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Combined Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple
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Combined Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple

Small temple with fall leaves in the garden of Jinguji Buddhist temple, sharing the grounds of Kamiichinomiya Oawa Shinto Shrine, Kamiyama, Japan, one of the few shrine-temples combinations still extant.

Some of you may have wondered what a Buddhist symbol, the Tridacna shell, was doing at a Shinto Shrine. The explanation is below.

In the Heian period (794 to 1185) when Buddhism began to diffuse throughout Japan, friction arose between the new beliefs and the ancient Japanese Shinto religion and out of this rose a syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism in which Shinto kami (gods) were considered to be the temporary forms of Buddhist deities. This led to the construction of Shinto shrines within Buddhist temples and vice versa. So Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, such as this rare example, used to be a single place of worship until Meiji era (1868-1912) when the emperor decided to separate them and Shinto became the official religion of Japan.

Shinto shrineBuddhist templeTridacna shellfallen leavesfall seasonsmall templerock gardenJinguji Buddhist templeKamiichinomiya Oawa shrineKamiyamaShikoku IslandJapan

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  • Revered old ginko tree with shimenawa sacred rope, Kamiichinomiya Oawa Shinto Shrine, Kamiyama, Shikoku Island, Japan. Shimenawa are lengths of rice straw or hemp rope placed on placed on certain trees, that kami (spirits, gods) are considered to inhabit. Cutting down these trees is thought to bring misfortune and the ropes act as a ward against evil spirits.<br />
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Just back from Costa Rica...photo to follow in due course.
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  • Terry Allen

    on December 20, 2021

    Many thanks everyone for your nice comments!

  • jimholmquist

    on December 20, 2021

    Superb shot Terry! I love the composition and the beautiful details.

  • Rick Willis

    on December 20, 2021

    Interesting Find 😃...

  • geoghanart

    on December 20, 2021

    Well composed Terry with lovely detail throughout.

  • Franks-Focus

    on December 19, 2021

    Excellent POV on this unique combination.

  • Judith Sparhawk

    on December 19, 2021

    Very interesting, the clash of religions over the centuries...when your country has as long a history as that, the changes may take centuries to happen. This shot does show how large that shell is, next to the shrine.

  • Wayne Wendel

    on December 19, 2021

    Beautiful scene and landscape perfect composition.

  • Kevin Poynor

    on December 19, 2021

    Lovely composition.

  • fotoeffects

    on December 19, 2021

    What a beautiful scene! Very interesting info!

  • John Murphy

    on December 19, 2021

    Lovely shot! Very well captured

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