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Fushimi Inari

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

Le migliaia di porte color vermiglio

Un sentiero composto da tantissimi torii di colore vermiglio, uno dietro l’altro: questo è il simbolo più riconoscibile del santuario shintoista Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社). Il complesso sorge a  Fushimi-ku, a sud di Kyoto, ed è il più importante di parecchie migliaia di santuari dedicati al kami Inari. Inari è il dio shintoista protettore della prosperità e ricchezza dei raccolti, in particolare del riso.

Raggiungere questo luogo sacro è molto semplice poichè è situato di fronte alla stazione JR Inari. In alternativa si può camminare per un breve tratto dalla stazione Fushimi Inari servita dalla Keihan Main Line.

Le sue origini sono molto antiche e la sua fondazione risale ad ancor prima del 794, data in cui Kyoto diventò capitale. Inizialmente costruito sulla collina Inariyama, a sud ovest di Kyoto, fu spostato nell’816 su richiesta del monaco Kourai. L’attuale struttura principale del tempio fu edificata invece nel 1499.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

All’ingresso del santuario si trova la Porta Romon donata nel 1589 dal famoso leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi (egli fu un famoso samurai e daimyō del periodo Sengoku, fondatore del Clan Toyotomi. Succedendo al suo signore Oda Nobunaga anche nell’opera di riunificazione del Giappone, è considerato il secondo dei tre “grandi riunificatori”.)

Al di là della Porta Romon si erge la sala principale del santuario (honden) dove i visitatori dovrebbero fare una piccola offerta in segno di rispetto verso le divinità che vi risiedono.

Nella parte posteriore del terreno principale del santuario si trova l’ingresso al sentiero escursionistico coperto di torii ( 鳥居 tradizionale portale d’accesso giapponese che conduce ad un jinja, un tempio shintoista). Il sentiero inizia con due fitte file di porte parallele chiamate Senbon Torii (“migliaia di porte torii”). Essi si trovano a cavallo di una rete di sentieri che conducono nella rigogliosa foresta del sacro monte Inari (Inari-yama), a 233 metri di altezza. Ogni porta è stata donata dai fedeli o da qualche azienda e reca su di essa una scritta con il nome del donatore e la data della donazione stessa.

Photo Credits:  masterfile.com

La Volpe

Ai lati del sentiero ci sono le statue di una volpe seduta (Kitsune 狐), poste a nord-est, le quali svolgono il ruolo di guardiane aventi il compito di impedire l’ingresso dell’energia demoniaca nel mondo terreno. Le volpi sono inoltre considerate  le messaggere di Inari. Quest’ultimo, secondo la tradizione, nei periodi invernali risiedeva in montagna per poi scendere a valle in primavera durante la stagione agricola. Finito il periodo del raccolto, Inari sarebbe tornato ancora una volta nella sua residenza invernale. Ogni stagione le volpi si avvicinavano alle abitazioni degli umani allo stesso modo, venendo col tempo riconosciute come naturali messaggere del dio.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

Esse sono un soggetto ricorrente e un elemento di particolare importanza per i giapponesi. Rappresentano infatti creature sacre e misteriose dotate di una grande intelligenza e strani poteri soprannaturali che sviluppano con l’età.  La loro abilità principale è quella di cambiare aspetto ed assumere sembianze umane (infatti esse appaiono spesso con l’aspetto di una bella donna). Un altro potere a loro attribuito è quello del Kitsunetsuki (狐憑き o 狐付き) ovvero il potere di possedere gli essere umani. Si credeva infatti che una volpe fosse in grado di entrare nel corpo delle sue vittime, generalmente giovani donne, attraverso un’unghia o il petto, nutrendosi così della loro forza vitale vivendo all’interno del loro corpo.

Le kitsune di Inari sono bianche, colore considerato di buon auspicio. Esse possiedono il potere di allontanare il male, e talvolta agiscono da spiriti guardiani. Infatti, oltre a proteggere i santuari di Inari, esse proteggono le persone del posto fungendo da spauracchio contro le malvagie nogitsune, gli spiriti-volpi che non sono al servizio di Inari. Le volpi nere e le volpi a nove code sono altresì considerate come portafortuna.

Lungo il sentiero alcune di esse tengono tra le loro fauci una chiave che rappresenta la chiave del granaio.

Photo Credits: regex.info

Percorrendo l’Inari-yama

Raggiungere la cima della montagna richiede circa 2 o 3 ore, e lungo la strada ci sono molti santuari più piccoli con pile di porte torii in miniatura che sono stati donati dai visitatori con budget inferiori. Ci si imbatte facilmente anche in alcuni ristoranti che offrono piatti a tema locale come l’ Inari Sushi e i Kitsune Udon (“Fox Udon”), entrambi con pezzi di aburaage (tofu fritto), che si dice sia il cibo preferito delle volpi.

Photo Credits: crafttabby.com

Dopo la prima mezz’ora di cammino, le porte torii iniziano a diminuire gradualmente fino a giungere all’incrocio di Yotsutsuji, a circa metà della montagna. Da qui si può apprezzare una splendida vista su Kyoto.

A questo punto il sentiero si divide in un percorso circolare fino alla cima.[:en]

Fushimi Inari

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

Thousands of vermilion gates

A trail made of many vermillion torii, one after the other: this is the most recognizable symbol of the Shinto shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社). The complex is located in Fushimi ward, south of Kyoto, and it is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to the kami Inari. Inari is the Shinto deity protector of the prosperity and wealth of crops, especially rice.
Reaching this holy place is very simple as it is located opposite the JR Inari station. Alternatively, you can walk a short distance from Fushimi Inari Station served by Keihan Main Line

This is a temple of ancient origins and its foundation dates back to before 794, when Kyoto became capital. Initially built on the Inariyama hill, southwest of Kyoto, it was re-located in 816 on the request of the monk Kourai. The current main structure of the temple was built in 1499.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

At the entrance there is the Romon Gate which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi (he was a famous samurai and daimyō of the Sengoku period, founder of the Toyotomi Clan. Succeeding his master Oda Nobunaga in the work of reunification of Japan, he is considered as the second of the three “great unifiers”.)

Beyond the Romon Gate stands the main hall of the shrine (honden)  where visitors should make a small offer as a sign of respect for the deities enshrined here.

At the back of the main land of the shrine there is the entrance to the hiking trail made of torii ( 鳥居 traditional Japanese gateway to a jinja, shinto shrine). The trail begins with two dense rows of parallel gates called Senbon Torii (“thousands of torii gates”). The torii straddle a network of trails leading into the flourishing forest of the sacred Mount Inari (Inari-yama), which stands at 233 meters above sea level. Each gate was donated by individual worshippers or companies and has an inscription indicating the name of the donor and the date of the donation itself.

Photo Credits:  masterfile.com

The Fox

Along the trails there are the statues of sitting foxes (Kitsune 狐), especially placed in north-east locations, that have the role of guardians whose duty is to prevent the demoniac energy from entering the earthly world. Foxes are also considered Inari’s messengers. According to tradition, Inari used to live in the mountains during the winter, coming down in spring during the growing season. After the harvest, Inari would once again return to his winter residence. Every season foxes approached humans’ houses in the same way and, over time, they were recognized as natural messengers of the god.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

They are a recurring subject and an element of particular importance for the Japanese culture. In fact, they represent sacred and mysterious creatures endowed with a great intelligence and strange supernatural powers that they develop with age. Their main skill is to change shape taking human form (as they often appear in the form of a beautiful woman). Another power they are said to have is that of the Kitsunetsuki (狐憑き o 狐付き) or else, the ability to possess human beings. It was believed that a fox was able to enter the body of its victims, usually young women, through a nail or their chest, thus feeding on their vital energy living inside their bodies.

Inari’s kitsune are white, a color considered to be auspicious. They possess the power to ward off evil, and sometimes act as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting the shrines of Inari, they protect the locals by acting as a scarecrow against the evil nogitsune, fox spirits who are not in the service of Inari. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are also believed to bring good luck.

Some of the foxes along the trails hold a key in their jaws that represents the key to the rice granary.

Photo Credits: regex.info

Up to the Inari-yama

Reaching the top of the mountain takes about 2 or 3 hours, and along the way there are many smaller shrines with piles of miniature torii donated by visitors on lower budgets. There are also some restaurants that offer local themed dishes such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon (“Fox Udon”), both with pieces of aburaage (fried tofu), which is said to be the favorite food of foxes.

Photo Credits: crafttabby.com

After the first half hour of walking, the torii gates begin to gradually decrease until they reach the Yotsutsuji crossing, about halfway up the mountain. From here you can enjoy a splendid view of Kyoto.
At this point the trails divides into a circular path to the top.[:ja]

Fushimi Inari

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

Thousands of vermilion gates

A trail made of many vermillion torii, one after the other: this is the most recognizable symbol of the Shinto shrine Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社). The complex is located in Fushimi ward, south of Kyoto, and it is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to the kami Inari. Inari is the Shinto deity protector of the prosperity and wealth of crops, especially rice.
Reaching this holy place is very simple as it is located opposite the JR Inari station. Alternatively, you can walk a short distance from Fushimi Inari Station served by Keihan Main Line

This is a temple of ancient origins and its foundation dates back to before 794, when Kyoto became capital. Initially built on the Inariyama hill, southwest of Kyoto, it was re-located in 816 on the request of the monk Kourai. The current main structure of the temple was built in 1499.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

At the entrance there is the Romon Gate which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi (he was a famous samurai and daimyō of the Sengoku period, founder of the Toyotomi Clan. Succeeding his master Oda Nobunaga in the work of reunification of Japan, he is considered as the second of the three “great unifiers”.)

Beyond the Romon Gate stands the main hall of the shrine (honden)  where visitors should make a small offer as a sign of respect for the deities enshrined here.

At the back of the main land of the shrine there is the entrance to the hiking trail made of torii ( 鳥居 traditional Japanese gateway to a jinja, shinto shrine). The trail begins with two dense rows of parallel gates called Senbon Torii (“thousands of torii gates”). The torii straddle a network of trails leading into the flourishing forest of the sacred Mount Inari (Inari-yama), which stands at 233 meters above sea level. Each gate was donated by individual worshippers or companies and has an inscription indicating the name of the donor and the date of the donation itself.

Photo Credits:  masterfile.com

The Fox

Along the trails there are the statues of sitting foxes (Kitsune 狐), especially placed in north-east locations, that have the role of guardians whose duty is to prevent the demoniac energy from entering the earthly world. Foxes are also considered Inari’s messengers. According to tradition, Inari used to live in the mountains during the winter, coming down in spring during the growing season. After the harvest, Inari would once again return to his winter residence. Every season foxes approached humans’ houses in the same way and, over time, they were recognized as natural messengers of the god.

Photo Credits: japanitalybridge.com

They are a recurring subject and an element of particular importance for the Japanese culture. In fact, they represent sacred and mysterious creatures endowed with a great intelligence and strange supernatural powers that they develop with age. Their main skill is to change shape taking human form (as they often appear in the form of a beautiful woman). Another power they are said to have is that of the Kitsunetsuki (狐憑き o 狐付き) or else, the ability to possess human beings. It was believed that a fox was able to enter the body of its victims, usually young women, through a nail or their chest, thus feeding on their vital energy living inside their bodies.

Inari’s kitsune are white, a color considered to be auspicious. They possess the power to ward off evil, and sometimes act as guardian spirits. In addition to protecting the shrines of Inari, they protect the locals by acting as a scarecrow against the evil nogitsune, fox spirits who are not in the service of Inari. Black foxes and nine-tailed foxes are also believed to bring good luck.

Some of the foxes along the trails hold a key in their jaws that represents the key to the rice granary.

Photo Credits: regex.info

Up to the Inari-yama

Reaching the top of the mountain takes about 2 or 3 hours, and along the way there are many smaller shrines with piles of miniature torii donated by visitors on lower budgets. There are also some restaurants that offer local themed dishes such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon (“Fox Udon”), both with pieces of aburaage (fried tofu), which is said to be the favorite food of foxes.

Photo Credits: crafttabby.com

After the first half hour of walking, the torii gates begin to gradually decrease until they reach the Yotsutsuji crossing, about halfway up the mountain. From here you can enjoy a splendid view of Kyoto.
At this point the trails divides into a circular path to the top.[:]