February 13, 2010

• 2/13 Oita, Usa Shrine

  

  Today's "GO SOMEWHERE" is Usa Shrine near Oita, located on the upper right side of the island of Kyushu. 

  

  But before that, let's visit the Oita Prefectural Historical Museum.

  

  Just across the entrance to the museum is a "kofun," or grave tumulus.  These some in many shapes, but the ones in this area are shaped like a keyhole.  They often become overgrown with trees and are sometimes hard to spot.  This is from the 4th century A.D.

  

  The museum lobby

  

  This is a replica of the what the inside of Fukiji Temple as it appeared when new.

  

  Some local Jomon pottery.  I just love the designs.

  

  An ancient fellow resting in peace

  

  These are Shinto images that were made when Shinto and Buddhism were politically mixed together.  Shinto had been the traditional religion, but when Buddhism was introduced into Japan, it was declared that all of the Shinto gods had "seen the light" and converted to the teachings of Buddha.

  

  We will do this in detail later.  Remember the colored paper tassel and the picture.

  

  Masks used in dances and festivals

  

  

  Many hands that supposedly reach out to save.

  

  

  Now this was something I had not seen before.  There are model buildings for a spirit to indwell for the period of the first summer bon festival after death.  When the festival is over, the entire structure is burned and the spirit supposedly goes to a good place.  This must be a very expensive decoration to produce for burning.

  

  Here is another 6th century kofun tomb at the back of the museum.  It has been cleared of trees, and we can look into the burial chamber from the other side.

  

  The chamber is a rather small room made of stone.

  

  

  The back of the museum

  

  We are now at the entrance to Usa Shrine, but before we go in, let's stop in at one of the shops to the right for some lunch.

  

  Now these are different.  Neither of my kids wanted one.

  

  Lunch was a large bowl of miso soup known in this area as "dangojiru."

  Now let's check out today's featured place, Usa Shrine.

  

  Let's proceed along the path, but on our right we see...

  

  ...an old steam engine imported from Germany in 1891.  It was used in this area until 1965.

  

  

  We will cross this painted bridge to enter the shrine.

  

  Crossing and crossed

  

  Proceed to the next gate.

  

  

  To the right is a shrine museum

  

  Something's burning!

  

  

  Priests chant and throw pieces of wood into a fire to chase away evil.

  

  You can hear them rapping over a PA system.

  

  

  Remember these from the museum? 

  

  Let's leave the bonfire and head for the next event.  Here is a gate to a shrine located at the base of the hill, pictured below.

  

  

  We are now entering the main shrine.  The buildings on the right are shops where one can buy protective amulets.

  

  On the left is the main shrine.  Inside there are three buildings where three gods are enshrined.  The buildings are designated as national treasures.

  

  The center gate

  

  The two buildings in the background are the inner shrine and are national treasures.  There is a third building, but since the complex is surrounded by an outer wall it is difficult to see.

  

  Here come those fancy streamers again.

  

  Here is a window built into a wall for the purpose of seeing and worshipping the mountain in the distance.

  

  Some priests have gone into an inner shrine to make offerings to the gods before the event involving the steamers begins.

  

  Prayers are finished, and all prepare to move to a different shrine in the complex.

  

  Down the stairs

  

  We pass by the site of the bonfire again.  A couple of shrine workers clean up what is left.

  

  All are gathered around the stage.

  

  The band strikes up a tune

  

  This is a bit hard to see, but in the center of the picture the priests have opened the doors of a small shrine and are putting offerings inside.

  The steamers are then thrown into the crowd which promptly tears them to shreds, as pieces of the paper are considered good luck.

  

  Then, a couple of ceremonial dances are performed.

  

  

  

  The priests announce the end of the ceremony.

  

  The offerings are removed and the doors to the shrine are locked once again.

  

  The fellows who carried the streamers now carry several cardboard boxes to the stage.

  They open the boxes and start throwing rice cakes to the crowd.  They are supposed to insure good health.  I managed to grab a few myself, pink and white.

  

   

  We are now going back to the train station and home, but before we do so, there is one more sight to see, an old covered bridge.  Since it is an important cultural property it is not open to the public, but we can look inside.

  

  I wonder how they rethatch the roof when it becomes necessary?  ...very carefully!

  

  We are now at Usa Station and will catch the train back to Fukuoka.

  

  • 08:16
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