As there are churches everywhere in the U.S., there are temples and shrines everywhere here in Japan. The really fascinating ones are the special purpose ones.
There are shrines and temples devoted to the usual things: money, health, happiness, long life, good marriage. There are ones dedicated to uniting two people in love or in friendship. Interestingly, there’s at least one shrine for breaking up! This could be a lover, a friend, an employer. At all of these temples and shrines, the donation box beckons you for your coins. There is often the option to light a candle or buy incense. The money apparently is chalked up as payment for “services rendered” by whoever or whatever is fulfilling your request.
I’ll confess, being raised Catholic, I’m very familiar with the fundraising that is integral to keeping houses of worship up and running. The Catholic Church is not exactly shy about grabbing as much out of your wallet as it can. Vatican City in Rome is supposed to hold more wealth than many countries.
I’m also familiar with praying for favors, engaging designated holy places, holy icons, and calling forth holy spirits, saints and deities. Yes, we had all sorts of saints and angels to beckon and put to work. Thousands still travel to Lourdes, France for the sacred healing powers of the spring water there, the result of miracles by a young lady, Bernadette, who was upgraded to the official status of sainthood in 1933, under Pope Pius XI.
Then there’s Saint Anthony, the patron saint for lost items. Saint Christopher is the saint for safe travel, thus many folks I knew — including my parents — had a Saint Christopher medal dangling from the rear view mirror of their car.
Back to Japan and the shrines and temples nearby Tambasasayama.
Nishinomiya Shrine [西宮神社] in Nishinomiya is dedicated to commerce and wealth. Tainohata Yakuyoke Hachimangu Shrine [ 多井畑厄除八幡宮] in Kobe is for warding off the evil spirits of folks in their Yakudoshi (bad luck years). This would be men age 25, 42 and 61; women 19, 33 and 37. Kakinomoto Shrine in Akashi is dedicated to the deity of education and literature. My own village shrine honors Benten, goddess of art and music — perfect for my wife and I, as we are both musicians.
The photo at the top was taken at Mondo Yakujin Toukou-ji, also in Nishinomiya, a temple where people bring their trials, tribulations, crises, catastrophes, problems, and heartache. The idea is to reverse your fortunes and get on a positive track again. My wife calls it the “Karma Temple, so I guess you could say you go there to tune up your karma.
A few months ago, middle of spring, we headed about 40 km (25 miles) north to one of the most unique and beautiful temples in our area. This is the Hydrangea Temple, set on the outskirts of Fukuchiyama. We got there at the peak of blooming. And you’ll never guess. The place was wall-to-wall hydrangeas. They even had chickens!
Not sure what chickens, or hydrangeas for that matter, have to do with Buddhism.
But who am I to question?
Please remember that my large-format, full-color, deluxe LIVE FROM JAPAN! is full of photos and anecdotes about the “other side” of Japan, stories just like this one, about life away from the urban frenzy, out in the country in a traditional, rural community. As I have said many times . . . “It’s like living in a fairy tale!”
Let me share with you my adventure of discovery in the Land of the Rising Sun.
