Posts Tagged ‘関西地方’ (Page 2)

Ebisu Jinja, Kyoto

360° VR panorama to the side of the Haiden in Ebisu shrine (ゑびす神社), Kyoto, Japan. The shrine is built with several pine trees incorporated into the grounds. A variety of smaller plants are grown in pots.

Nearby, along the wall to the west, are a couple of small shrines, known as sessha (摂社) or massha (末社). Also nearby is a vermilion coloured brightly painted rack used for hanging Ema, pieces of wood with prayers written on them.

Ebisu is one of the seven gods of fortune. During his festival, from 8th to 12th of January, Business people visit the shrines dedicated to him to pray for prosperity for their businesses.

The shrine in Kyoto is the third most popular Ebisu shrine in Japan. Ebisu was originally enshrined in Kyoto at the Kenninji Temple, built in 1202. The current shrine was established after the temple burnt down in 1467.

Ebisu shrine, Kyoto

360° VR panorama just inside the entrance of the Ebisu shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Ebisu is one of the seven gods of fortune. During his festival, from 8th to 12th of January, Business people visit the shrines dedicated to him to pray for prosperity for their businesses.

The shrine in Kyoto is the third most popular Ebisu shrine in Japan. Ebisu was originally enshrined in Kyoto at the Kenninji Temple, built in 1202. The current shrine was established after the temple burnt down in 1467.

Toyokuni Shrine, Kyoto

360° VR panorama in the grounds of Toyokuni Shrine (豊国神社), in Kyoto, Japan. A large concrete Torii (鳥居) gate is placed over the entrance to the shrine grounds. A series of orange lanterns line the sides of the path up to the karamon (唐門) gate at the shrine entrance. It is thought that the gate may have been moved here from Fushimi Castle.

Toyokuni Jinja is dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉), who unified Japan under his rule. It was originally built in 1599, but then closed in June 1615 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi’s rival who rose to power after his death. In April 1868 Emperor Meiji ordered that the shrine be restored.

Sanjusangen-do Temple, Kyoto

360° VR panorama in the Rengeō-in temple complex in Kyoto, Japan. The long hall to the west is Sanjūsangen-dō (三十三間堂), measuring a length of 120 metres long. The hall’s name literally means ‘Hall with thirty-three spaces between columns’.

Sanjūsangen-dō is registered as a National Treasure of Japan, and contains 1001 wooden statues of the Buddhist deity Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara (Thousand Armed Kannon).

The temple was originally constructed in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori. The current building of Sanjūsangen-dō dates from 1266 after the original was destroyed in a fire. It has undergone four great renovations since the reconstruction.

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, Kyoto

Posted Under: 360° Panorama, Asia, Japan, Kansai region, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

360° VR panorama of the Higashi Hongan-ji (東本願寺) temple complex in the Shimogyo-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded in 1602 as part of a plan by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to split the Shin Buddhist sect in two and reduce its influence. Higashi Honganji became the head temple of the Otani-ha branch, while the nearby Nishi Honganji temple became the headquarters of the Hongan-ji branch.

None of the original temple buildings of Higashi Hongan-ji survive, in 1864 a large fire destroyed all buildings and the treasures they contained. The majority of the temple structures today date from between 1879 to 1911. The main hall, Goei-do is the largest wooden structure in Kyoto, and the second largest in Japan.

Ōe Shrine, Osaka

360° VR panorama of Oe Shrine (大江神社 Ōe Jinja) in Osaka city, Japan. It is one of the seven shrines said to be established by Prince Shotoku (聖徳太子 Shōtoku Taishi) to guard Shitenno temple (Shitennō-ji 四天王寺). The monks of Shitennoji manage the rituals at Oe Shrine.

The shrine is dedicated to the Buddhist god Bishamonten (毘沙門天), one of the Japanese Seven Gods of Fortune. The shrine contains an image of Bishamonten which is said to have been made by Prince Shotoku himself.

Ōe Jinja has always been noted for the sunset, and there is a memorial to Sunset Hill (夕陽岡 Yūhigaoka) on the premises. Instead of guardian dog statues, the shrine has guardian tiger statues. Because of this fans of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team often come to worship at Oe Shrine.

Namba Yasaka Shrine

360° VR panorama of Namba Yasaka Shrine (難波八阪神社 Namba Yasaka Jinja), in Osaka city, Japan. The shrine was once quite large, having the seven standard buildings of a Buddhist temple complex (七堂伽藍 shichidō garan) and 12 attached temples. However, the shrine was closed after the Meiji restoration in 1868 due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism policy (神仏分離 shinbutsu bunri) of the new government.

In 1945 the shrine’s buildings were burned down in air raids, the current buildings are reconstructions built after the war. The large lion head contains a small stage (獅子舞台 Shishibutai) where dances are performed. The lion head measures 12m high, by 11m wide, and is 10m deep.