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Daily Photo - Miyajima, Japan
2008-01-25 19:16:00 Sake barrels at Itsukushima Shrine - Miyajima, Japan
Akama Shrine Shimonoseki
2007-12-28 08:42:00 ????Akama Shrine is the foremost shrine in the Shimonoseki area and enshrines the Emperor Antoku, the 8-year-old Emperor who drowned at the Battle of Dannoura on March 21st, 1185.This famous naval battle was decisive in concluding the Genpei War with the Minamoto (Genji) clan led by Yoshitsune, defeating the Heike (Taira) clan. The battle was fought in the straits directly in front of where the shrine is now.Until the early days of the Meiji Era (1868) and the almost complete make-over of the Japanese religious landscape, Akama Shrine was in fact a Buddhist Temple called Amida-ji, and the architecture reflects this. Most impressive is the entrance gate Suitenmon (Water Heaven Gate). The front area of the inner shrine (honden) is also unusual in that it is a shallow pool.The shrine looks and feels almost new because it is! The shrine was rebuilt only 50 years ago.Another legend associated with Akama is that of Hoichi the Earless, a ghostly tale known by many through its inclusion in...
Momotaro Shrine
2007-09-29 07:30:00 ????????Japan has all sorts of quirky shrines: phallic shrines, fox shrines, even a shrine partially submerged in the sea.Another bizarre shrine to add to the list is the Momotaro Shrine in Inuyama. The Momotaro legend is popular with children and it's kids and their parents and grandparents who make up the majority of visitors to this rather shabby shrine.For those of you unfamiliar with the Momotaro fairy tale, there are a couple of versions.Momotaro is the "Peach Boy" ("momo" means peach) found inside a giant peach floating down the river by an old woman and is then adopted by her and her husband becoming their son sent from heaven.An earlier, racier version of the story has the old woman becoming rejuvenated back to being the sexy babe of her youth after eating part of a giant peach she finds floating in the river. Her husband is gobsmacked to discover this stunner when he returns home but he too, after eating part of the peach, is reinvigorated and the couple make love that ni...
Miyajima Island (Itsukushima Shrine)
2007-09-10 20:16:00 ???????Miyajima is a sacred island just off the coast of Hiroshima City and makes a great day trip from the city.The island is best known for Itsukushima Shrine and its massive torii gates that, depending upon the time of day, are partially under water. The shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the island is one of Japan's ?three most scenic spots? (the other two being Matsushima, near Sendai; and Aminohashidate, which is on the Japan Sea in Kyoto Prefecture).The shrine was founded in the seventh century and then rebuilt in 1168?taking on the form that it still has?thanks to the generosity of warlord Taira no Kiyamori.Itsukushima Shrine is built on top of a dock, jutting into a bay. Though much closer to shore than the torii gate, the shrine itself is exposed to the elements; when the tide comes in waters lap at the giant poles supporting the shrine.The torii gate was also built in 1168 and is roughly 16 meters (50 feet) high. When the tide goes out, you can walk up to the fo... |
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