NARA, Sep 19 (News On Japan) –
Tanzan Shrine in Nara Prefecture holds deep ties to one in every of Japan’s most pivotal moments — the Taika Reform. According to legend, this secluded shrine is the place Emperor Tenji (then Prince Naka no Ōe) and Fujiwara no Kamatari (then Nakatomi no Kamatari) plotted the downfall of the highly effective Soga clan, notably Soga no Iruka, through the 645 coup.
The shrine’s origins hint again to a picket thirteen-story pagoda constructed by Kamatari’s son to honor his father. To this present day, the grounds and surrounding areas stay crammed with artifacts intently tied to the Fujiwara clan, together with many necessary cultural properties.
The website is positioned deep within the mountains of Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture. It takes about 5 minutes by foot from the Tou-no-mine bus cease to achieve the shrine, following a historic path lined with historic stone lanterns and centuries-old bridges. Visitors are greeted by the East Main Gate, a powerful construction courting again over 220 years, initially constructed through the Edo interval. Remarkably, the shrine itself was as soon as a Buddhist temple, referred to as Myoraku-ji, till the Meiji Restoration mandated the separation of Shinto and Buddhism. This mix of spiritual components continues to be evident as we speak.
Within the shrine, one can discover a number of notable constructions, together with the world’s solely surviving picket thirteen-story pagoda, which stands as a testomony to the shrine’s historic legacy. Built by Fujiwara no Jōe, Kamatari’s eldest son, the pagoda marks the birthplace of Tanzan Shrine. Nearby, there’s a stone marker, mentioned to be the place Kamatari and Prince Naka no Ōe first mentioned their technique to overthrow the Soga clan—an act that may finally reshape Japanese historical past by way of the Taika Reform.
As guests stroll by way of the grounds, they are going to encounter different cultural landmarks, together with a stone lantern believed to have been donated by Emperor Go-Daigo, and a collection of buildings courting again to the Muromachi and Edo durations. The foremost corridor of Tanzan Shrine, with its elaborate architectural design, is claimed to have impressed the development of Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
In addition to its historic significance, Tanzan Shrine can be a scenic vacation spot, particularly in autumn when over 3,000 maple bushes burst into vibrant purple and orange hues. This beautiful backdrop provides a serene environment to the shrine’s religious and historic legacy.
Source: YOMIURI