What exactly are the "Gozan" (Five Mountains)? In the first two parts of this series, we've looked at the history of how Date Masamune concentrated five Rinzai Zen temples in Kitayama, north of Sendai Castle, and how they came to be revered as the "Kitayama Gozan." ...
The "Date Gozan" (Five Mountains of Date) before the Kitayama Gozan: The Kitayama Gozan underwent changes due to the shifting of the Date clan's territory before settling in its current location, and the first establishment of the Five Mountains...
Introduction The word "ZEN" is so widely recognized that it's almost globally renowned, and the Buddhist meditation practice of Zazen is extremely well-known. It's not simply about concentrating the mind...
You might think that the "Railway Song," which begins with "A single whistle blows at Shinbashi," is a song about the Tokaido Main Line heading west from Tokyo, right? Actually, there are five volumes of the Railway Song (although some say there are six or even seven...).
This series explores the mystery of the enigmatic ancient god "Arahabaki"... This time, we introduce the Arahabaki Shrine located in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. Who is the ancient god "Arahabaki"? "Arahabaki" is associated with the Tohoku region and...
Aoiwa
The Tsugaru region is located in the western part of Aomori Prefecture. Boasting the vast Tsugaru Plain, it is centered around Tosa-minato, a port that developed around the brackish lake "Jusan-ko" on the coast, and was a center for the Kitamae-bune (northern trade ships) and other trade routes...
Aoiwa
The origin of the 33 Kannon pilgrimage in Yamagata Prefecture is said to be the "Mogami 33 Kannon Pilgrimage," which began during the Muromachi period. This pilgrimage, which is said to have started about 580 years ago, continues...
Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Here lies a shrine dedicated to the mysterious ancient deity "Arahabaki," said to have resided there for 2,000 years. What's remarkable about this shrine is its address: Miyagi Prefecture...
Aoiwa
The Dewa Sanzan is a collective name for the three mountains of Yamagata Prefecture, with Mount Gassan (1,984m above sea level) as its main peak, along with Mount Yudono and Mount Haguro. Mount Haguro is known for...
The mysterious ancient god "Arahabaki"... This enigmatic deity is said to have been worshipped mainly in the Tohoku and Kanto regions, but even today, the most famous shrine bearing its name is the "Arahabaki" located in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture...
Aoiwa
