スキップしてメイン コンテンツに移動

Heian Jingu Shrine（平安神宮）


I'm sorry, my dear brother. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have done this on you... I swear I will never let this happen again.. My dear brother, please forgive me and don't destroy my people in this city again.."

 The Emperor Kanmu
Retrieved on June 19, 2012 from wikipedia
The emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇:737-806 AD, the 50th emperor of Japan) are being enshrined in the Heian-Jingu Shrine. The shrine building was built for the exhibition in 1895 AD as a miniature of the ancient imperial palace (five-eighth in size) . Kanmu was the emperor who decided to move and settle in Kyoto for the first time in history and it had been the imperial capital city since then until Tokyo was appointed as the official capital city of Japan. After the exhibition, the government discussed how to re-use the miniature palace and decided to enshrine the emperor Kanmu as the guardian of kyoto, therefore this Heian Jingu Shrine is relatively newer than other shrines.

Before Kyoto, the imperial palace and the capital city had been in Nara. However, Kanmu decided firstly to move the place and capital city and settle in Nagaoka-kyo (currently Nagaoka- kyo city, Kyoto). 
He had a young brother; the prince Sawara（早良親王）.  Sawara was a buddhist monk in a temple when he was a child because he was not expected to be the Crown Prince but when Kanmu took over the crown from his father; The Emperor Kounin, the prince Sawara was asked to return to the palace and officially became the Crown Brother.
During his term as the emperor, Kaumu declared to move the palace and the capital city from Heijo-Kyo (Nara) to Nagaoka-Kyo to overcome geopraphic weakness that Heijo-Kyo had suffered (Heijo-kyo was surrounded by mountains and it was weak at canal transportation). He appointed one of his subordinates to a team leader of the move-project. However, unfortunately the team leader was assassinated by someone. who had objected to the new capital city. 
At the time of Heijyo-Kyo, buddhist monks were influential to the politics which the impedial court had operated and the new capital city seemed to them the the court tried to cut them off from the politics by keeping them away from the palace. In this way, Buddhist monks were doubted for the assisination. Unfortunately, Sawara had had strong connections with buddist monks during his time in the temple, so Kamnu decided to capture him and eventually exiled him, although there were not clear evidences that the prince was involved in the assassination.
Sawara stopped eating to prove his innocence and died when he was on the way of exile. After the prince's death, the new Nagaoka-Kyo was built on schedule and Kanmu moved to the new city safely. Everything looked perfect but the glorious days didn't last for a long time.
Suddenly, heavy storm destroyed buildings, thunders sparked and its blaze roamed around the city. Drought made people starved, illness spread throughout the city. Many died, many suffered.  Besides the devestation in the city, the emperor's son, mother and others who were closed to him suddenly died. Soon after those unfortunate events, Tte plagues happened to the emperorand his city was rumored as a curse of the prince; the prince turned into a haunting ghost and caused all of the plagues to torture his brother. As a result, Kanmu was forced to leave and abandon the city only ten years after his first move in Nagaoka-kyo.
The emperor decided to settle in Kyoto at last, but to avoid the curse from coming to him again, it is said that he appointed the four shrines as spiritual guardians in the north, east, west and south from his palace located in the center of Kyoto. By having the guardian shrines to cover the palace, he believed that the imperial palace will be protected by the sacred energy from the divinities.
 More than 1,300 years passed since then, the shrines still exist in Kyoto, although the palace itself moved to a different place in Kyoto. Now, I would like to trace those shrines.

The Main Alter 
A spacious space in front of the main alter
From the main gate


ラベル:
場所: 日本, 〒606-8341 京都府京都市左京区岡崎西天王町 平安神宮

コメント

コメントを投稿

このブログの人気の投稿

Shaolin Temple Europe: Exploring the Intersection of Tradition and Modernity

In the heart of Germany lies a haven of ancient wisdom and martial arts mastery: Shaolin Temple Europe . My recent trip to Germany, accompanied by a friend who is a licensed Qigong trainer, led us to this remarkable place. For her, the opportunity to delve into the teachings of Shi Feng Yi , the esteemed headmaster of Shaolin Europe, was a dream come true. Visiting the temple was the pinnacle of our itinerary, and after much anticipation, we finally set foot within its hallowed grounds. Although Master Shi was away on a journey to spread his profound knowledge of Qigong and Gongfu across the globe, our disappointment was quickly dispelled by the warm welcome we received from a monk named Miao. Miao, hailing from France, exuded a serene aura that spoke volumes of his dedication to monkhood. His very name, bestowed upon him in the tradition of Buddhism, hinted at the depth of his spiritual journey spanning several years. Despite Master Shi's absence, Miao graciously guided us through...
コメントを投稿
続きを読む

A Culinary Journey Through Germany: Exploring Delicious Delights

As I reflect on my recent trip to Germany, one aspect stands out prominently in my memory: the exquisite culinary adventure I embarked upon. From hearty classics to delicate specialties, each dish I encountered left an indelible mark on my taste buds and fueled my passion for exploring global cuisines. Join me as I recount my gastronomic journey through the flavors of Germany. Schnitzel: A Crispy Classic The journey began with the iconic Schnitzel, a dish synonymous with German cuisine. Thinly pounded meat, typically veal or pork, coated in breadcrumbs and fried to golden perfection, Schnitzel embodies simplicity and satisfaction. Each bite was a harmonious symphony of crunch and tenderness, leaving me craving for more of this timeless delight. White Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce: A Springtime Sensation Intrigued by seasonal specialties, I indulged in the delicate flavors of white asparagus paired with velvety Hollandaise sauce. Asparagus, celebrated as a springtime delicacy in Germ...
コメントを投稿
続きを読む

痛いのではない、痛みを思い出しただけさ

Gregory Maxwell - From File:Yin yang.png, converted to SVG by Gregory Maxwell., パブリック・ドメイン, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=364239による 歌手の宇多田ヒカルさんが、自身のインスタライブで視聴者からの質問に答えていた時のこと。海外ファンから、「なぜ大切な方との関係が終わった時に、心が痛むのか？」という、答えに窮するような質問がありました。宇多田さんはしばらく考えた後に、その質問に対して、このように答えるのです。 「その痛みは、もともと持っていたものじゃないのかな。それで、その人との関係は＜痛み止め＞みたいなもので、その間痛みを忘れていたというか。だから、関係が終わった時に痛みを思い出したのだと思う。」 （宇多田さんは英語で回答されていたので、内容を意訳しております。） ヒット曲を連発する宇多田さん、その感性に改めて脱帽しています。 宇多田さんがご存じなのかどうかわかりませんが、この考え方は易経にある「陰陽」の考え方に通じるところがあります。万物は、常に陰陽、2つの正反対の側面を持つというものです。 太極図 冒頭の陰陽マーク、ご存知の方も多いのではないでしょうか。 黒は陰、白は陽を現し、一つの円に勾玉のような形で陰陽が描かれています。また、陰陽ともに同じ面積であり、一つのものには、1:1の比率で陰と陽がセットになっているという、易経が最も重視する考えを端的に示した図です。 宇多田さんの例をとると、痛みは陰、大切な方との関係を陽としたときに、陽にいる間、もともとの痛み（陰）を忘れていただけ、という見方ができます。   このマーク、正式には「太陰太極図」と呼ばれています。 大いなる陰が大きく極まった時の図、と解釈できますね。 宇宙や海底、母親の胎内。生命が始まった場所はすべて光の届かない闇。「 陰 陽」であって「陽 陰 」ではないことからも、闇の上に光が存在していることがわかります。闇が極まった時、光が誕生する。この「陽転」とよばれる瞬間を切り取ったのが、太極図なのかもしれません。 光ばかり注目される世の中。 多くの人が、物事の良い面ばかりを追いかけていきます。 でも、「光があるから闇」ではなく、闇の中にい...
コメントを投稿
続きを読む