The left-hand mouse carries a drinking bowl (水の器), representing abundant harvests, protection from illness and success in conceiving.
The right-hand guardian carries a scroll (巻物) to symbolise academic achievement and knowledge.
In 887 Emperor Uda (宇多天皇) fell deathly sick.
Not long after Fujiwara-no-Yoshiko (藤原淑子 838-906), Uda's foster mother, had a vision of the god Sukunahikona (少彦名神). He promised that if Tsubakigamine was worshiped then the emperor would speed to health.
Ōtoyo-jinja was hastily erected below Tsubakigamine, & sure enough Emperor Uda recovered.
At a later date Sugawara-no-Michizane & Emperor Ōjin were enshrined, creating a rather odd grouping of deities.
11)
Otoyo-jinja (大豊神社) is nicknamed the 'Mice Shrine' (鼠の社 Nezumi-no-sha) after two guardian mice 'Koma-nezumi' (狛鼠), familiars of the god Okuninushi (大国主).
Created in 1969, the left-hand mouse carries a drinking bowl (水の器), the right a scroll (巻物).
At a later date Sugawara-no-Michizane (菅原道真 845 -903) and Emperor Ōjin (応神天皇) were enshrined, creating a rather odd grouping of deities.
Unknown for most of its history, animal statues would bring the shrine fame🤔
In 887 Emperor Uda (宇多天皇) fell deathly sick.
Not long after Fujiwara-no-Yoshiko (藤原淑子 838-906), Uda's foster mother, had a vision of Sukunabikona (少彦名神 'god of hot springs, agriculture, healing, magic, brewing sake and knowledge').
He promised that if the gods residing on Tsubakigamine were worshiped then the emperor would speed to health.
Ōtoyo-jinja was hastily erected below Tsubakigamine, and sure enough Emperor Uda recovered.
🐭THE MICE SHRINE🐁
At the western foot of Tsubakigamine (椿ヶ峰 'Camellia Hill'), beside the 'Path of Philosophy' (哲学の道 'Tetsugaku-no-michi'), stands Ōtoyo-jinja (大豊神社).
It's more familiarly known as the 'Mice Shrine' (鼠の社 'Nezumi-no-sha').
#Kyoto #京都 #大豊神社 #Otoyojinja #PathofPhilosophy #哲学の道 #椿ヶ峰 #Higashiyama
A number of shrines and temples sit close to the Philosopher's Path. Here's a previous thread all about Ōtoyo-jinja (大豊神社), one of my favourites🐁⛩️🧵⬇️
https://x.com/camelliakyoto/status/1429596813917491207
taking it easy
the mouse sleeps too...
spring rain
安堵して鼠も寝るよ春の雨
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶).
Trans. David Lanoue.
#Kyoto #京都 #haiku #Japan #PhilosophersPath #Otoyojinja #大豊神社 #mice #mouse
🐭THE MICE SHRINE🐁 At the western foot of Tsubakigamine (椿ヶ峰 'Camellia Hill'), beside the 'Path of Philosophy' (哲学の道 'Tetsugaku-no-michi'), stands Ōtoyo-jinja (大豊神社). It's more familiarly known as the 'Mice Shrine' (鼠の社 'Nezumi-no-sha'). #Kyoto #京都 #大豊神社
The left-hand mouse carries a drinking bowl (水の器), representing abundant harvests, protection from illness and success in conceiving.
The right-hand guardian carries a scroll (巻物) to symbolise academic achievement and knowledge.
At the western foot of Tsubakigamine (椿ヶ峰 'Camellia Hill'), beside the 'Path of Philosophy' (哲学の道 'Tetsugaku-no-michi'), stands Ōtoyo-jinja (大豊神社).
It's more familiarly known as the 'Mice Shrine' (鼠の社 'Nezumi-no-sha').
In 1969 the sub-shrine of Daikoku-sha (大国社) was founded to enshrine the god Ōkuninushi, and with it came a pair of mice guardians known as 'Koma-nezumi' (狛鼠).
The animals feature in a famous episode from Ōkuninushi's (大国主) dramatic life.
Camellia Tea Ceremony