“The Temple of the Blue Waves”
Kansai, Japan. November 2018. (12 photos)
This is part 5 of my Japan 2018 photo series.
The Kansai (Kinki) region is in the southern-central region of Japan’s main island Honshu. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga. The urban region of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area. I thought I might group together a few Kansai water features I visited and photographed, features both man-made and natural, which complement or are complemented by the presence of water.
Above is the iconic Seiganto-ji (青岸渡寺), the Temple of the Blue Waves, a Tendai Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture. In 2004, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to legend, it was founded by the priest Ragyō Shōnin. The temple was purposely built near Nachi Falls, where it may have previously been a site of nature worship.
In the background is Nachi Falls (那智滝 Nachi no Taki), one of the best known waterfalls in Japan. With a drop of 133 meters, it is the country’s tallest waterfall with only a single uninterrupted drop.
“Nachi Falls”
There are two rocks at the top of the falls that are the guardian kami* of the falls. There was also a Buddhist temple here that was destroyed during the Meiji Restoration (late 19th century). Many star-crossed lovers have leaped from the top of the waterfall in the belief that they will be reborn into paradise.
*Kami (神) are the spirits or phenomena that are worshipped in the religion of Shinto. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, as well as beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the spirits of venerated dead persons. In Shinto, kami are not separate from nature, but are of nature, possessing positive and negative, and good and evil characteristics. Does this sound familiar? It’s been said that George Lucas was significantly influenced by Japanese culture when creating Star Wars.
“A river in Kansai”
Mother Nature does a good job of providing her own seasonal water features as well.
“Meoto Iwa”
Meoto Iwa (夫婦岩), known as the “Wedded Rocks” or “Husband and Wife Rocks” are a pair of sacred rocks in the sea off Futami, a small town that is part of Ise City in Mie Prefecture. The rocks are located near Ise Grand Shrine, which is an important and sacred Shinto shrine in Japan.
According to Shinto beliefs, these particular rocks represent the union of the central deities in the Shinto creation myth, Izanagi (the male deity) and Izanami (the female deity). The rocks, therefore, represent and celebrate the union of man and woman in marriage. The larger of the two rocks has a small Shinto torii gate at its peak. The two rocks are joined together in matrimony by a sacred Shinto straw rope called a shimenawa. The ancient Shinto custom of worshiping stones is called iwakura, and these places are considered pure and sacred by worshipers, as well as spots where kami are invited to descend.
“Like a bridge over troubled waters”
The sacred rope is massive, and weighs over a tonne. It is replaced three times a year in a special Shinto ceremony held in May, September and December.
“Hashigui Iwa”
Near the town of Kushimoto, approximately 40 island like outcrops of rock form a 850 metre line just off the southernmost tip of the Kii Peninsula. They are known as Hashigui Iwa (橋杭岩), the Bridge Post Rocks.
“Building blocks”
According to folklore, the legendary Buddhist monk Kobo-Daishi came to Kushimoto where the locals explained they had been trying to build a bridge to Kii Oshima from the mainland, but the local devil, Amonojaku, kept destroying their work. Kobo-Daishi met Amonojaku, and the latter agreed that he would allow a bridge to stand if, and only if, the bridge was built by Kobo-Daishi himself, and as a goodwill gesture Amonojaku would grant Kobo-Daishi superhuman strength for the task. Amonojaku added the stipulation that the bridge must be built in a day and a night.
“Kansai water features”
Kobo-Daishi set to work, gathering boulders from the mountains and piling them into piers for the bridge. Amonojaku began to fear that Kobo-Daishi would complete the task, in spite of Amonojaku’s impossible conditions, so he intervened. Well before sunrise, Amonojaku faked the crow of a rooster, causing Kobo-Daishi to think it was dawn. Kobo-Daishi stopped work. Amonojaku won. And the posts of the unfinished bridge remain to this day.
“Floating torii”
In Shiga Prefecture, northeast of Kyoto is Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake. Along its shoreline are historic sites including Shirahige Shrine (白鬚神社), famous for its “floating” torii.
“Morning has broken”
The shrine is considered to be a good place to pray for longevity, matchmaking, having a baby, better luck and prosperous business. Perhaps the name is a reference to longevity, because shirahige means “white beard”.
“White beard. White light.”
“Osaka Castle”
From the other side of the moat, Osaka Castle has a grand disposition. In time, I’ll put up a post about my visit to Osaka.
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This is part 5 of my Japan 2018 photo series.
Nice pics sir
Thank you very much.
Welcome sir 🙏🙏
🙂
Stunning scenery
Japan has a beautiful and varied landscape. Loved photographing there.
😊
Great feature and photos
Thank you kindly. Japan is full of scenic locations.
Now this is truly something.
Wedded rocks. How amazing is that.
And the waterfalls and colors….
You just inspired me for writing, you know. Keep up the good work.
My pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed these shots/locations.
I really did.
Thank you. 🙂
Thank YOU for a beautiful post and the inspiration.
My pleasure as well. Japan has some stunningly beautiful scenery. I could easily go back. 🙂
I bet.
🙂
I liked the story about the unfinished bridge the best. and of the lovers who jumped off to be reborn in paradise.
Yes, a bit of context makes the natural features seem more special.
oh yeah. if you asked me when i was back in school what i hated most, i’d hve said all the history and stories from the past. Today, i enjoy reading about old cultures and stuff.
That’s funny but true. It’s no fun reading and learning history for an examination. But when you read it out of personal interest, it is so much more enjoyable and alive.
Fantastic photos. Starting with Nachi Falls I thought I had seen the best, but then the landscape kept getting more intriguing and your photos captured all the various pictures perfectly. Hats off to you, Wood Dragon!
Thank you very much. The landscapes and features are incredibly beautiful, and the Japanese legends and deference to Nature give these locations added significance.
Beautiful and inspiring images as always Draco, it’s a real treat to see Japan’s treasures through your lens and I love the background stories 🙂⛩
Thank you very much, Xenia. The Japanese have a real reverence for Nature and the legends just make it all the more interesting. It’s a beautiful country.
Gorgeous images and enthralling legends. Everything in perfect harmony with nature.
Very true. Harmony pervades much of Japanese culture.
I adore the next to last photo. It just speaks zen so well.
Thank you. Ethereal calm.
Gorgeous photos! I had some really good friends who lived in Nachi for a couple of years, this makes me sad that I never trekked down to visit them! We’d normally meet half way.
Still, Wakayama really is gorgeous isn’t it!
Thanks. That’s a shame that you didn’t get down to their home and see Nachi. Wakayama looked amazing in Autumn.
😦 I’ll just have to go back.
I agree though. I love the whole of Kansai in autumn.
I agree with you on all counts. 🙂
Each is inspirational. The aesthetic is what is most captivating.
Indeed, the Japanese appreciation for aesthetic, culture and Nature is to be envied.
Great series and fascinating explanation of what we see.
Thank you. I find the history and folklore very interesting.
Simply Wow! What wonderful pictures!
Thank you very much. 🙂
So beautiful. I love all the different stories. So tragic about the young lovers leaping to their deaths, though. Fascinating about the wedded rocks. I can see how George Lucas would have been influenced for his Star Wars! Thank you for sharing! 😀
Thank you. I find all the background stories and legends interesting. They add a lot of character.
So very true! 😀
🙂
Those explanations of myth and legend were an added bonus. That devil just had to live up to his name … granting the monk super-human powers was bound to have a catch. Thanks Draco, great photos as ever.
It’s a great story, without the common happy ending. It explains the rock formation beautifully, though. 🙂 Thanks, Meg.
These are beautiful, I enjoyed reading through this post.
Thank you very much. Japan is a beautiful country and offers so much for photography.
Stunning photos of Japan and the waters around it. Quite a tale behind Nachi falls, and it does make me wonder how many jumped in hope of finding something better. It is quite a big jump.
Thank you. I can’t answer your question, but it is sad that any couples have reached the point where jumping is the only perceived solution.
Harmony and thoughts and legends behind everything. Thank you for guiding us again through the maze of stories and history. Beautifully done.
My pleasure. It was so tempting to stay in the famous urban areas as many first time tourists (like me) do, but I had to get out into the countryside. It’s so beautiful and interesting.
Lovely photos as always. I’m enjoying following your trip through Japan, and I’ve already added a couple of places to my bucket list.
Thank you very much. I’m glad I could show you something new. So much more on my bucket list still. 🙂
Great report with fantastic pictures !!!
Thank you very much.
With pleasure 🙂
🙂
Just other worldly beauty that you have beautifully captured! Bravo! My favorite is Meoto Iwa.
Thank you. There is an ethereal quality to some of these locations. I enjoyed being there immensely.
I especially love all the rocks, but especially the married ones joined by the sacred rope. What a wonderful idea!
The Wedded Rocks have a strong symbolism. The appreciation for the beauty of Nature is evident throughout Japan.
There’s something so ethereal about Japanese shrines. Nature worship is an idea I totally relate to. Funny to see this post as I work on a post about that very idea. 😉 Have you heard about Shinrin-yoku – forest bathing? The practice of walking in nature as a healing treatment. Exquisite photos, as always.
Thank you very much. Actually I hadn’t heard about Shinrin-yoku until other commenter mentioned it to me earlier. It’s a concept that makes a lot of sense and I think we’ve all experienced to some degree. I’ve been told there’s a movie about it, The Mourning Forest. I need to find an english subtitled version.
I’ve just discovered the “long exposure” principle and these photos are like catnip for me! Good thing that both my leave calendar for this year (reading a big fat zero) and my AMEX bill (reading “high”) are preventing me from booking a flight to Japan…
Yes, the long exposure is a great technique know. A 6 or 10 stop filter with a tripod can work wonders. Don’t worry, you’ll get back to Japan at some stage; everyone does. 🙂
You make me want to pack my bags and go 🙂 🙂 Wonderful images, and I’ve never seen anything like the wedded rocks!
The landscapes, the culture, the food, the appreciation for Nature. Why are you waiting? 🙂 🙂 🙂
The Wedded Rocks is quite a unique sight.
Good question! 🙂 🙂
Well, you do live in a rather beautiful area of the world. 😉
Great post! ❤
Thanks.