Kitano Tenmangu has spacious grounds, though in the past they were much more expansive and enveloped a large Shinto-Buddhist complex of shrines and temples. Look to the left as you walk along the long entrance path and you’ll … Read the rest
Category: Syncretism (Page 10 of 17)
Kumano is one of Japan’s most appealing areas, a spiritual heartland and part of a World Heritage site. It’s winning increasing attention from tourists, particularly for the opportunities for trekking and hot springs. In the article below, from the … Read the rest
Green Shinto friend, Hugo Kempeneer, has written up his visit to a most interesting ceremony at Fushimi Inari which took place recently. It’s a ceremony I’ve never seen myself, but thanks to his very clear videos of the event, I … Read the rest
Yasui Konpira-gu is one of Green Shinto’s favourite shrines.
It’s in the heart of Kyoto, next to Gion’s traditional geisha era. It’s small but full of history, and it houses the country’s first ema museum. It is famous for … Read the rest
Autumn is a busy time for festivals, and this weekend in Kyoto there were fascinating events at two of Kyoto’s less well-known shrines, Yasui Konpira-gu and Awata Jinja. Green Shinto has reported on the festivals before (see here and … Read the rest
I’ve recently received a copy of the doctorate by Aike Rots entitled ‘The Forests of the Gods: Shinto, Nature and the Rediscovery of Sacred Space’. People may recall that he wrote an excellent account of the work he … Read the rest
Folk Shinto has much to commend it. It is free of dogma, morality and hierarchy. It fosters a form of spirituality based on nature and ancestral spirits. It is open to anyone with a sense of tradition and the … Read the rest