The Aoi Festival is one of Kyoto’s Big Three Festivals, though if like me you appreciate authenticity over pageantry you might say it’s one of Kyoto’s Big Two (together with Gion Matsuri in July). Like the Gion Festival, there are … Read the rest
Category: Purity and pollution (Page 2 of 4)
Onsen purification
This week Green Shinto is pleased to host an item by contributor, Sally Writes (photos by John Dougill)
Tamatsukuri Onsen is a charming hot spring resort either side of a
There are many individuals who exemplify the close ties between Zen and Shinto in Japanese history, particularly in the period before an artificial line was drawn between Buddhism and ‘the indigenous religion’ in Meiji times.
One such person is the … Read the rest
Cleansing and purification are central to the values of Shinto, and the big clean-up at the end of the year can be seen as part of the spirit of revival that underpins much of the religion. It should be noted … Read the rest
The midsummer season of purification is upon us, and Kyoto today will see several ceremonies involving the chinowa purification circle made of grass. The photo above features a chinowa erected at the entrance to a Japanese restaurant in the heart … Read the rest
I was once shown round a shrine by a Shinto priest, who claimed the concern with cleanliness and purity was because the high humidity in Japan fostered disease and germs. It struck me as a typical Japanese way of seeing … Read the rest
Spring and autumn are busy times of year for Shinto, as festivals take place based around the rice cycle of ancient times. One such event took place this weekend in the charming village of Ohara, just north of Kyoto, … Read the rest