. Japanese legends and tales 伝説 民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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matsu 松と伝説 Legends about the pine tree / 松の木 matsu no ki
Pine trees show abundand green even in the fiercest of winter and hardly dry out, so they have been a symbol of long life in China since old times.
. matsu 松 pine - and its haiku .
- Introduction -
. plants and their legends 植物と伝説 - - ABC list .
. Oni to kadomatsu 鬼と門松 Oni Demon Legends and New Year pine decorations .
. kadomatsu 門松と伝説 Legends about pine decorations .
. Tengu to matsu 天狗と松 the Tengu pine - Legends .
Tengumatsu 天狗松
"The Pine of Sumi-no-e" 住吉の松 and 高砂 the Takasago Legend
- collecting -
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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :
- - - Check the comments for more legends ! - - -
............................................................................... Aichi 愛知県
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知多郡 Chita district 美浜町 Mihama
. kaminari matsu 雷松 "pine of thunder" .
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豊橋市 Toyohashi
. Niryuu no Matsu 二龍の松 Niryu no Matsu, "Pine like two dragons" .
............................................................................... Ehime 愛媛県
. ryuutoo no matsu 龍灯のマツ Ryuto - the Dragon Lamp Pine .
松前町西古泉65 Masaki Cho, Nishikoizumi, Iyo-Gun / 玉松山金蓮寺 Konren-Ji
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. Sai no Kami 塞の神の使い the messenger of the Deity. .
............................................................................... Fukui 福井県
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敦賀市 Tsuruga
. yama no kami koo 山の神講 prayer group for the god of the mountain .
............................................................................... Fukuoka 福岡県
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福岡市 Fukuoka city
. 筑前住吉神社 一夜の松 Chikuzen Sumiyoshi Jinja .
............................................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県
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有馬郡 Arima district
. Yamanokami no tatari 山の神の崇り curse of Yamanokami .
............................................................................... Ibaraki 茨城県
. 河童 - Kappa, the Water Goblin of Japan! .
Kappamatsu 河童松 Kappa pine
- - - - - Once upon a time,
a Kappa had brought many calamities to the village. One day a farmer was lucky and caught the Kappa. He bound him to a pine tree and wanted to kill him.
The Kappa begun to cry and beg for his life. He promised never to do harm again and protect the children from water accidents from now on.
And indeed, the Kappa kept his promise.
............................................................................... Kagawa 香川県
. Sanukiyama no densetsu 讃岐山村の伝説 Legends about Sanukiyama .
During amagoi 雨乞い a rain ritual, the Dragon King is venerated,
if there come white clouds, a Tengu comes down and sits on matsu no ki 松の木 a pine tree.
Now it begins to rain.
............................................................................... Kanagawa 神奈川県
. koshoo 古松 the old pine .
橘樹郡宿河原村 In the Tachibana district, Shukugawara village
. tatsu 竜 dragon at the root of a pine .
and the the fields of Gotanda village 五反田
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. kamishibai 紙芝居 "paper drama" .
- reference source : geocities.jp/soueik3_31/kuroganetyoudensetu... -
Tekkamatsu 鉄火松 "gunfire pine"
A legend from Aoba Ward, Yokohama City, Kurogane cho (Tetsu Town)
横浜市青葉区鉄町 － at the border to 川崎市麻生区 Kawasaki, Asao ward
source : 麻生 Asao town news
- Tekkamatsu hi 鉄火松碑 Memorial stone at the place of the Gunfire Pine
............................................................................... Miyagi 宮城県
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柴田町 Shibata town
. Ono no Komachi and the pine 小野小町手掛松. .
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白井市 Shiroi city 斎川松沢 Saikawa Matsuzawa
. chichigami 乳神 "breast deity" .
............................................................................... Nagano 長野県
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昔、松の木があまり大きくなかったころ、その松の幹にはこぶが２つあった。そのうちの１つを切ったところ、切り口から乳が出てきたので、それ以後はご神木として大切にした。昭和９年の台風で倒れたという。.
http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/YoukaiCard/C2020373-000.shtml
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上伊那郡 Kami-Ina district 南箕輪村 Minami-Minowa
. shinboku 神木 a sacred tree and Typhoon .
............................................................................... Nara 奈良県
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山辺郡 Yamabe district 山添村 Yamazoe village 中峰山 Chumuzan hamlet
. 狩野元信 Kanō Motonobu, Kano Hogen (1476―1559）. .
- Yamanokami and 松の木 the pine tree painting
............................................................................... Niigata 新潟県
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. Grandma goes to sell soy sauce 醤油 .
............................................................................... Okayama 岡山県
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井原市 Ibara 東江原 Higashiebara
. The Yamabushi Temple 福寿院 Fukuju-In .
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Okayama 津山市 Tsuyama city
. The pine tree at 阿弥陀堂 the Amida Do Hall .
............................................................................... Shiga 滋賀県
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高島市 Takashima city
. Fukunokami 福の神 and the smoke of the open hearth .
............................................................................... Shimane 島根県
. sugegasa 菅笠 sedge hat and Yamanokami .
............................................................................... Tokushima 徳島県
. matsu no ki no baasan 松の木の婆さん the old hag from the pine tree .
............................................................................... Tokyo 東京
Some of the Nana Fushigi 七不思議 Seven wonders of Edo ;
. Ipponmatsu 一本松 Ippon-Matsu "Just one Pine tree" .
"Kanmuri-no-Matsu" and "Shugetsutei-no-Hagoromo-no-Matsu."
negai no matsu 願いの松 at Edo Castle Nana Fushigi 江戸城七不思議
chi no deru matsu 血の出る松 / 血のでる松 A bleeding pine tree
hikeshi no matsu 火消しの松 pine extinguishing a fire.
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府中市 Fuchu city
. The Deity 六所明神 Rokusho Myojin .
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西東京市 Nishi-Tokyo city 下保谷 Shimohoya / 鎌倉街道 Kamakura Kaido
. magarimatsu 曲がり松 the bent pine tree on a mound .
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猿江町 Sarue Cho - "Monkey Inlay"
. 小名木川五本松 Onagigawa Gohon Matsu .
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渋谷区 Shibuya ward
. Dogen Matsu 道玄松 Dogen pine tree .
Named after 大和田太郎道玄 Owada Taro Dogen.
. hitokui matsu 人喰松 "man-eating pine" .
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立川市 Tachikawa
. reiken 霊験 spiritual achievement and Kobo Daishi .
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台東区 Taito ward
. Shubi no Matsu 首尾の松 "Pine of Success" - Kuramae .
............................................................................... Tottori 鳥取県
. Yamanokami no tatari 山の神の祟り the curse of Yamanokami .
In the village of 向原 Mukaihara lived a man named 中村朝光 Nakamura Asamitsu....
............................................................................... Yamagata 山形県
西村山郡 Nishi-Murayama district
. kaeroo matsu かえろう松 pine tree to come home - Yamanokami .
............................................................................... Yamaguchi 山口県
. Guhin matsu グヒン松 Pine of the Guhin Yokai monster .
and Yamanokami, Tengu
. Shrine 降松神社 Kudamatsu Jinja .
said to be the origin of the belief in Myoken Shin 妙見神 the Myoken Deity.
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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -
3096 松 to collect
44 wakamatsu 若松
including 松阪, 松江 ...
kadomatsu 門松 has extra entry
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. plants and their legends 植物と伝説 - - ABC list .
. trees and their legends 樹木, 木と伝説 - - ABC list .
. Persons, People, Personen and their legends - - ABC list .
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説 民話 昔話 - Introduction .
- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -
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Tokyo Setagaya 世田谷区
ReplyDeletehitokui matsu 人喰松 "man-eating pine"
At the 渋谷道玄坂 Dogenzaka slope in Shibuya there is a pine tree with this name.
During the restructuring of modern Tokyo, this tree had to be moved. Two sisters living in Setagaya were very pious, chanting the 法華経 Hokekyo Sutra and got a message from the Deity.
In former times something bad had been buried under the roots of this tree and cursed the people. When they eventually dug below the roots, they found the bones of a hebi 蛇 serpent. During the recital of the Sutra, the serpent turned all white and made its way up into the heaven.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2018/06/setagaya-ward.html
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Tokyo Azabu
ReplyDeleteAzabuipponmatsu 麻布一本松町 Azabu Ipponmatsu district "one pine tree"
元麻布一丁目, 二丁目 Moto-Azabu, first and second sub-district
Around 1670, Ipponmatsu was created in the former Azabu mura 麻布村 Azabu village.
In the beginning there were many Samurai estates and temples, but later the townspeople and merchants took over.
The print shows the compound of the temple 長伝寺 Choden-Ji and close to it many shops.
There was also a tea stall and next to it an old large single matsu 松 pine tree.
This tree was also called kanmuri matsu 冠松 "crown pine tree"
and provided shadow for the travelers.
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The old pine tree was destroyed by a fire in 1772, but has been replaced several times after that. The present tree was planted after WWII.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2018/05/azabu-district.html
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Tokyo, Taito
ReplyDeleteSaizooin 西蔵院 Temple Saizo-In
the pine O-gyoo no matsu 御行の松 O-Gyo no Matsu
Pine of the Religious Practise
The pine was in the temple Saizo-In with a hall for 不動堂 Fudo Myo-O.
The first O-Gyo no Matsu must have been quite famous, since it is depicted in the Edo Meisho Zue and by Utagawa Hiroshige.
A priest of the temple 上野寛永寺 Kanei-Ji in Ueno practised austerities under this tree. Nearby in Arakawa ward, Nippori, is the
otooto matsu 弟松 Younger Brother Pine
In 1925, this pine became a 天然記念物指定 national treasure. At that time it was about 14 m high.
In 1928, the tree withered and died, so the national treasure position was revoked. It must have been more than 350 years old at that time.
In 1956, the second pine was planted, but it soon withered.
In 1976, a third pine was planted and right by its side a bonsai-version of a pine was also planted to give the local people more incentive to look after its well-being.
Legend says
the statue of Fudo Myo-O was carved from the roots of the first pine.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2018/07/negishi-district-taito.html
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Legend from Nara, Kasagi Kaido 笠置街道 Kasagi Highway
ReplyDeleteOnce a wicked Tengu stole 太鼓 the big drum from the temple hall 誓多林堂 Setarin Do. He had hung the drum on a branch of 松の木 a pine tree and banged on it.
The blood of the Tengu still sticks to the drum, they say.
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https://gokurakuparadies.blogspot.com/2016/03/ishi-yakushi-stone.html
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Legend from Aomori 青森県
ReplyDeleteA ship from 筑前 Chikuzen was almost shipwrecked and landed in 津軽 Tsugaru.
The sailors went on land and into the mountains, where they found a woman of about 40 years, who was of the same hometown as the sailors.
She said she had left a horagai 法螺貝 conch under wakamatsu 若松 a young pine tree in her hometown.
When the sailors made it back to their hometown, they found it. The tree had become very old and the conch looked quite ancient too.
When they asked the woman again, she said during the time of Antoku Tenno she had been 20 years old.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2019/12/akamagaseki-karatsu-kaido-highways.html
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Legend from Kyoto
ReplyDelete王歳神社 Otoshi Jinja Miwacho Ashibuchi, Fukuchiyama
The part North of the Shrine 王歳神社 Otoshi Jinja is called Yuri-ga-hana 百合ヶ花 "lily flowers". This is where the Ushioni lives.
On the mountain side of the river is Yonaki Matsu 夜泣き松 "the pine which cries at night". The Ushioni lives in the cave above it.
Sometimes he comes out behind the pine and plays tricks on the humans.
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Sai no Kami 幸神 / さいの神 Deity of Fortune and Good Luck
https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2020/01/sai-no-kami-legends.html
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Legend from Kyoto Kyoto 京都府
ReplyDeleteNear the Shrine 王歳神社 Otoshi Jinja is a withered matsu no ki 松の木 pine tree. Toward the end of the Meiji period there was just part of the stem left.
People peel a bit of the bark and make a small fire. Children who see this fire will stop yonaki 夜泣き crying at night.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/07/toshitokujin-legends.html
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Legend from Kyoto, 天橋立 Amanohashidate
ReplyDelete. ryuutoo 龍燈 / 龍灯 / 竜灯 と伝説 Legends about Ryuto, "Dragon Lantern" .
At Amanohashidate, at night on the 16th day of every month, there is a strange light coming from the ushitora 丑寅 North-East direction and heading to the Monju Do 文殊堂 Hall for Monju Bosatsu at the temple 智恩寺 Chion-Ji. In front of the hall is one pine tree, which is called
ryuutoo no matsu 竜灯の松 "pine of the Dragon Lantern"
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/02/tango-tanba-kaido-highways.html
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Legend from Tottori 鳥取県 智頭 Chizu
ReplyDelete.
Seirenzuka no matsu 正蓮塚の松 pine at the Seiren mound
Also called Yamabushi matsu 山伏松 "pine of the Yamabushi mountain priest".
Near the Chizubashi bridge. A samurai called 花房彌次郎 / 花房弥次郎 Hanabusa Yajiro lived here.
Yajiro had a dream about a Yamabushi who told him he could not go to the Buddhist paradise and asked Yajiro to perform rituals for him.
Yajiro went to the temple 龍峯寺 Ryubu-Ji and asked the priest to perform rituals. After that, the bad dreams of Yajiro stopped.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/03/inaba-kaido-highway.html
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Legend from Fukushima 福島県
ReplyDelete- 木挽や左官や製材職人 lumberjacks and plasterers (working at a Shrine) -
ningyoo 人形 a strange doll
About 3 years ago, a lumberjack found a small doll of about 15 cm at the foot of akamatsu 赤松 a Japanese red pine. It was bundled in blue wool and in its stomach a nail was sticking out.
After than the lumberjacks and plasterers begun to have injuries and a local priest took the doll, held special rituals and burned it.
kobiki 木挽 working with a special saw
shakan, sakan 左官 plasterer
seizai shokunin 製材職人 lumberjack
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/05/shokunin-craftsmen-legends.html
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Legend from 大阪市 Osaka
ReplyDelete.
In 大阪城内 the compound of Osaka castle there was a large pine tree whith 植木職人 a special gardener to take care of it.
Once he tried to trim a branch with sharp hasami 鋏 scissors, but he became very sick the same day.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2020/05/shokunin-craftsmen-legends.html
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Legend from Nagano
ReplyDeleteshinshi no tori 神使の鳥 a bird as messenger
At the peak of 蓼科の峯 Mount Tateshina there lives 神鳥 a divine bird, resembling a raichoo 雷鳥 Raicho snow grouse, "Thunderbird".
In the morning and evening its voice can be heard to announce the time. The male bird is rather black, the female more yellow, with a black breast and white spots on it.
The chicks like to eat matsu no mi 松の実 pine nuts and green pine leaves.
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shinshi 神使 messenger of god, divine messenger
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2020/03/shinshi-otsukai-messenger.html
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Legend from Kochi
ReplyDelete幡多郡 Hata district 西土佐村 Nishi-Tosa village // 石神さん
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. kannazuki 神無月 month where the Kami are absent .
kami no rusu 神の留守 the gods are absent
This is the 10th lunar month, when the Kami father at 出雲 Izumo.
During that time Izumo no matsu 出雲の松 the pine of Izumo begins to bend.
Konpira san 金毘羅さん and 石神さん Ishigami san do not go.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2020/03/ishigami-stone-deity-2.html
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Legend from Ishikawa Ishikawa 石川県
ReplyDelete鳳至郡 Fugeshi district 門前町 Monzen town
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kyoozuka no matsu 経塚の松 the pine on the sutra mound
Near the kyozuka sutra mound at 暮坂 the Kuresaka slope in Susukino there was matsu 松の木 a pine tree. When they cut the tree down, blood began to flow from the cut of the tree.
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https://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.com/2020/03/kyozuka-sutra-mound-legends.html
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snow Legend from Kyoto Funai
ReplyDelete. saru 猿と伝説 Legends about monkeys - Affen .
On a winter day with heavy snow a hunter found daien / oozaru 大猿 a huge monkey at the foot of oimatsu 老松 an old pine tree. The monkey begged for his life, but the hunter shot him. When the hunter looked closer, he saw the monkey was pregnant. His family became cursed and died out.
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老松 29 legends to collect
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https://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.com/2020/03/ooyuki-heavy-snow-legends.html
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Legend from Niigata 新潟県 南魚沼郡 Minami-Uonuma district 六日町 Muikamachi town
ReplyDeleteThe matsu 松 pine tree behind 白山神社 the Shirayama Shrine was called
musubi no matsu ムスビノ松 pine to tie branches.
If people tied branches and made a wish, it would be fulfilled.
In this area people do not put up kadomatsu 門松 New Year pine decorations.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2020/03/hakusan-shrine-legends.html
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Legend from Yamaguchi, 下関市 Shimonoseki city
ReplyDelete.
n the forest in the back of the estate of 内山家 the Uchiyama family, there is a sanctuary called
森さま Mori Sama. If it is cleaned regularly, the family will always have enough money.
It is 鎮守様 the Chinju Sama guardian deity of the family.
Once a man cut down matsu no ki 松の木 a pine tree in the forest, but he hurt himself very much.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2021/04/shinju-sama-guardian-legends.html
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Ehime
ReplyDeletehijiri matsu ヒジリ松 / 聖松 / ひじりまつ the Hijiri pine tree
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In the plain outside of 定光寺 the Temple Joko-ji there is matsu 松 a pine tree.
In former times, when they wanted to rebuilt the main hall, this pine tree was an obstacle and should be cut down.
When they came the next morning, the pine had already moved itself outside the gate.
Since then people venerated the tree as reiboku 霊木 a sacred tree.
The temple is located on the island 弓削島 Yugesima.
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https://edoflourishing.blogspot.com/2013/02/hijiri-holy-men.html
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Mie, 志摩 Shima region
ReplyDelete.
三宝荒神 The Sanbo Kojin Deity gets offerings from matsu no ki 松の枝 pine branches.
If they are not renewed regularly and dry out, soneone in the family will suffer from headache.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2021/04/sanbo-kojin-legends.html
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onimatsu 鬼松 demon pine tree
ReplyDeleteNagano 小県郡 Chiisagata district 真田町 Sanada town
onimatsu 鬼松 demon pine tree
In 角先渓谷 the gorge Tsunosaki there is a huge youlder called Onigajo 鬼ヶ城 "Demon Castle".
In former times the demons lived there and ruined the land.
At that time, 坂上田村麻呂 Sakanoue no Tamuramaro came to fight with them, but could not win.
He said prayers to 金縄山の観音様 the Kannon Deity at Mount Kanenawasan.
He had a revelation : To cut down the kuwa no ki 桑の木 mulberry tree
and enter the castle from there. Thus he could win.
He bound the Demon with kin no kusari 金縄(金のくさり a golden rope) to
matsu no ki 松の木 a pine tree, now known as the onimatsu 鬼松 "demon pine".
The statue of Jizo Bosatsu nearby is called 鬼松地蔵｣ Onimatsu Jizo.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2022/01/reikoku-revelation.html
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Yamanashi, Tsuru city
ReplyDeleteShrine Hinazuru Jinja 雛鶴神社
Hinazuru Hime 雛鶴姫 Princess Hinazuru
These two vassals died with Princess Hinazuru:
藤原宗忠 Fujiwara no Munetada
馬場小太郎 Baba Kotaro
In their memory, two matsu 松 pine trees were planted 300 years ago.
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https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2022/01/hinazuru-jinja-tsuru.html
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