All hail to Emperor Kammu! When he founded Heian-kyo (Kyoto) in 794, he took note of the surrounding hills. ‘The mountains and rivers are the collar and belt of this area, and make … Read the rest
Category: Rocks (Page 6 of 6)
Kibune Jinja is small but special; in Heian times it was designated one of the top 22 shrines. It’s noted for being dedicated to a water kami and is located just above the river. There is water gushing all around … Read the rest
A Mighty Megalith
Small but potent is how you might describe Koshikiiwa Jinja. It’s not one of Kansai’s famous shrines. Located on a hill at Korakuen, it’s an appendage to the grander Nishinomiya Shrine and enshrines the same deity: hence … Read the rest
Amy Chavez has written an article in the Japan Times on the sacred rocks of the island where she lives in the Inland Sea.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110709cz.html
I’m a big fan of the island, and particularly of the rocks there… they come … Read the rest
To anyone living in Japan the phenomenon of iwakura and kami-inhabited rocks is very striking. I would even suggest that it’s central to Shinto. So I find the omission of discussion about iwakura in English-language material to be puzzling and … Read the rest