Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

  Oshi is a lower class priest of Shinto ism .  They belong to particular shrines and pray for the worshipers. They also take care of the accommodation for pilgrims, so they run inns. They also travel in order to gain new followers and invite them to their shrines. Nowadays, there are few oshis at the foot of Mt.Fuji, Mt. Oyama and so on. At Ise Shrine, it is called “Onshi”. Oshi at Sengen Shrine in Mt.Fuji : http://www.cbr.mlit.go.jp/fujisabo/fuji_info/mamechisiki/d01/index.html 　 御師 は、神社の下級神職で、信者のために祈祷を行い、参詣のために宿泊・案内などの手配をする。また、全国を回って信者を集める。 伊勢神宮では、おんし 、というらしい。   Sendachi or sendatsu is a guide of the shrine. The Kumano Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture created the sendachi system in which monks guide people from all over Japan to Kumano Shrine. It was very successful and Kumano Shrine flourished very much. They also taught the way to worship in Kumano. Historical records show some of the sendachis lived in Edo (Tokyo) and guided people regularly to the...

Shintoism and Buddhism are the two major religions in Japan. Shintoism originated in Japan. It is a polytheistic religion. Some of its deities are people who created Japan.  Other deities reside in mountains, trees, rocks and so on. Therefore S hintoism has the characteristics of animism. Its leader was originally the emperor or Tennou/ 天皇 . The distinctive feature of the shrine is the torii gate. There are no statues of deities in the shrine, but Shinto worshipers believe that shrines are inhabited by deities. Torii gate of Hofu shrine, Yamaguchi 、山口県防府天満宮 Main hall of Hofu shrine 、防府天満宮本殿 Buddhism, on the other hand, didn’t originate in Japan but it was practiced in Japan from the mid-6 th century. Buddhism had the philosophy to promote peace and stability of the state, so the Japanese dynasty welcomed it and spread it all over Japan as a national religion. Temples are dedicated to Buddha and/or his disciples. Temples are also training facilities for monks. There...

  The Edo period started in 1603 and it ended in 1868, so it lasted about 250 years. Edo is the old name of Tokyo. The Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan practically during the Edo period. The subsequent Meiji period ended in 1912.    The primary means of livelihood of people then was agriculture. There were almost no cars, no telephones and no TVs. Edo & Meiji period, Narita Tourist Pavilion 成田観光館 　江戸時代は 1603 年から 1868 年の約 250 年間で将軍が日本を支配し、続く明治時代は 1868 年から 1912 年の約 40 年間である。自動車や電話はほとんどなく、テレビもない農耕社会の中で人々は日々を暮らしていた。 Outline of the Japanese history   Talking about the Japanese history, the emperor became a ruler in the 6 th century . The dynasty which is called “Yamato” is still continuing. The dynasty often transferred the capital long time ago.   In 710, Nara became the capital, then Kyoto became the capital in 794 . Kyoto was the capital until 1868, that’s why Kyoto is called “The millennial capital”. Former imperial palace in Kyoto, 京都御所 　天皇が６世紀ご...

Front of the museum and Unno town, 資料館正面と海野宿   Unno jyuku or post town is on the old highway called Hokkoku-kaido in the central Japan. It flourished in Edo period. After Edo period, the town finished its role as a post town, so people started silkworm business and flourished again. About one hundred of old houses remain even now, so Unno town is designated as a traditional building district. The building of this museum was built around 1790. It was an inn in Edo period, and it renovated to a silkworm farmer’s house. Under the big trees on the right of the upper photo, there is the Shiratori shrine which is a guardian god of Sanada clan who were famous and popular war lords. Yukimura Sanada who was the most famous war lord of Sanada clan:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanada_Yukimura Y. Sanada became a hero of Japanese anime: http://musou.ldblog.jp/archives/2079919.html I was surprised with the contract between the lord and the temple in Kouyasan w...

On-bashira means a great wooden pole. Every six years, big Japanese fir trees which are more than 150 years old are selected in the designated forests and brought to the Suwa great shrine. The event is called “On-bashira festival”. The gate of the Suwa Spring great shrine, Jun in 2017（ 諏訪大社下社春宮） On-bashira and the main hall of the Suwa Spring great shrine（ 下社春宮）  At first people cut down the tall trees, then bring them to the shrine. Men, women and children participate in the event. The highlight of the event is called “Kiotoshi”. The trees slide down on the slope of the mountain. Guys try to get on the tree. They are keen to sit on the head of the tree. It is really vigorous and it is one of the most famous events in Japan. Kiotoshi (YouTube,  Must watch!! )      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PilfJlrZiNU The trees are stood in the shrine. The Suwa people have been into this event more than 1000 years. The day of “On-bashira...