Asahi Shinbun carries an exciting report today about possible Unesco recognition of Okinoshima as a World Heritage site in July. Though I’ve never been there, that sure is one place I’d love to get to one day. The photo shows … Read the rest
Category: Origins (Page 3 of 7)
Alan Watts has a ‘godlike’ status for those of us who prefer spirituality to religion. He of course was the first to deny guru status for himself, but as a teacher he continues through his recordings to shed light on … Read the rest
An exciting experiment is being carried out in the Okinawan islands which might replicate the first coming of human beings to the Japanese islands 30.000 years ago. They came from the south, from Taiwan, presumably as part of a northward … Read the rest
My attention was caught recently by an article in the conservative leaning Daily Yomiuri by a Japanese professor at Waseda University. It asked the question about when the Japanese became Japanese. The answer he gave, interestingly, is constructed by myth.… Read the rest
Fushimi Inari is of such importance that an understanding of its role is essential for anyone interested in Japanese religion and culture. Unusually amongst the major shrines, its kami is not an ancestor or relative of the emperor. It’s rather … Read the rest
Those of us who live in Kyoto are aware of two vital clans in the river basin’s early history – the Hata and the Kamo. They played a decisive role in the religious development of the area, and their legacy … Read the rest
Hata Part 4: Triangular torii
According to the internet, there are seven triangular torii in the whole of Japan. Most of these are modern constructions, and may simply be copies of Kyoto’s Konoshima Jinja. Only one other has a genuine claim of antiquity – … Read the rest