This is the entrance outside of the shrine, there were white papers tied to everything. We were told that when the white papers where tied to things it mean they were sacred… the tree to the left of the big rock had papers tied to it because it was over 400 years old
This is us right inside the gate next to a carving of some beast. There was this statue and one just like it on the other side, they are supposed to eat any evil or bad spirits and keep the shrine free of them.
There was so much carving and detail, it was really pretty
The three monkeys.. see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil
This little guy was guarding a little mini shrine, I had to take a picture, I love his bandana’s
Me and Derick next to a couple giant Hatchinohe Horses, these sculpture are everywhere in this town although most are much smaller.
cool stuff...
more cool stuff...
The entrance to a Shinto shrine is marked by this red gate called a Tori gate... you see them EVERYWHERE here.
Before you enter through the tori gate you are supposed to cleanse the bad spirits from your body by using the ladle to wash your right hand then your left hand then swish the water in your mouth, spit it out and wash your right hand again... I had a hard time deciding if I should participate in any of the things, I decided the cleansing ritual was okay and did it out of respect of the people who had come there to worship so as not to "bring my bad spirits in" but I did not ring the prayer bell and do all the prayer ritual which alot of people did. And I did not buy a fortune... I don't really know whats kosher with all of this non Christian religion stuff.
2 comments:
So, does that mean the rock was scared? Perhaps it thinks Moses is gonna resurrect, hit it with a staff, break it in two and water the children of Isreal with it.
I can't wait to visit! This shrine is amazing, I like the rituals, but I understand why you wouldn't want to participate in some of it.
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