Visiting Meiji Jingu

After work I visited Meiji Jingu. It is about 15 miunte walk from my office.

Following is quotation from booklet which I got in Meiji Shrine.

Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shirine. Shinto is called Japan's ancient original religion, and it si deeply rooted in the way of Japanese life.

Shinto has no founder, no holy book, and not even the concept of religious conbersion, but Shinto values for example harmony with nature and virtures such as "Magokoro(sincere heart)".

In Shinto, some divinity is found as Kami(divine spirit), or it may be said that there is an nulimited number of Kami.

You can see Kaimi in mythology, in nature, and in human beings.

From ancinet times, Japanese people have felt awe and gratitude towards such Kami and dedicated shrines to many of them.

This shrine is dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken(their tombs are in Kyoto).

Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912 and Empress Shoken in 1914. After their demise, people wished to commemorate their virtues and to venerate them forever.

So they donated 100,00 trees form all over Japan and from overseas, and they worked voluntarily to create this forest. Thus, thanks to the sincere heart of the people, this shrine was established on November 1, 1920.

Actually I do not know how to pay respect at a Shrine. I learn the way to pay respect from another booklet distributed in the Shrine.

How to pay Respect at a Shrine

1. In appropriate dress, you proceed along the path through Torii Gate.

2. You rinse your hands and mouth by using water from stone basin at the place called Temizusha. (the frot for ablutions)

You should not put your lips to the dipper directly.

3. Then you proceed to the Main Shrine building. You may throw some coins into the Offering Box if you wish.

4. In the front of the Main Shrine, you bow twice, clap your hands twice and bow once again.

I will visit the shrine again to pay respect in a proper ways.