Apr 26, 2012

Toshogu

 These are the stairs up to the main gate. The tent-like things on the left and right will soon be sell food or souvenirs.
 The lantern on the left is missing. It was on the ground broken the last time I walked by here. Notice the string of lights overhead.
 I passed through the gate, which was of standard Buddhist construction - a statue of a warrior king on each side to protect the grounds from evil. However, they we designed so that the statues were in the dark and I could not get a picture of them. This level had a few buildings but there was no indication as to what they were used for.
 Continuing straight ahead, I could see into a shrine with a door in the back. This room was filled with paraphernalia for Shinto ceremonies.
 The mat floor had cushions so some sort of ceremony had recently or would soon take place. The white boxes on the left contain large bottles of Japanese sake which have been given as gifts. The givers name is written on the box.
Of to the left of this building was a rack holding wooden objects. On one side is a picture and on the other side is a hand written pray, most of which asked for success on an entrance exam. These are one of the sources of income for the shrine because the blank objects must be purchased in the shrine gift shop.

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