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Nikkō san'nai, Remnants of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism~Part 3 Futarasan shrine

Article writtenNov.26th, 2020
Jun.13th, 2020
>Nikkō san'nai consists of 2 shrines and 1 temple, Futarasan shrine that has its origin in ancient mountain cult, Tōshōgū that was the sacred ground of the Tokugawa shogunate built with the best technologies of that time, and Rin'nōji that had maintained the light of Buddhism for 1200 years. A visit to Futarasan shrine.
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Futarasan shrine is a shrine established in 767, the following year of the establishment of Nikkō-san, by Shōdō Shōnin. It is dedicated to Futarayama-no-ōkami, that is the generic name for the three parent-child gods, Onamuchi-no-mikoto, Tagorihime-no-mikoto and Ajisukitakahikone-no-mikoto. The three mountains, Mount Nantai, Mount Nyohō and Mount Tarō are considered as the object representative of these three gods, and the vast area of the Nikkō mountain range, where ancient mountain worships had been practiced, is considered as it's shrine precinct. Since the shrine is dedicated to a couple god, it is said to bring good luck on fulfillment of love and happy marriage. And also, it is recently a popular "Power-spot", places with spiritual energy, making all sorts of relations.

Futarasan shrine consists of the main shrine in Nikkō san'nai, the Chūgūshi at the lakeside of Lake Chūzenji and the foot of Mount Nantai, and the Okumiya on the top of Mount Nantai. This visit is to the main shrine.

01

【About】Walking the Kami-shinmichi, the path to Futarasan shrine. Many lanterns line the path, going through the woods.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

02

【About】The rō-mon, that is the entrance to Futarasan shrine from the Kami-shinmichi. The gate was built in 1982 as a memorial of the 1200th anniversary of Shōdō Shōnin reaching the summit of Mount Nantai.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

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03

【About】The words "Shōichī-Kun'ittō Nikkō-daigongen", meaning, Senior First Rank, First order of merit, that is the god's rank, is held on the gate.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

04

【About】Going through the rō-mon, entering Futarasan shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

05

【About】This bronze torī was built in 1799.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

06

【About】A shingaku with the shrine's name is carried on the torī. Also, decorated by mitsudomoe, that is the shrine crest.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

07

【About】The Futarasan shrine surrounded by cedar trees.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

08

【About】To the left is the shinmon, that is the front entrance to Futarasan shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

09

【About】On both sides of the gate are big cedar trees those are goshimboku. The trees on the left, seen from inside, are referred to as a husband and with.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

10

【About】The trees on the right, seen from inside, are referred to as a parent and child.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

11

【About】The chōzuya next to the shinmon.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

12

【About】The haiden, the worship hall, that is a hip-and-gable roof structure. It was built in 1619 by the Tokugawa shogunate, and relocated here in 1645.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

13

【About】In front of the shrine office, next to the haiden, is a Sazare-ishi. A Sazare-ishi is a pebble conglomerate, considered as a sacred rock believed that divine spirits would dwell in. It can be seen in many shrines, and is also appears in the lyrics of the national anthem of Japan.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

14

【About】The goshuin of Futarasan shrine. It is available at the shrine office.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

15

【About】The haiden seen from the right.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

16

【About】A picture board in the shrine. The shrine's charactor, "Akari Kamio", who is a miko.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

17

【About】To the left of the haiden is the Shin-en Garden. Purchasing a ticket to enter.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

18

【About】In the Shin-en Garden, to the left is an branch shrine, the Hie shrine, dedicated for Ōyamakui-no-mikoto. The god of the mountains, and also, health.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

19

【About】To the right is the a cherry blossom tree, said to bring good fortune.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

20

【About】The honden, the main shrine building, was also built in1619 by the Tokugawa shogunate, together with the haiden, and was also relocated here in 1645. Many lanterns are placed around the honden, and the one surrounded by an enclosure is called "bake-tōrō".
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

21

【About】The honden, in the style of Yatsumune-zukuri, is under repair works and cannot be seen, surrounded by scaffolds. But there is a platform where visitors can see inside. It cannot be seen now, but it is a graceful honden, decorated with coloring and sculptures.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

22

【About】The shinyosha, that stores three mikoshis. It used to be a temporary worship hall of Tōshōgū, built in 1617, and it was relocated here in 1641.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

23

【About】Next to the shinyosha is the Daikokuden. The kanji of "Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto", another name for Onamuchi-no-mikoto, the enshrined diety of Futarasan shrine, can also be read "Daikoku", so he was seen as Daikokuten and was enshrined in the Daikokuden.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

24

【About】Beside the honden is a big cedar tree considered as a goshimboku. Inside the torī next to it is the "matchmaking bamboo grass" and the "rock of easy delivery".
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

25

【About】The largest cedar tree in the shrine, estimated to be over 700 years old.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

26

【About】The Mitomo shrine is an branch shrine dedicated for Sukunabikona-no-mikoto, the god of knowledge and wisdom.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

27

【About】Many ornaments of frogs are placed around the Mitomo shrine. This one is the "Chie-kaeru", meaning the frog of wisdom.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

28

【About】The frog of fortune, the frog of spirit, the frog of patience and the "Yokukangaeru".
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

29

【About】The "Hitokoto-kaeru" and the "Yaku-kaeru".
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

30

【About】Next to the Mitomo shrine is Nikkō-zeniaraijo.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

31

【About】It is said that this water brings purity, regeneration and good luck, and by washing money with this water would bring good fortune.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

32

【About】Inside this torī is the Futara-reisui.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

33

【About】The Futara-reisui is a miraculous water drawn from Yakushi-no-reisui, in a cavern in Mount Kōrei behind the honden, and Sake-no-zumi, springing water in Takinō shrine. Next to the Futara-reisui is a rest house called "Azumaya", which serves coffee and tea using the water.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

34

【About】This is where you can crawl through a goshimboku. It is said that going through it would wash off impurity, purify the soul and one would be reborn.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

35

【About】This goshimboku was a 550 year old cedar tree, but since it became a hollow tree and there was a danger of falling down, it was cut down, and a part of it's trunk was placed here in 2017. One should silently go through the tree and ring the bell inside wishing for the wish to come true.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

36

【About】This is a yōhaijo to worship Jakko shrine from distance. Jakko shrine is a shrine dedicated for Shitateruhime-no-mikoto, a few kilometers away from Futarasan shrine. Shitateruhime-no-mikoto is also a child of Onamuchi-no-mikoto and Tagorihime-no-mikoto, the enshrined dieties of Futarasan shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

37

【About】At the innermost of the Shin-en Garden.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

38

【About】Inside the torī is the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo. It is a place to worship the Nikkō mountain range from distance.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

39

【About】In the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo is a rocky mound that resembles the Nikkō mountain range.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

40

【About】On the mound is a sword stabbed like as it is at the top of Mount Nantai. It is said that a sword has powers to drive off evil.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

41

【About】The names of the mountains of the Nikkō mountain range are written on each of the plates on the mound.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

42

【About】Shin-en Garden seen from the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

43

【About】Heading back to the entrance of Shin-en Garden. Where it is surrounded by shimenawa is called Takamagahara, and is a sacred place where the gods descend to.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

44

【About】Sprouts growing from the big stump of a tree.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

45

【About】The pine tree near the entrance of Shin-en Garden, is estimated to be over 1000 years old, said to be planted by Kōbō Daishi, a Buddhist monk.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

46

【About】Left the Shin-en Garden. There is a komainu named "Yoien-komainu". It was offered to the shrine as a memorial of the 15th anniversary of the registration as a World Heritage site.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

47

【About】This is the kaguraden where Yaotome-kagura is performed. Inside, a big statue of Daikokuten called the "Ashio no Daikokusama" is settled.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

48

【About】Next to the kaguraden are three more goshimboku.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

49

【About】Going through the shinmon.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

50

【About】The approach to Futarasan shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

51

【About】Looking back inside the shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

52

【About】Beside the approach is a goshimboku called "Enmusubi-no-goshimboku". It is a cedar tree parasited by an oak tree, said to bring good luck on fulfillment of love and happy marriage.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

53

【About】The shinmon was also built in 1982 as a memorial of the 1200th anniversary of Shōdō Shōnin reaching the summit of Mount Nantai.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

54

【About】Going through the Ōtorī. A big shimenawa, about 100km in weight, is hung on the torī.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

55

【About】The Ōtorī in the front of Futarasan shrine.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

56

【About】The stone monument carrying the shrine's name.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

57

【About】The mitsudomoe, that is the shrine crest, can be seen at the top.
【Date】Jun.13th, 2018 【Location】Nikkō,Tochigi

Heading for Taiyūin, the last destination.

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