Saturday, August 5, 2017

Visiting Jinja on a hot summer day

When you travel Japan, you will see Buddhism temples (called 'tera') and Shinto shrines ( 'jinja'). I visited Shirasagi (white bird) jinja. Jinja is always clean and silent.
This is a gate of the jinja.
A pair of lions guards the building. This is the left one holding a jewel ball.
Visitors must clean their hands with fresh water here before worshipping the jinja.
Water spurts from the bill of an egret. 
The jinja building is based on a traditional Japanese architecture.The ring is set in the end of July in lunar calendar. It is said people can clean their spiritual impurities when going through it.

 The clean and cool water is coming out of a bamboo tube with the comfortable sound, surrounded by beautiful plants. You will see a stone basin like this in Japanese tea ceremony.
 The branches of this pine tree have been artificially arranged by a gardener.

 I like this little stone bridge.

15 comments:

  1. I loved the temples and shrines in Japan. These are lovely photos. Especially fond of the egret spitting water.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very interesting! Thank you for the lovely tour.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This looks like a peaceful place. I am fascinated with the Great Egret, so these statues of the Egret squirting out water really got to me. The bamboo reminds me of a trickling fountain, so calming. I like the little stone bridge too. Thanks for sharing your visit with us.

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very beautiful place. Have a nice weekend

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello rtc, So many of the elements of the temples in Taiwan and Japan are the same or similar, yet the total effect and atmosphere can be quite different.
    --Jim

    ReplyDelete
  6. How lovely images!!! Japan is a beautiful country. Have a nice weekend, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to visit Japan, these are beautiful images.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely to see all of your photographs.
    It looks so peaceful there.
    Yes, I too like the little stone bridge.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very interesting post, roughterrain crane! I liked your photos of jinja. I've never seen it and now I'd love to go through the ring! I also liked the statue of egret, and stone bridge.
    Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dearest RTC,
    This post did bring back fond memories of my 2007 visit to those shrines.
    It is always so beautiful, the harmony of nature with stones and artful bridges and statues.
    Tranquility is a good word as the setting will calm our soul!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and peaceful place. I enjoyed all the photos and learning about the lovely traditions. I hope you are having a very nice summer. x Karen

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a lovely place, I love the serenity that comes across in your photos.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  13. The temples and statues are all amazing and love how it looks so tranquil there amongst the green of the trees.
    Happy new week
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  14. It looks like a very soothing and calming place; beautiful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Um jardim lindíssimo, com imagens fascinantes e encantadoras! Fez-me lembrar um jardim que temos aqui em Portugal, o Buddha Eden Park... e que presta homenagem à cultura oriental...
    As fotos estão belíssimas! Abraço
    Ana

    ReplyDelete