Kitano- Tenmangu

Tags

boussokusekika, geiko, Kitano-Tenmangu, maiko

(Creative Commons.  Photo by 663highland, 19/2/11)

 

Angry bureaucrat-

scholar and poet exile –

has to be appeased.

Geiko and maiko serve tea

beneath blossom and lanterns.

Umenomiya taisha

Tags

bussokusekika, Umenomiya taisha

(Wikimedia Commons Photo by KENPEI,

August 2010)

 

 

A Princess gave birth

the day after her marriage –

so speedily that

women came to her to seek

such pain-free delivery.

Hiyoshi Taisha

Tags

boussokusekika, Daimyo, Hiyoshi taisha, Tenka Fubu

And now for the final Eight, Lower rank, in my series of boussokusekika

on the twenty two shrines:

(Wikimedia Commons Photo:

663highland; June 2008.)

 

Hiyoshi Taisha

 

Your shrine was once burnt

when a Daimyo killed his foes

and yet he was blessed:

unification expressed

in ‘Tenka Fubu.’*

 

• ‘Rule the Empire by Force!’

Tatsuta- taisha

Tags

boussokusekika, Mount Ikoma, Susa-n-o, Tatsuta -taisha

(Wikimedia Commons.  Photo:

Kansai explorer; June 2007. GFDL

creative commons 2.5)

 

At Mount Ikoma,

three noble children were born.

Where the clouds arose,

a fierce eight headed dragon

was slain by Susa-no-o.

Oyamato- jinja

Tags

boussokusekika, Oyamato-jinja

(Wikimedia Commons.  663highland- photo:

30th June, 2007)

 

 

By cruel fire destroyed –

even its burnt stones worshipped –

His Majesty prayed

spirits would transfer therein

and dwell peacefully.

Isonokami Jinja

Tags

boussokusekika, cedat tree, Futsu-no-mitama-tsuragi, Isonokami jinja, kami

(Wikimedia Commons- photo)

 

Cedar trees surround

the oldest road in Japan.

There the sword kami:

Futsu-no-mitama-no

tsuragi is still enshrined.

Omiwa Jinja

Tags

boussokusekika, Kusuri ido, Omiwa Jinja, Yamato

(Wikimedia Commons – photo by Yanjin 33,

August 2012)

 

Kusuri ido,*

you healed those who drank

from your spring waters.

The Yamato line found strength

by worshiping here.

 

• sacred well

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Tags

Fushimi Inari-taisha, rice god, sacred foxes, torii

(Wikipedia; author Paul Vlaar, July, 2004.

Uploaded by Neep)

 

Thousands of torii*

line the path to the rice god

and sacred foxes

carry keys in their own mouths:

granaries can be unlocked.

 

• traditional gate de-marcating the transition from profane to sacred

Shimogamo Shrine

Tags

bussokusekika, god of fire, god of thunder, Shimogamo, Tamayori-hime

(photo by Mojo; uploaded under GNU FDL:

Wikipedia)

 

Tamayori-hime*

and the gods of fire, thunder,

dwell in the forest

where all lies will be exposed;

not all trees destroyed.

 

• daughter of the sea-dragon god

Remarkable Views of Various Bridges

Tags

Fukui Bridge, Hokusai, Mount Gyada, Remarkable Views of Bridges in Various Provinces, Sano, Shokoku meikyo kiran, Tenman Bridge, The Cloud-Hanging Bridge, Togetsu-kyo, Yahagi

 

Crowded Tenman Bridge

is a vantage point for those

who like to watch boats.

 

 

Fukui Bridge:

when you carry loads, it’s steep;

better going down.

 

Sure-footed travellers

on the suspension bridge sigh,

traversing the arch.

 

 

The Cloud-Hanging Bridge

of Mount Gyada

is pure fantasy.

 

 

Underneath arches

at Yahagi Bridge, archers

aim for a bulls-eye.

 

 

Togetsu-kyo:

the bridge draws crowds who,

once blessed, don’t look back.

 

(image by Pastaitaken)

 

The Kintai Bridge spans:

trajectories of crickets,

actualised in wood.

 

 

Yatsuhashi Bridge

zig-zags crazily across

the reeds, on high stilts.

 

 

 

Sano’s pontoon bridge

operates in ice, though

slippery underfoot.