Chigibako box

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Chigibako 千木筥 / 千木箱 auspicious box from the shrine Shiba Daijinguu 芝大神宮 Shiba Daijingu Daimyojingu, Shiba Daimyojin Shrine 芝大神宮 Each box has the oblong form of the old gold money unit koban　小判, with three boxes stapled to carry away, held by an auspicious straw rope. It is made from the same wood as the roof decoration of the shrine (shingi). It is painted colorful in special colors of white, green and purple with wisteria blossoms. Each box contains roasted beans, so it sounds "karakara korokoro" when shaken. The beans were later replaced by sugar-coated beans and other kinds of sweets. The ladies of Edo had a pun on the sound of CHIGI 千着, one thousand kimonos, and bought this amulet to improve the number of their robes. Now it is also sold as an amulet to bring a good relationship. The ladies used to hang this amulet from the beams of the kitchen. When a strong thunder rattled the home, they would eat some beans to appease the God of Thunder, who's sound is also heared as "korokoro". 縁起物の千木箱 source : www.kashiwashobo.co.jp During the Autumn Festival in September, the three special boxes of the shrine offering are also filled with other seasonal food items, such as sweet chestnuts (kuri), matsutake mushrooms and abalone (awabi), as an expression of gratitude to the female deity for a bountiful harvest. Toyouke no Ookami 豊受大神 The Great Deity that gives Bountiful as enshrined in the main shrine in Ise. Toyouke Omikami The goddess of agriculture and industry in the Shinto religion. Worshipped at the Gegu 下宮 in Ise. She offers food to Amaterasu. The Shiba shrine is probably the only one where she was worshipped in Edo, since she is closer related to farmers and a good harvest. . Hibiya 日比谷 / 日比谷神明 Hibiya Shinmei / 芝神明社 Shiba Shinmei-Sha. . Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮, Ise Jingū) . . Paintings of Toys sold at the Shiba Shrine 玩具絵 . Oogetsu Hime no Kami 大宜都比売神 later turned into quote Toyoukehime no Kami The offspring of Wakumusuhi, whom Izanami bore as she lay dying after giving birth to the fire kami, Kagutsuchi. The Kojiki account describes Toyoukehime as one of the kami assigned by Amaterasu to accompany Ninigi upon his descent, together with the mirror (kagami) that served as Amaterasu's spirit-vessel (mitamashiro). Based on her role as tutelary of food, Toyoukehime is identified with various other deities, including Ukemochi, Ōgetsuhime, Ukanomitama, and Toyoukanome. As the kami of foodstuffs who presents food offerings to Amaterasu no ōmikami, Toyoukehime is enshrined at the Outer Shrine (Gekū or Wataraigū) of the Grand Shrines of Ise. Legend states that in response to an oracle, Toyoukehime moved to Ise from her original location at Manai in Hiji of Tanba Province, a legend possibly related to the fact that a deity called Toyoukanome was enshrined in the Nagu Shrine there. Under the influence of medieval Ryōbu Shinto, Toyoukehime was identified in numerous ways as a counterpart to Amaterasu, including descriptions as moon deity, water deity, Dainichi of the Diamond Realm and Shikidaibon Tennō. Toyoukehime is the chief object of worship (saijin) at the "Outer Shrine" (Toyouke Daijingū　in Ise. source : Kadoya Atsushi, Kokugakuin 2005 The Inari Fox God Cult Toyuke (Toyouke) Okami, the deity of food, clothing, and housing, Among the kami that Inari has been associated with are Miketsu Okami, Ogetsu Hime no Kami, Ukanomitama no Kami, Toyouke Hime no Kami, and Toyouke no Kami. Mark Schumacher :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 芝大神宮 Shiba Daijingu Shrine Founded in 1005, by the Emperor Ichijoo Tennoo 一条天皇. This shrine is popular for wedding ceremonies. In former times, it was also called Iikura Myoojin Guu 飯倉神明宮 Iikura Shinmei Gu Shiba Myoojin Guu 芝神明宮 Shiba Shinmei Gu Under the protection of the Edo bakufu government, the shrine thrived, seen as the Great Protector Deity of the Region, Ubusunagami 大産土神. quote Shiba Daimyojin Shrine, or Shiba-Daijingu Shrine as it is also called, is one of the ten most important shrines of Tokyo chosen by Emperor Meiji to be the guardian shrines of the city. It is also one of the most ancient shrines in Tokyo and is said to be dedicated to a branch deity of the Ise Shrine of the mid-Heian period. The shrine building stands in the middle of a small piece of land. It is built in the Shinmei style and has a roof of chigi (forked finials) . Though small, the shrine grounds have been used very efficiently. Its important features are the Do-Toro (copper lantern), Chikara Ishi (strength-testing stone), and the Megumi-no-Hansho (the fire bell). An extremely popular shrine during the Edo period, Shiba Daijingu enshrines Yoritomo Minamoto and Ieyasu. A popular event at the shrine is the Dara-dara Matsuri だらだら祭り, or the Ginger Root Festival , held every September since the Edo period. Literally meaning "prolonged festival" Dara-dara Matsuri lasts for 11 days - from September 11 to 21. Also called Shoga Matsuri , or the Ginger Root Festival, ginger root is offered at the altar of the shrine during the festival. Other features of the Festival include open-air stalls selling ginger root besides other traditional knick-knacks and food items. A parade of mikoshi (portable shrines) is taken out with over 400 participants dressed in ancient court costume carrying them. source : tokyo-tokyo.com . ubusunagami 産土神 deity of the birthplace . .................................................................................................................................................................. Another amulet from this shrine is for good business. It brings a thousand visitors to the store 千客万来. On the beautiful silken black bag the Chinese character for Business　商 is emproidered. kuroji 黒生地 black material, is a pun with "black figures" 黒字　in the balance book. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 amulet for the soccer club of Tokyo FC東京 source : www.shibadaijingu.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 chigi 千木 "1000 roof beams" quote Katsuogi, Chigi Two characteristic features of shrine architecture, katsuogi 鰹木 refer to log-like sections laid horizontally along and perpendicular to, the ridge line of the structure, while chigi refer to poles that appear to extend from the roof's gableboards, intersecting at the ridge and continuing upwards for some distance. In ancient times, katsuogi were used as symbols of status or rank on the houses of members of the court and other powerful families, but they later came to be used only on the major structures of shrines. They are usually found in combination with chigi. The latter are believed to be a vestige of primitive construction practices in which roofs were formed by crossing and binding together ridge-support poles, the extended tops of which were left uncut. In time, independent crossed boards were mounted on the roof as decorative elements rather than as integral to the crossed and extended gableboards; these were called okichigi ("set chigi"). Normally, the ends of the diagonal chigi are cut at mitered angles either perpendicular (sotosogi) or parallel (uchisogi) to the ground, leading to the alternate name katasogi ("miters"). In any event, the original purpose of chigi was as a functional reinforcement to the structure, but today, most serve as symbols emphasizing the sacred nature of the structure. At the Grand Shrines of Ise, shrine buildings dedicated to male kami are traditionally given an odd number of katsuogi and the ends of chigi are cut perpendicular to the ground, while shrines to female kami have an even number of katsuogi, and chigi are cut parallel to the ground. Many other shrines have subsequently copied this design practice. source : Nakayama Kaoru, Kokugakuin 2005 ochigi 男千木（おちぎ） male chigi mechigi 女千木 (めちぎ) female chigi :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 Shiba Shinmei Gu Otori 芝神明宮大鳥居 Great Gate Hiroshige 広重 東京名勝図会, around 1870 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 source :　neck521 Tookyoo jusha 東京十社 the ten most important shrines of Tokyo . Tookyoo jusha 東京十社 ten shrines of Tokyo . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 observance kigo for the New Year Shiba Myoojin matsuri 芝明神祭 (しばみょうじんまつり) festival at Shiba Myojin Celebrated on Nanuka Shoogatsu 七日正月, seventh day of the first lunar month, to lead over into the New Year. Many people visit the shrine on this day. . WKD : New Year Ceremonies :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 千木箱や戦火なければ着物増ゆ chigibako ya senka nakereba kimono fuyu auspicious box - it if were not for the flames of war my kimono would increase Serita Yooko 芹田陽子 Serita Yoko source : d.hatena.ne.jp

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. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

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Kuyoo Memorial Service

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Kuyoo 供養 Memorial Service kuyoo is a Buddhist service, usually a funeral rite, but not only for humans but also for other things, like animals and even dolls. ningyoo kuyoo 人形供養 memorial ceremony for used dolls ningyoo o-takiage 人形お焚き上げ ritual burning of dolls . Observance KIGO for autumn . Old dolls, which have incorporated the "souls" of their owners, can not simply be thrown away! So there are "funeral services" for them. Many temples in Japan feature such a burning of old dolls. Some of them are very famous. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 quote Ningyo Kuyo, Doll Memorial Service Hokyoji Temple, Kyoto　宝鏡寺（京都） Kiyomizu Kannondo Temple, Tokyo　清水観音堂（東京） Ningyo Kuyo is a memorial service for beloved but now unwanted old dolls, which are offered to the goddess of mercy (Kannon bodhisattva). Before the ceremonial burning nuns of Hokyoji temple comfort the souls of the dolls by chanting sutras. Kannon is especially worshiped by women who wish to become pregnant and they also bring dolls hoping for offspring. Hokyoji temple is an old nunnery, which served as a residence of imperial princesses. When a young princess went to the nunnery, the family sent her exquisite dolls to assuage homesickness. For instance Princess Kin received a doll with long orange-red hair reminiscent of a kabuki actor. This type of doll was believed to fend off hoso (chickenpox). Hokyoji maintains a number of antique dolls as well as sugoroku, kai awase, and other elegant, graceful, imperial play games. The temple is known as Ningyo-dera, Doll temple. Earlier people believed that evil spirits could possess old abandoned utensils and turn them into spectres. A strong attachment to a thing might cause a spirit called tsukumogami, attachment god. An item’s old age (100 years) could also arouse this spirit. Paper lanterns or broken sandals might bear tears which became eyes and sharp teeth, thus giving a horrifying visage. Worn prayer beads or teacups could merely manifest faces and appendages, giving a warm and friendly appearance. Though mostly tsukumogami were harmless they did have the capacity for anger. They could band together to take revenge on those who threw them away thoughtlessly. Modern items can’t possess tsukumogami, because these spirits don’t withstand electricity and few modern objects are used more than 100 years to gain a soul. Look at this LINK with many photos: source : photojapan.karigrohn.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 Tsukumogami (付喪神, "artifact spirit") Hyakki Yako Emaki They are a type of Japanese spirit. According to the Tsukumogami-emaki, tsukumogami originate from items or artifacts that have reached their 100th birthday and thus become alive and aware. Any object of this age, from swords to toys, can become a tsukumogami. Tsukumogami are considered spirits and supernatural beings, as opposed to enchanted items. Tsukumogami vary radically in appearance, depending on the type of item they originated from as well as the condition that item was in. Some, such as tsukumogami originating from paper lanterns or broken sandals, can have tears which become eyes and sharp teeth, thus giving a horrifying visage. Others, such as worn prayer beads or teacups, may merely manifest faces and appendages, giving a warm and friendly appearance. Though by and large tsukumogami are harmless and at most tend to play occasional pranks on unsuspecting victims, as shown in the Otogizōshi they do have the capacity for anger and will band together to take revenge on those who are wasteful or throw them away thoughtlessly. To prevent this, to this day some jinja ceremonies, such as the Hari Kuyō, are performed to console broken and unusable items. It is said that modern items cannot become tsukumogami; the reason for this is that tsukumogami are said to be repelled by electricity. Additionally, few modern items are used for the 100-year-span that it takes for an artifact to gain a soul. ©　More in the WIKIPEDIA ! More about the Ghosts of Japan . Tsukumogami 付喪神 "artifact spirit". :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　　 博多人形供養 Memorial Service for Hakata Dolls at temple Shooshoo In 祥勝院 （しょうしょういん）Shosho-In December 9 . Hakata Dolls 博多人形 . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 Most Daruma Dolls are thrown in ritual fires around New Year. People then buy new ones to protect them in the coming year. . Sagichoo Festival 左義長（さぎちょう） . dondo yaki どんど焼き（どんどやき) 　Dondo-Burning :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 . . . CLICK here for Photos ! . Reference . :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 kuyoozuka 供養塚 memorial mound not only for humans but for other living beings memorial mound for fish, by the sea, erected by the local fishermen to appease the souls. . kubizuka 首塚 memorial mound for a beheaded person . 稲妻や浦のおとこの供養塚 inazuma ya ura no otoko no kuyoozuka flash of lightning - the memorial mound of a man by the sea . WKD : Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 . lightning flash -- a prayer mound for a fisherman's soul Tr. Chris Drake This autumn hokku is from the 8th month of 1823, three months after Issa's wife Kiku has died and four months before his ailing baby son Konzaburo will die. In the hokku a lightning flash momentarily reveals a small requiem mound or perhaps some stones piled up. There may be a small stone stupa shape on its top as well. Literally a "requiem (kuyou) mound," in Issa's time this means a mound built to memorialize a dead person and/or to pray for the liberation of the person's still-attached soul. A requiem mound can serve as part of a grave or stand separately, as a public place in which many people can pray for the onward movement of the soul, often the soul of a famous person, toward the other world. Prayers consist either of sutra readings or of chanting the name of Amida Buddha. In Issa's time, the location of a person's remains was generally less important than the activities of his or her soul after death, so requiem mounds were frequently located some distance from the physical remains and the grave, that is, they were built as close as possible to the area in which the dead person's soul was believed to be still having trouble leaving this world and going on to the next -- often the Pure Land. Requiem mounds for slain warriors were often located near the spot where the warrior had been killed, and the same was true for people who died as the result of a crime or accident or disaster such as a flood or earthquake. In Issa's hokku the exact nature of the mound is not described, although it seems to be located on the seashore where the fisherman once lived. Perhaps the mound has been built by villagers in order to aid and soothe the soul of the fisherman, who simply disappeared in a storm at sea. The local people may feel that, since the man died in a terrible accident, his soul is still suffering, and this resentment keeps his soul attached to his previous existence. After the lightning flash, does Issa, too, decide to chant the name of Amida in front of the mound? In his diary for this month Issa does not mention visiting any seaside areas, though he does write that he went to see kabuki, and the hokku after this hokku in Issa's diary is about villagers watching kabuki, so this hokku may possibly refer to a scene in a kabuki play. If so, Issa might be evoking the kabuki play "Fujito," which is based on a noh play with the same name. In the kabuki play a famous warrior murders a young fisherman (ura no otoko) in order to keep him from telling anyone else after the fisherman teaches the warrior secrets about using the local coastline's features to achieve a military victory. Later, when the warrior is governor of the province, the dead fisherman's mother appears and accuses the warrior of the murder. He finally confesses, and he recovers the fisherman's body from bottom of the bay, where he hid it. He also goes to a temple near the site of the murder and has the monks say requiem prayers for the dead fisherman's soul. Finally, after the warrior himself begins to lead a large requiem service, the fisherman's soul appears in the form of an angry dragon, a creature closely associated with lightning and rain. In fact photos of kabuki stage performances of "Fujito" show the fisherman-dragon wearing an upper cloak with lightning-shaped designs on it. In the play, the warrior is in the end able to soothe the fearsome dragon-like soul and help it move forward toward the next world. If Issa is also evoking the kabuki play "Fujito," then the flash of lightning itself suggests the arrival of the dead fisherman's soul in the form of a storm god. Chris Drake

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Oji Inari Fox Shrine Tokyo

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Ooji Inari Jinja 王子稲荷神社 Oji Inari Fox Shrine 東京都北区岸町１の１２の２６ / 1-12-26,Kishi-Machi,Kita-Ku,Tokyo But first let us look at Ooji Jinja 王子神社 Oji Shrine It was also called Oji Gongen 王子権現. Ooji Ookami 王子大神 Oji Okami "Great deity of Oji" The whole region is called Oji with respect to this deity and its shrine. - - - - - The local deities in residence are Semimaru ko 蝉丸公(神霊) (a poet of the Heian period) Sakagami hime 逆髪姫(神霊) Furuya bijo 古屋美女(神霊) Deity of hairstyle 髪の祖神 The Oji Shrine was founded in the 14th century. It is situated on a hill and from there you have a great view. The shrine buildings of today were reconstructed after WW II. The Oji Shozoku Inari Shrine was the main Inari shrine of the eight provinces of Kanto. The present building dates back to 1808. On December 6, there is a famous market for "rakes for good luck" - (kumade　熊手 rake). Ooji Gongen no yari 王子権現の槍 spear of Oji Gongen An amulet against fire. . Ooji, Ōji 王子 Oji district - Tokyo, Kita . .................................................................................................................................................................. Oji Inari Jinja is close by. quote Oji Inari Shrine is another important shrine located a short walk from Oji Shrine. Dedicated to Inari, the god of rice harvest, it is one of the oldest shrines of the area. It is also considered the head Inari shrine of the eight provinces of Kanto. The Inari deity Daimyojin is also said to be enshrined here. It is believed that on New Year's Eve, foxes, who are considered to be the guardians and messengers of god Inari, gather here from all over the Kanto region. After being transformed into court ladies at the nearby Shozoku Inari, they come here at Oji Inari Shrine to pray. The gate to the Inari Shrine grounds is guarded on both sides by a pair of stone foxes that date back to 1764. Other smaller stone foxes donated by worshippers and several stone monuments can be seen all over the grounds. The main shrine building was built in 1808 in the traditional style. The inner sanctum of the shrine is located at the back of the building. An annual event of the shrine is the Oji Fox Parade that is held each year on New Year's Eve to honor the foxes that are said to gather here on the night. Local residents, dressed in traditional dress and wearing paper-maché fox masks, gather at nearby Shozoku Shrine. From here they parade to Oji Inari Shrine. On the Oji Inari Shrine grounds, bonfires are lit and the participants dance around it. Food and drink stalls are put up for the participants and visitors who gather to watch the parade. Another festival held at Oji Inari Shrine is the Tako Ichi , or the Kite Festival . This annual festival, which dates back to the Edo period, is held on February 6 each year. On this day kites are sold and flown on the shrine grounds. Kites hold an important place in Japanese culture as it is believed that they cut the wind and stop fires from spreading. source : tokyo-tokyo.com The deities in residence are 宇氣母智之神 Ukemochi no kami 保食神 和久産巣日神 Wakumusubi no kami 宇迦之御魂神 Uka no mitama The shrine was also called Kishi Inari岸稲荷. It was a kind of family shrine for Minamoto no Yoritomo, regent in Kamakura, and thus soon became famous in the whole Kanto region. In 1634, both shrines have been enrarged by the Tokugawa regents, to partake of their spiritual power. ................................................................................................................................................................. Shoozoku Inari shrine, Shozoku 装束稲荷神社 "Shrine to change robes" Once a year on January 1, the foxes from the Kanto region would pay a visit to the great fox shrine Ooji Inari Jinja 王子稲荷神社 Oji Inari Shrine. On the way, they would come here to the large Chinese hackberry tree (enoki 榎の木) to change into beautiful court ladies in festival robes. Then they formed a parade walking to the main shrine of Ooji. The small Shozoku shrine is located at the foot of this large tree. Ando Hiroshige 安藤広重 王子装束ゑの木 大晦日の狐火 Fox Fire Parade of the New Year - - - - - Ōji Inari no yashiro 王子稲荷の社 Oji Inari Shrine Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重, 1797–1858) .................................................................................................................................................................. - quote - Shōzoku-batake Ishō-enoki 装束畠 衣装榎木 by 長谷川雪旦 Hasegawa Settan 1834-1836 There is an old saying that foxes, which are believed to be the messengers of Inari, gather in Ōji Inari Shrine from all over the Kantō Region on the New Year's Eve, dress themselves under the enoki tree nearby and pay their first visits of the year. This is the origin of "Ishō-enoki". It was said that local people divined the harvest condition of the following year by the foxfire lit by foxes. - source : Tokyo Metropolitan Museum - ..................................................................................................................................................................

Oji no kitsune　王子の狐　the fox from Oji
This yellow figure was a toy for the children of Edo.
The Kabuki Fox "Shibaraku" (see below) was also a toy.


Now on New Year's eve there is a parade in memory of the foxes. People wear masks of foxes and walk from the Shozoku shrine to the main Oji shrine. Many dance around large bonfires and enjoy a cup of sake to keep them warm.


papermachee masks for the parade

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from Shoozoku Inari shrine 装束稲荷神社
This kite was also an amulet to prevent evil.

hibuse no tako 火防の凧 kite to prevent fire
This kite was not ment to use as a toy to fly in the sky, put was fixed in the kitchen (or other rooms with an open fireplace) in a high place above the fireplace.

On February 6 there is another festival at the shrine, this time for selling kites.
tako ichi 凧市 market for kites
In Edo, these special kites were believed to cut off the wind and thus prevent fire.
The painted yakko face of the kite below was a trustworthy amulet.


from Oji shrine

With more photos of the shrine:
source : tencoo

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Two famous ema 絵馬　votive tablets from this shrine


王子稲荷 絵馬「狐火」 Kitsunebi
According to the woodblock by Hiroshige.
An amulet for good business (shoobai hanjoo).




王子稲荷 絵馬「茨木」Ibaraki
According to a painting by Shibata Sejin 柴田是真 (1807～1891)
The painging is one of the shrine treasures.




and a parody of the fox and Kabuki Shibaraku 暫狐

source :　Mandara do

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. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .

陽炎によしある人の素足哉
kageroo ni yoshi aru hito no suashi kana

bare feet
shimmering, she makes
a special prayer
Tr. Chris Drake

This hokku is part of a haibun Issa wrote on lunar on lunar 2/9 (March 20) in 1804 about a short trip he made with a friend to a Shinto shrine devoted to the fox god Inari in Oji on the northern edge of greater Edo. Many foxes were thought to gather at the shrine, occasionally displaying ghostly lanterns or torches called "foxfire" in long lines as they walked along in the night. In the haibun Issa mentions that the fox god is believed to be very powerful and also that in the modernizing city of Edo the world is changing rapidly. Visiting the shrine may have allowed Issa to feel some continuity with his and Japan's past.

During his daytime visit to the shrine Issa doesn't see foxfire, but he does see something mysterious. Presumably in front of the main hall, he sees someone who is praying very intently and intensely. Gender isn't mentioned, but I use a female pronoun here, since even today it is quite common to see women praying very serious prayers at Shinto shrines.
Issa says the person making the prayer is "someone with a special purpose." The noun yoshi means 'reason; meaning; purpose; cause; connection,' and Issa can tell that this person has a special reason for praying because she stands barefoot, which in a Japanese context means that she is trying to show the god she prays to that she is sincere and deeply respects and trusts the god. (Similar special barefoot prayers are made at Buddhist temples.) As she prays ardently and long, her bare feet seem to be immersed in a shallow pool of wavering light, almost as if her spiritual sincerity and purity were visible. Issa doesn't indicate whether he regards the heat shimmer to be merely an optical event or whether he feels he has witnessed something more profound, but the fact that he records what he sees with a hokku is significant.

Chris Drake

. heat shimmers, kageroo 陽炎, kagiroi かぎろい .
kigo for spring

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. Inari 稲荷 the Fox Deity .

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observance kigo for late winter

Ooji no kitsunebi 王子の狐火 (おうじのきつねび)
"fox fire" at Oji Inari Shrine

This kigo has been placed by Masaoka Shiki.　It refers to the parade of foxes down the valleys and rivers of Kanto, on the last day of the old year (according to the lunar calendar) on their way to the New Year visit at the shrine.

. WKD : Fox Shrine Festivals (Inari Matsuri) .


一見に如かず王子の狐火へ
ikken ni ikazu Ooji no kitsunebi e

Ooba Shihoo 大庭紫逢


提灯の王子狐火おごそかに　　　　　　
阿部朝子

電車見て居るは王子の狐かな　　　　　
岸本直毅


Kitsunebi haiku collection
source : himatu

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Earth kigo for all winter

”a mysterious light associated with spirits,
found in various folklore tales”

. Kitsunebi 狐火 きつねび Will-o'-the-wisp .
"Fox fire"
kitsune no choochin 狐の提燈（きつねのちょうちん）
lanterns of the foxes
"devil's fire", onibi 鬼火　（おにび）


狐火は不徳の致す処より

Fox fire may be originated from my immorality
Bansei Toida 土井田晩聖


狐火を見しは秘密にしておかむ
Tonegawa Taeko 利根川妙子

source : kitunebi.htm

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年の一夜王子の狐見にゆかん
toshi no hitoya ooji no kitsune mi ni yukan

last night of the year -
let's go to Oji to see
the foxes
Tr. Gabi Greve

. Yamaguchi Sodoo 山口素堂 Yamaguchi Sodo (1642 - 1716) .

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. . . CLICK here for Photos !

. Reference .


©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !
kitsunebi by Toriyama Sekien 鳥山石燕

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. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

. 江戸 Edo - 妖怪 Yokai monsters, 幽霊 Yurei ghosts .
- Introduction -


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Takarabune treasure ship

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Takarabune 宝船 / 宝舟 treasure ship treasure boat CLICK for many more illustrations ! This ship is very important in your first dream of the New Year. This is in a set for the New Year, with the Seven Gods of Good Luck in the Treasure Boat on one and the Tsurukame Crane and Turtoise for long life on the other. The Treasure Boat hangs outside of the entrance to lure in Good Luck, the Tsurukame hangs in the sleeping room. If for some reason the first dream of the year was not auspicious, you could float the paper with the boat down the river and get rid of the bad luck this way. From the shrine Tsumagoi Jinja 嬬恋神社 in Tokyo. . First Dream (hatsu-yume 初夢) . On New Years Eve the deities enter port on a takarabune (treasure ship) to bring happiness to everyone. Tradition says that sleeping with a picture of the shichifukujin aboard the takarabune under your pillow on January first ensures your first dream of the New Year will be a lucky one. Maybe the dreamer will even end up in seventh heaven. Another curious custom involving the treasure boat is the chanting of a song-like palindrome (a verse that reads the same backward or forward). Children are told to chant the verse three times before going to sleep. See below for one example. More information about these gods source : Mark Schumacher - ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: . Seven Gods of Good Luck 七福神 and Daruma . Die sieben Glücksgötter . Shichifukujin　七福神 Seven Gods of Good Luck - Amulets . source :　www.istation.co.jp Arita Pottery, by 神右ｴ門 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: . Matsuri Japanese Art - facebook . ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 - ABC - List of Takarabune from the Prefectures ................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . Ibaraki Muramatsu no takarabune 村松の宝船 Treasure Boat from Muramatsu This is a children's toy, a miniature of the real fishing boats of the region. Every year on the 15th of January and 13th of April, at the temple for Kokuzo Bosatsu 虚空蔵堂 (Kokuzoo Doo) of Muramatsu village this boat is sold at the auspicious market. In the back of the boat, the Chinese character for "treasure" takara　宝　is painted in black. On the side, three scales of a snake are painted in black and red. On the bottom of the boat, the sea is painted in blue waves. There are three special boards (tarashi タラシ/ 桁) above the snake scales, which helped stabilize the boat during a storm. source :　Kashiwazaki Collection . Kokuzo Bosatsu 虚空蔵菩薩 . Akashagarbha Bodhisattva 虚空蔵堂 村松 Temple Kokuzo-Do quote Muramatsu Kokuzo-Do Muramatsu-san Kokuzo-do is a temple established by Priest Kukai in 807. Since then it had been under the protection of the successive domain lords of Satake clan for 500 years. In the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu dedicated the land that produced 50 koku of rice to the temple. It flourished under the protection of Tokugawa Mitsukuni. In the back of the main hall is Muramatsu Daijingu Shrine, to which the deity of Ise Shrine was imparted during the reign of Emperor Kanmu (737-806). The shrine is famous for the custom of “Jusan Mairi,” in which 13-year-old boys and girls visit the shrine to pray for their future success of life. Kokuzo-do now belongs to Buzan School of Shingon Sect. Its main object of worship, the image of Kokuzo Bosatsu (Buddhist deity of wisdom and memory) is counted as one of 3 Finest Images of Kokuzo Bosatsu in Japan together with Asama Kokuzo-son in Ise and Yanaizu Kokuzo-son in Aizu. At the present time it is visited by a lot of people seeking for escaping evil spirits and success of life. source : nippon-kichi.jp amulets from the Kokuzo Hall Muramatsu ................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . Kyoto, Fushimi . Fushimi tsuchi ningyoo 伏見土人形 clay dolls from Fushimi . source : kyoudoningyou/fusimi... 寶船乗り童子 child sitting on a Takarabune The boat looks almost like a Kitamaebune 北前船 North-bound trade ship. ................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . Shizuoka Yui no takarabune 由比の宝舟 "treasure ship" from Yui village This is made to order from Shimizu Yoshinobu 清水義信 of Fujieda town. It is a simple boat made from wood, a miniature of the local fishing boats. The biggest are 1 meter long, the smallest ones just the size of the palm of a hand. This kind of "auspicious boat" was first made as a miniature of the boats fishing for sakuraebi 桜えび　shrimp in Shizuoka, by Takahashi Ichitaro 高橋市太郎, the grandfather of Yoshinobu. （清水義信：藤枝市築地３２６-４　TEL: 054-643-0969） source :　www.asahi-net.or.jp . Sakura ebi sushi 桜えびすし sushi with sakura shrimp . A speciality at Shimizu Train Station 清水駅弁 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　 . . . CLICK here for Photos ! . Reference . ................................................................................. Yamashina Painting　山科絵 Daruma Museum Collection ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: kigo for the New Year takarabune 宝船 (たからぶね) treasure ship takarabune shiku 宝船敷く（たからぶねしく）placing a treasure ship (under the pillow) ..... takarabune shiki ne 宝船敷き寝（たからぶねしきね） takarabune uri 宝船売（たからぶねうり） vendor of treasure ship images They were very popular in Edo and even walked through the pleasure quarters. On most paintings of the Edo period, a special poem was printed, that could be read from front or back, as an auspicious addition: nakaki yo no too no nemuri no mina mezame naminori fune no oto no yoki kana なかきよの とおのねふりの みなめさめ なみのりふねの おとのよきかな nagaki . . . kigana - quote A sailboat, hokakebune 帆掛船 at full sail, loaded with rice bushels and treasures (takara 宝), often bearing the seven gods of good fortune. *shichifukujin 七福神. Paintings or prints of this boat usually include a special and auspicious poem which reads the same when read backwards from the end; nagakiyo no/ tou no nemuri no/ mina mezame/ naminori fune no/ oto no yokikana 長き夜の 遠の眠りの 皆目覚め 波乗り船の 音のよきかな Awakening from a deep sleep after a long night, I seem to hear the sweet sound of a boat sailing through the waves. The Chinese character, baku 獏, a Chinese imaginary animal which is thought to devour (i.e. prevent) nightmares, is sometimes found written on the sail . Often auspicious cranes and tortoises are depicted in the sky and the sea. Although the origin of treasure-boat paintings is not clear, one Edo period record indicates that they were started in the Muromachi period. According to a different source, they were originally imperial gifts to high-ranking courtiers in celebration of the New Year. It became a popular custom among common people in the Edo period to place takarabune pictures under one's pillow on the second night of the New Year to induce auspicious dreams and resulting good fortune. - source : Jaanus . Doing Business in Edo　- 江戸の商売 .

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