Category Archives: Syncretism

Hiei’s shrines

Posted on April 30, 2013 by John D.

  Mt Koya and Mt Hiei are the twin peaks of Japan’s esoteric Buddhism.  Mt Koya houses the head temple of Shingon, and Mt Hiei that of the Tendai sect.  Both complexes are much smaller now than they were in … Continue reading →

Posted in Kyoto shrines, Mountains, Syncretism, World Heritage | Leave a comment

Koya’s Shinto shrines

Posted on March 20, 2013 by John D.

    Mt Koya, or more affectionately Koyasan, is widely known for its temple complex.  But not so many people realise how important a part Shinto shrines play there.  Indeed, as a World Heritage site there are two temples, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Animism, Shrine visits, Syncretism, World Heritage | Leave a comment

Kumano 5): Sailing away

Posted on March 15, 2013 by John D.

  Those who have read The Catalpa Bow will know of the notion that paradise lay on the far side of the sea.  For medieval believers, the idea was that Kannon’s island paradise called Mt Furdaraku (or Potala in Sanskrit) … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Kumano, Syncretism, World Heritage | 1 Comment

Kumano 3): Nachi

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John D.

  Nachi waterfall is the largest in Japan.  It’s also revered as a kami.  It not only speaks of the blessings of nature, but it radiates negative ions.  Nowhere else exudes vitality quite as strongly. In times past the waterfall … Continue reading →

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Omizutori at Todai-ji

Posted on March 7, 2013 by John D.

  Spectacular evenings at Todai-ji at the moment, with the nightly Omizutori festival (described below).  It’s on until March 14 and definitely worth checking out.  Given the number of times wooden buildings have burnt down in Japanese history, it’s amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Kansai, Syncretism | 2 Comments

Kami (3): Imported deities

Posted on February 7, 2013 by John D.

This is the third and final part of a mini-series about Japanese kami taken from Joseph Cali’s introduction to the recently published Shinto Shrines by University of Hawaii Press.  (The paragraphing and photos are my own.) [For Part One: Concept, … Continue reading →

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Talk: Assembling Shinto

Posted on January 12, 2013 by John D.

There’s an exciting lecture coming up in Kyoto on the 23rd of this month on “Assembling Shinto: Buddhist approaches to kami worship in medieval Japan” by Anna Andreeva. It’s part of an excellent series put on by the European Consortium … Continue reading →

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The yearly round

Posted on January 6, 2013 by John D.

The pagan tradition The New Year rites in Japan are a reminder of how celebrating the yearly round is an important part of pagan traditions. It signifies our connection with the natural cycle and our rootedness in Mother Earth. Above … Continue reading →

Posted in Green issues, Paganism, Syncretism | Leave a comment

Lucky Seven (Tokyo)

Posted on December 31, 2012 by John D.

Friday, Dec. 28, 2012  Japan Times  By TOMOKO OTAKE Instead of visiting one shrine, visit seven A fun thing I like to do at New Year’s is to go on a walking tour of seven shrines and temples in Tokyo. … Continue reading →

Posted in Kanto, Shrine visits, Syncretism | Leave a comment

Yakushima

Posted on November 22, 2012 by John D.

  Yakushima is an island 60 kilometers south of Kyushu, most of which is registered as a World Heritage Site on account of its primeval forest featuring giant cedars, known as Yakusugi.  These magnificent giants are literally thousands of years … Continue reading →

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Posted in Shrine visits, Syncretism, World Heritage | Leave a comment