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Kamigamo shrine in Kyoto, Aoi matsuri, and its history

Hosodono 細殿

上賀茂神社の立砂

When the emperor or “Saioh”, the priestess on behalf of the emperor paid a visit to Kamigamo shrine, they entered Hosodono right away. Today, wedding ceremony is held there.

Tate-zuna 立て砂

上賀茂神社の立て砂

In front of Hosodono, there are 2 sand mountains. They stands for “Koyoma” the Deity of Kamigamo shrine descended to. This is the origin of “Mori-shio”. Mori-shio is a small mountain of salt believed to take anything evil away.

Romon (National Treasure) 楼門

上賀茂神社楼門

Kataoka-sya a.k.a. Kayayama miko jinjya

片岡社片岡社の絵馬

At Kataoka-sya Tamayoribime is enshrined. It is the  most imoportant sub-shrine in Kamigamo shrine because Tamayoribime is a mother the Deity of Kamigamo shrine.

白馬奏覧神事2018

The horse bows to Kataoka-sya before go to the main hall.

片岡社の美鈴神楽鈴

The construntion of the bell of Kataoka-sya is based on a bell Shinto priestess uses.

Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji visited there frequently.

Kataoka-basi and Tama-basi 片岡橋と玉橋

Kataoka-basi 片岡橋

上賀茂神社片岡橋上賀茂神社片岡橋

A roofed-bridge in front of Kataoka-sya.

Tama-basi 玉橋

上賀茂神社玉橋上賀茂神社玉橋

Tama-basi is closed usually. In some occasion, priest can cross the bridge.

 

Hashidono a.k.a. Maidono (National Treasure) 橋殿/舞殿

上賀茂神社橋殿上賀茂神社橋殿

 

We put “Hitogata” on the stream from Hashidono on “Nagoshi no harae” ritual. In the ritual, Hitogata brings anything evil away.

Gakunoya (National Treasure) 楽屋

上賀茂神社楽屋葵祭2016

When the Shinto and the Buddhism was fused, Gakunoya was a building for Buddhist monks.

Tsuchinoya (National Treasure) 土屋

上賀茂神社土屋葵祭2016

In Tsuchinoya, priests purify themselves in a stream goes along it or hold ritual.

Ganjyo 岩上

岩上

In Kamo-sai (the official name of Aoi matsuri festival), Chokushi, the messenger of the emperor reads out “Goseimon (The message of the emperor) and a priest answers it. It is so sacred place that I cannot take picture. (Sorry, as common Japanese person, I think it is rude to take a picture of sacred place.)

葵祭2016内蔵使

In the parade of Aoi matsuri, the man in black garment plays a role of the  messenger of the emperor and the man in red also plays a role of a carrier of the messege of the emperor.

Syo kei en 渉渓園

上賀茂神社渉渓園

Syo kei en is a garden made for “Kyokusui-en”.

賀茂曲水宴2017

At the 2nd Sunday of April, “Kamo kyokusui no en” was held and we can see Saiho-dai of the last year.

賀茂曲水宴2017賀茂曲水宴2017

There is a stream in Syo kei en. Composers on “Waka”, Japanese tradional poem sit along the stream. On the stream, a wooden bird brings a dish of Sake on its back.

They compose poem before the bird shows itself up in front of them.

I said “compose” poem called Waka and it may sounds strange. If you think so, see the video above. You can see what I mean. Waka sounds like music.

Negai ishi 願い石

願い石上賀茂神社渉渓園

There is a rock in the Sho kei en. In the Sho kei en, there used to be a Jingiji-temple and a small pond. The rock was found at the bottom of the pond. It stands for Yin-yang.

Mutsumi no ki 睦の木

睦の木

These three trees has only one root. It stands for a family.

Kamo yamaguchi shrine 賀茂山口神社

上賀茂神社渉渓園

We pray there after touching the Negai ishi.

Shinme-sya 神馬舎

神山号

In the days of old, people dedicated a horse called “Shinme” to shrine. These days, we seldom see Shinme horse at shrine. Kamigamo shrine keeps a Shinme named “Kohyama-go” (His real name is Médaillon). We meet him at week-ends or on special occasion.

神馬おみくじ

We can have “Shinme” Omikuji-fortune telling.

Feed him with carrot, shall we?