Wonderland

Toshogu Shrine is like a wonderland.

**Hermit Kinkou rides on the carp

The name of the Yomeimon came from one of the twelve gates in the Imperial court in Kyoto. That one also was called Yomeimon. Techniques of crafts and decoration such as coloring, metal fitting and sculpture, were gathered in the Yomeimon. People are not tired of looking at the gate all day long because of its excellence.
Especially, sculptures are remarkable. The number of the sculptures is over 500. Frame of "Tosho-daigongen" is put on the arched gable. Also, sculptures of dragon and Iki are put under the frame of "Tosho-daigongen." Iki has tusk, but no whiskers. Also, the Iki has nostril on the upper lip.
There are 5173 sculptures in Toshogu Shrine totally. Honsha shrine has 2468 sculptures (Honden-1439, Haiden-940 and Ishinoma-89). In addition to that, Karamon (611 sculptures), Yomeimon (508 sculptures) follow the Honsha. There are 400 sculptures of small flower in the Karamon. Each flower is 7cm x 9cm. Theme of the sculpture is divided into the following categories such as human being, animals, imaginary animals, flower, birds and patterns. It is told that there is a law for each arrangement. For example, sculptures of human being are limited to be put in only the Yomeimon Gate and the Karamon Gate. Spiritual animals and Chinese Lions are arranged only in the Yomeimon Gate.



There are 194 sculptures of imaginary animals, which are called Reiju (Holy, or spiritual animals)





The calligraphy was one of four plays that the leader should handle. Other plays are painting, playing the harp, and so on.

"Shukou Chouso" (Saint Zhou handles suit with washing his hair)

Famous Shrine Carvings

There are two big sculptures of elephant on the gable of the Kamijinko. However, ears and tails are different from the real elephant because the chief painter, Tanyu Kano had not ever seen the real elephant when he painted. Therefore, those sculptures were called Imaginary Elephant.

The "Sleeping Cat" exists at the entrance of Okusha Inner Shrine, which is located in Higashikairou (East Corridor.) It is told that the "Sleeping Cat" was made by Jingorou Hidari, and it is the most famous sculpture in the Toshogu Shrine.
Also, there is a sculpture of sparrow on the backside of the Sleeping Cat. The sparrow will be eaten if the cat is awake. However, the sparrow and the cat co-exist. It means that nation wide chaos is over and peaceful society has come.

A famous carving of the Three Monkeys is on the sacred stable in the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Japan. Carvings of monkeys were believed to prevent diseases in horses.

White horses attend the Shinkyu except a rainy and snowy day. They stay the Shinkyu from 10am to 2pm. Color of the sacred horse has to be white, and two white horses are kept today. Also, these horses attend Samurai-style 1,000-person procession together with.
There is no painting on the Shinkyu. Sculptures of Sansaru "Three Monkeys" are put on the crossbar of the Shinkyu. The Sansaru consists of 8 panels like a picture book. Monkey has been treated as a guardian of horse since early times. Therefore, there was a custom to keep monkey in the stable until Muromachi period

(San-en) Three Monkeys:

"Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil"

The trio of monkeys is depicted with one having its hands over its ears, another having its hands over its mouth, and the third having its hands over its eyes. Known as the Three Monkeys, they are a tradition in Japanese culture.
Beginning in the late Muromchi period (1333-1568), it became customary to carve these figures on koshinto, stone pillars u
used during the observance of Koshin. According to the Kiyu Shoran, an early 19th century reference work, the Three Monkeys may also be related to the Sanno belief complex, wherein monkeys play the role of divine messangers. The Three Monkeys represent the Santai (Three Truths) advocated the Tendai Sect of Buddhims. The Tendai founder, Saicho is said to have carved a representation of this ideal in the form of monkeys.
Looking up the sky with holding a big ambition. Blue clouds metaphor ambition.
Mother monkey looks at the future of her child. Child monkey looks into mother's face with full of trust.
Preparing independence. Child monkey is still sitting.

Toshogu

The Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Ieyasu and two other of Japan's most influential historical personalities, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Minamoto Yoritomo.
The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen Shinto and Buddhist buildings set in a beautiful forest. Initially a relatively simple mausoleum, Toshogu was enlarged into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 17th century.








Tadakatsu Sakai contributed this building in 1650, but was burned down in 1815. Descendant of Tadakatsu rebuilt in 1818. Tadakatsu Sakai was the governor of Obama (Former Fukui prefecture).
It is 36m high. There are no floors inside and each story is connected directly. The central pillar is the diameter of 60cm. It is hung from the height of the 4th floor by chain. The bottom of the pillar is not attached to the ground, but it has floated about 10cm. This is an anti-earthquake construction. Also, gap of the building will be bigger when wood shrinks and the roof sinks. The hung pillar also has an effect on that.
Rafter of the roof is parallel from the first to the 4th floor, but rafter of the 5th layer is spoke-wise. Also, sculptures of animals on the first layer indicate twelve zodiac signs and directions.


Nagamasa Kuroda dedicated the Ishidorii in 1618. It is 9m high, and the pillar is diameter of 3.6m, and central space between pillars is 3.8m. The Ishidorii is one of the best three stone-made torii gates in Japan, but it is the biggest among the stone-made torii gates in Edo period. Other two torii gates are located in Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, and Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura.
Emperor Gomizunoo wrote "Tosho-daigongen" (Divine designation of Ieyasu Tokugawa) on the frame of 6ft x 3ft. That frame is put on the upper side of the Ishidorii. Main material of the Ishidorii was the granite, which was produced in Fukuoka prefecture. The Ishidorii was constructed by 15 pieces of stone material. Each material is connected by axle, and crossbars have caves in order to be lightweight. It also has an anti-earthquake function. In fact, joint of the crossbars was slipped widely by the earthquake in 1949, but it shifted back to the original place by aftershock.

Coming soon to a Blog near you!

More pics from Nikko...

Yes, Yes - I'm gonna finish Nikko soon and update Tokyo right after My Lovelies. Most likely this wknd!!!


By the way...
wanna hear my NEWEST FAVORITE SONG IN THE WORLD -
check it out here http://youtube.com/watch?v=ddxJ1FVcxyo&search=oLIVIA%20a%20little%20pain

Walking around Nikko

Always Raining!!!





A Simone mushroom

The Kids are Everywhere!

It's a SUNDAY and they're on school trips - crazy! Poor Kids! I mean, do they ever get a wknd off or at least OUT of that uniform?!?