Zuijin, who was sitting inside the gate, had a piercing gaze even in the dark

Zuijin of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
Zuijin of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
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After paying the entrance fee at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, a large vermilion-lacquered gate appears. The gate has a long history, with a flat plaque in Emperor Gomizuno's Imperial Handwriting hanging in the centre under the eaves of the gate. Eisho-ji Temple in Kamakura also has a flat plaque in Emperor Gomizuno's Imperial handwriting. As well as Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, Eisho-ji Temple is also associated with the Tokugawa family. It must have been a natural choice to commission a flat plaque from the emperor.

The gold on blue is a nice touch, but what caught my interest was the zuijin that sit on either side of the tower gate. Zuijin were officials of the Imperial Guard who served as guards for aristocrats going out after the Heian period (794-1185). In the same way that Buddhist temples have a guardian deity, Kongorikishi, at the main gate, Shinto shrines have a statue of Zuijin at the entrance to protect the deity.

A statue of Zuijin is also enshrined in the dimly lit tower gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. When I looked inside, I was met with a piercing gaze. For a moment I felt nervous, but the other person was inside the lattice. Rather than protecting the gods, the Zuijin covered by the tight lattice seemed to be gently protecting them from the harsh world.

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日本語
Jul 2024 SHIZUOKA STILL LIFE

PHOTO DATA

No

12607

Shooting Date

Nov 2023

Posted On

July 3, 2024

Modified On

July 4, 2024

Place

Shizuoka City, Shizuoka

Genre

Street Photography

Camera

SONY ALPHA 7R V

Lens

ZEISS BATIS 2/40 CF

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