Tóquio

27/01/2015

Sugawara Shrine in Machida

Dedicated to Tenjin, Shinto god of scholarship

Por Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Fortune papers tied to a battered looking lamp

Mass of fortune telling papers

Ema boards with wishes (or do I mean prayers?)

Main hall of Sugawara Shrine

This striking roof shape pre-dates Buddhism in Japan

Plum blossoms carved onto the eaves of the main hall

Plum blossom motif on a lantern

A stone torii standing over a path into the trees

Beautifully carved crane

A mythical shishi peeking around the end of a straw rope

Shrines have collection points for used New Year decorations and other sacred items like last year's good luck charms

Michizane Sugawara was a Heian Era scholar who was deified after his death, to become the god Tenjin. There are many Tenjin shrines throughout Japan where students - and parents of students - request Sugawara's help for success in their studies. Besides praying, they often buy o-mamori (good luck charms) to carry into exams with them. It would seem that good luck expires after a year, because there was a tent piled with New Year decorations, old charms and other sacred debris. You can't throw that holy stuff away in the rubbish bag, you know!

Este artigo foi útil?

Help us improve the site

Give Feedback

Cathy Cawood

Por Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Seguindo Seguir

Thank you for your support!

Your feedback has been sent.