じられ、暗黒の中で祭典が行われることから、御神酒を廻すときにお尻を摘み、合図をして杯を廻わすのでこの名がついたといわれている。源頼朝と伊東領主の娘の八重姫が音無森の暗闇で逢瀬を重ねたことにちなむともいい、祭神の豊玉姫命が産殿に入るとき「あが生まむところを見給うなかれ」と申された神慮をかしこみ、暗中の祭事となったと伝えられている。なお、祭典の当夜に社前で参拝客に授けるみかんの中の、種が入っているみかんを食べると子宝に恵まれるといわれている。

. WKD : Hip hitting festival (shiritsumi matsuri 尻摘祭 ) 　



赤星神社. 名古屋市中川区富田町千音寺地内
Akaboshi Jinja. Nagoya
名古屋の西の入り口、東名阪名古屋西インターに繋がる道路沿い、名古屋都市高速千音寺インター降りてすぐ北側です。交通量の多い道路に面していますが、境内に入ると落ち着いた感じです。境内に星に関する物は、社の周囲の石塀に星（五旁星）の浮き彫りが有るだけです。この周辺の旧地名は赤星と言いますが、地名が先か、社名が先かは分かりません。地名考に「赤星とは明星なり・・・」とあります。明星とは金星かと思ったのですが、同書には「明星とは歳星をいふと也」と記されています。歳星とは木星の和名ですが、木星をまつることはあまり耳にしたことがありません。単なる記述ミスか、それなりの意味のあることなのか、今後も機会が有れば調べてみます。
http://homepage3.nifty.com/scross-nagoya/bunkakai/rekisi/rekisi5/rekisi5.html


to be checked from here

［星宮神社(岐阜県郡上群)］
藤原高光が創建した６社の１つ。ご神体は虚空蔵菩薩(神社なのに..)
［北野天満宮：京都］
菅原道具公を祭った神社。御手洗祭という七夕祭を行う。天神の中で七夕を行うのはここくらい。
［福井神社］
「御星様祭」というのを行う
［晴明神社(京都)］
かつての安倍晴明邸のそばにあり、平安時代の天文博士安倍晴明を祭っている。五芒星が目印だ。
［星田妙見社（交野市）］
日本一星っぽい神社だと思う。
［機物神社（交野市）］
天棚機比売を祭る。
［名草神社：兵庫県養父郡］
日本３大妙見に入る有名な妙見宮
［星神社：兵庫県龍神温泉］
星神社の存在と、11/23に祭があることしかわからない。
［妙見神社(鳴門市)］
星越峠というところの鎮守として作られたらしい。峠の名前の由来は不明。
星神社：愛媛県大西町］
空から降った星を祭ったという神社。大西小学校6年3組の皆さんが調べました。
星神社（高知県)
お弓祭という祭の様子。この祭は有名なのだが、神社名の星とは関係がなさそう。
月山神社：高知県大月
ご神体が三日月型の岩の神社
［清川星神社：高知県吾北村］
合祀されている竜王について書いてある。神社名の由来は不明。
［妙見神社（福岡県山川町)］
牡丹長者を祭ったという。由来不明。祭日は2/4で、しっかり密教系節分星祭の日ですな。
［八代神社(熊本県八代市)］
伝統ある元妙見宮。「妙見さん」といったらここのことなのだ。
［星隈山(大分県日田市)］
金星が見える方向にあるので名がついた山

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In the DARUMA library:

LINKS to Japanese STAR SHRINE pages

The Great Mandala, Go Honzon, Nichiren Sect


LINKs to Japanese legends about STARS and Meteorites
http://astro.ysc.go.jp/izumo/den_all_old.html

LINKs to all Star Shrines
http://astro.ysc.go.jp/izumo/den_all_old.html

List of Huge Trees, revered as Deities. One in a Star Shrines (星神社、星宮神社）
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ibnzeidoun/todos/todos02.htm

the Big Cedar Tree in Gifu, Gujoo Village
ほしのみやじんじゃのおたますぎ　：：＜岐阜県　旧　郡上郡美並村＞：：
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ibnzeidoun/arboles/page/121_hoshinomiya.htm

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Back to SUN AND MOON DEITIES by Gabi Greve


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. WKD : New Year Ceremonies


Tatsu no Myooken 辰の妙見 Dragon Myoken
. Dragon Shrines of Japan .


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