The majestic shrine, which was constructed around the same time as the Nikko Toshogu, was beautifully carved by master craftsmen of the time.

Mr. Naofumi Totsuka, a curator of the Kunozan Toshogu Museum, kindly explained the meaning of the sculptures and designs to us. They are not only a beauty to behold, but also contain Ieyasu’s wishes and philosophies.

Kunozan, the first Toshogu in Japan, was built in Shizuoka City 19 years before the one in Nikko. The gorgeous shrine is designated as a national treasure and features delicate, beautiful sculptures and tightly-packed drawings on jet-black lacquer.
I wonder how many craftsmen must have worked on it.…… Just thinking about it is overwhelming.

As well as admiring its beauty, understanding the thoughts and feelings that have been poured into the sculptures and patterns is an important part of worshipping Kunozan Toshogu. Mr. Totsuka explained the thoughts and hopes of Ieyasu Tokugawa which fill every corner of the shrine.

■Romon (Two-Story) Gate

Mr. Totsuka：Many people ask if the long-nosed animal in the middle is an elephant, but it’s actually a Baku.

Baku have been described as dream-eating animals, but in Chinese belief systems they are the children of dragons, and are worshipped as spirit beasts.

−−Why is eating iron and copper a symbol of peace？

Mr. Totsuka：In times of war, copper and iron are used in guns and swords, so baku run out of food. It means that when those metals are not used for war, the world is at peace and the baku can eat. For Ieyasu, choosing a baku over strong looking animals such as dragons and lions was ideal. Also, there are actually 4 baku depicted on the Romon. Only one of them is a different color from the others, so try and find it.

■ Worship Hall

Mr. Totsuka：The sculpture most seen by worshippers, the “Sima Wengong (Japanese: Shiba Onko) breaking a jar ” is placed in a visible location in the worship hall. An old story says: ‘Once upon a time, a child playing hide-and-seek fell into a large jar for water. That water jar was extremely important, and while many other children were unsure whether it was okay to break it or not, Shiba Onko broke the jar without hesitation and saved his friend’. It teaches the importance, or value of life.

−−Alongside the baku, there are many other symbols of the wish for peace.

Mr. Totsuka: On the sides of the picture “Shiba Onko breaking a jar”, we find Laozi, Mencius, Confucius and a representation of the saying ‘A horse from a gourd.’ This saying expresses the idea that something is shocking or unexpected.

I think that Ieyasu Tokugawa wanted to communicate these 3 ideas: to place importance on life, to study life, and, in life, to expect the unexpected.

While you can see a large number of these teachings from the outside, the inside of the worship hall, which in the Edo period could only be accessed by the most elite such as aristocrats and top-level samurai, features elegant decorations of celestial maidens and flowers. Even now, it’s not open to the public, but can be accessed for prayer or wedding occasions.

Even now, it’s not open to the public, but can be accessed for prayer or wedding occasions.

■ Tile Crest of the Shrine

Mr. Totsuka：There’s actually something quite rare on the outside as well. As you can see, the tiles are decorated with the coat of arms of the Tokugawa clan, but there is in fact one spot facing a different direction. Can you see it?

−−I have no idea.

Mr. Totsuka：Look, over there. In the 2nd layer from the top, there are some smaller tile crests in a line. Within the crests depicted on the right hand side, there’s a single one facing a different direction.

−−I have no idea！

−−The craftsmen of the Edo period were so detailed in their work, even with their mistakes…I’m sorry, but, if you hadn’t told me where it was, I never would have realized.

Mr. Totsuka：I think that this wasn’t a mistake, but rather a measure taken to purposefully make the shrine incomplete. If something is finished, all that is left for it is to collapse. I’m sure it’s a kind of good luck charm.

−−Wow, the craftsmen of Edo were so stylish!  To so cunningly sneak in the famous saying “Always be incomplete”!

While I’m sure that each design in Kunozan Toshogu, so full of carvings, has its own meaning, just thinking about it makes me want to look up to the heavens. Why not pay a visit to this wonderful place, and explore these designs for yourself?

・How to get to Kunozan Toshogu

See also
⇒Trip Ideas for Kunouzan Toshogu Shrine Visits and Strawberry Picking

The post Ieyasu Tokugawa, His Thoughts on Peace and the Sculptures of Kunozan Toshogu appeared first on Trip Planner Japan.

Why do they feel sympathy for losers? Here is some historical background.

One of the most famous samurai fighters in the history of Japan is Yoshitsune Minamoto.

His life was very dramatic. In the 12th century, there were two major powers in Japan: the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan.
Yoshitsune was born in 1159 as one of the sons of a military commander for the Minamoto clan. When he was 10 years old, his father was killed by their rivals, the Taira clan. The leader of the Taira clan didn’t kill the sons, because they were very young.
The power of the Taira clan was immense. No one could have foreseen that this pair of young brothers would go on to grow up and defeat it.

Yoshitsune was sent to a temple to train as a monk. His elder brother, Yoritomo Minamoto was banished to an isolated district in Japan.

For more than 20 years, the remaining samurai of the Minamoto Clan planned to bring Yoritomo back to power and fight the Taira clan.

Finally, In 1180, Yoritomo raised an army. When the war started, Yoshitune joined his brother’s army.

Yoshitsune had an extraordinary military talent. He led a miraculous battle that is still talked about today.
He became a commander in the Minamoto clan.
Finally, the Taira clan was defeated by Yoshitsune.

His elder brother, Yoritomo, became the first shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan. After Yoritomo, the military government continued for more than 770 years.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, in Kamakura Japan, founded by Yoriyoshi and Yoritomo Minamoto.

Yoshitsune became a hero because of his military talent.
But after a peaceful period, he became involved in political conflict.
His elder brother Yoritomo instructed his men to kill Yoshitsune.

The tragedy killed both of them, despite being brothers and comrades, and this moved many Japanese people.

Yoshitsune has long been a popular figure in Japanese literature and culture because many people felt sorry about his death.

The story of Yoshitsune generated public sympathy for the underdog.
Japanese people like losers because of this cultural background.

“Hougan-Biiki”.
means “sympathy for the underdog.”
HouganBiiki is one of the Japanese people’s unique personalities.

There are many sightseeing spots in Japan with anecdotes about Yoshitsune.

In Kurama, Kyoto, there is a temple where the young Yoshitsune lived.

Manpukuji- temple in Kamakura, there is also a temple where Yoshitsune was stranded when he came to see his brother.

Chuson-ji Temple in  Iwate, there is the site of the capital of the Fujiwara family, who raised Yoshitsune to be a soldier.

The post Do Japanese People Like the Underdog？ Meet Japan’s Most Beloved Loser appeared first on Trip Planner Japan.

A lot of guidebooks recommend visitors to go to “Asakusa”. The main attraction in Asakusa is Sensoji which is a very popular Buddhist temple. It’s always crowded with many tourists who want to experience the atmosphere of “Edo”.

But today, I want to introduce another location.
It’s one of the hidden gems of Tokyo.

It’s actually in Shibuya!

Most people think that Shibuya is a popular shopping and entertainment district where young people gather.
While that’s true, Shibuya features fascinating historical locations as well!

For example, Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, only a 10min walk from Shibuya Station, has a long history.
It was constructed in the Gongen-Zukuri style, which is the same architectural style seen at the temple of Nikko Tosho-gu.

It is also known as the shrine for Sangaku.

Sangaku were wooden votive tablets given as a sign of devotion to a shrine. They featured math problems and puzzles and sought to entertain guests and other passers-by. Some also included the methods behind solving certain problems. They were most commonly gifted by mathematicians/math enthusiasts during the Edo period.

Math problem is illustrated.

Mathematicians would often gather to attempt to solve particularly difficult problems.
This custom of dedicating math problems/puzzles to a religious site is said to be a culture unique to Japan, with no parallel in the world.

By the way, there’s a movie called “The Samurai Astronomer” about these mathematical geniuses of the Edo period. If you’re interested, I recommend you check it out and learn more!

Just another 10-minute walk away from this shrine, you can find the oldest shrine in the Shibuya Ward, Shibuya Hikawa Shrine.

Within the temple grounds, there are the remains of the sumo arena of the Kinno Sumo, one of the three major sumo tournaments which took place in the suburbs of Edo. Sumo is not only a Japanese style of wrestling but also a Shinto ritual.
This is why some Japanese shrines feature a sumo ring, and the traditions have long been intertwined.

Kokugakuin University Museum is located next to the Shibuya Hikawa Shrine. This museum is free to enter.

If you visit this museum you can get a pretty good overview of Japanese history, ranging all the way from the first settlers called the Jōmon, right up to the modern era.

After enjoying the museum, you can even head on over to Ebisu station if you’re interested. Because the museum is right in the middle of Ebisu and Shibuya, it’s conveniently located.

Shibuya is generally considered an exciting city for younger people in their twenties, but adults in their thirties and older prefer Ebisu because it has a classy and sophisticated image.
There are an abundance of nice restaurants or izakaya(a kind of Japanese pub) for foodies looking for a bite to eat.
If you feel Shibuya is a bit too noisy and crowded, I recommend that you visit Ebisu.

The post Where is the Best Place to Experience Japanese History in Tokyo? A Local advice you appeared first on Trip Planner Japan.