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

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

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.
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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.
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Going through the rō-mon, entering Futarasan shrine.
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This bronze torī was built in 1799.
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A shingaku with the shrine's name is carried on the torī. Also, decorated by mitsudomoe, that is the shrine crest.
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The Futarasan shrine surrounded by cedar trees.
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To the left is the shinmon, that is the front entrance to Futarasan shrine.
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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.
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The trees on the right, seen from inside, are referred to as a parent and child.
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The chōzuya next to the shinmon.
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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.
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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.
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The goshuin of Futarasan shrine. It is available at the shrine office.
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The haiden seen from the right.
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A picture board in the shrine. The shrine's charactor, "Akari Kamio", who is a miko.
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To the left of the haiden is the Shin-en Garden. Purchasing a ticket to enter.
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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.
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To the right is the a cherry blossom tree, said to bring good fortune.
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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".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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".
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The largest cedar tree in the shrine, estimated to be over 700 years old.
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The Mitomo shrine is an branch shrine dedicated for Sukunabikona-no-mikoto, the god of knowledge and wisdom.
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Many ornaments of frogs are placed around the Mitomo shrine. This one is the "Chie-kaeru", meaning the frog of wisdom.
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The frog of fortune, the frog of spirit, the frog of patience and the "Yokukangaeru".
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The "Hitokoto-kaeru" and the "Yaku-kaeru".
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Next to the Mitomo shrine is Nikkō-zeniaraijo.
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It is said that this water brings purity, regeneration and good luck, and by washing money with this water would bring good fortune.
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Inside this torī is the Futara-reisui.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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At the innermost of the Shin-en Garden.
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Inside the torī is the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo. It is a place to worship the Nikkō mountain range from distance.
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In the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo is a rocky mound that resembles the Nikkō mountain range.
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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.
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The names of the mountains of the Nikkō mountain range are written on each of the plates on the mound.
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Shin-en Garden seen from the Nikkō-renzan yōhaijo.
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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.
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Sprouts growing from the big stump of a tree.
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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.
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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.
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This is the kaguraden where Yaotome-kagura is performed. Inside, a big statue of Daikokuten called the "Ashio no Daikokusama" is settled.
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Next to the kaguraden are three more goshimboku.
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Going through the shinmon.
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The approach to Futarasan shrine.
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Looking back inside the shrine.
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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.
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The shinmon was also built in 1982 as a memorial of the 1200th anniversary of Shōdō Shōnin reaching the summit of Mount Nantai.
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Going through the Ōtorī. A big shimenawa, about 100km in weight, is hung on the torī.
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The Ōtorī in the front of Futarasan shrine.
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The stone monument carrying the shrine's name.
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The mitsudomoe, that is the shrine crest, can be seen at the top.
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