Kompira (or Konpira) is one of the more popular kami in Japan, associated with the sea and with its main shrine of Kotohira-gu in Shikoku (known popularly as Konpira-san). The deity is said to be derived from Kumbhira, a … Read the rest
Category: Syncretism (Page 13 of 17)
Daigo-ji is one of Kyoto’s many treasures, and deserves to be better known. It’s a Shingon temple with an upper and lower part on a hill one hour’s walk from each other. Amongst the many structures, it boasts a … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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) … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest