The Meiji Temple, or, as it is also called, Meiji Jingu, is the tomb of the great Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. This is the largest Shinto shrine, which appeared in 1920, thanks to a public initiative. The Japanese were so grateful to their emperor that they decided to perpetuate his memory by creating the largest Shinto shrine, which is conveniently located in the very depths of the Yoyogi city park. The sanctuary was built in the classic Japanese style. This is a kind of peak of the architectural creation of ordinary people.
To see the majestic park, drive to Kamizono-cho Yoyogi. This place is easy to find, as the sanctuary occupies a fairly large area, which is surrounded by lush vegetation. On the territory of the park, which is laid out directly around the Japanese temple, almost all the trees that are found on the territory of the state grow, ranging from incgo and ending with cypresses and sakura.
Features of the Japanese temple
The shrine is an example of the traditional Japanese Nagarezukuri style. For the construction of the temple, cypress was used in large quantities, growing in the territory of Kiso - a mountain range that is located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Kiso is also called the Japanese Alps. The Meiji building itself is surrounded by a picturesque garden, on the territory of which an incredible number of unique plants grow, found in various forests and parks of the Land of the Rising Sun.
It is worth noting one interesting feature - in the park, located around the tomb of the emperor, various sports competitions are very often held. There is also the Memorial Picture Gallery, which consists of 80 frescoes depicting memorable events and significant dates of the imperial couple.
The Outer Garden, which houses the Meiji Memorial (Wedding) Hall, is a revered place, as it is here, even today, that wedding celebrations are held in the best traditions of the Shinto religion.
Numerous tourists visiting a temple in Japan can receive an “omikuji,” a small piece of fortune-telling paper in English. What is this prophecy? As a rule, these are several lines in poetic form, written by the emperor or his wife. By contacting a Shinto priest, each visitor to the Japanese shrine will be able to get an interpretation of his prediction.
What is the correct way to behave in the Japanese Meiji Temple?
On the guide, which can be taken by every visitor to a Japanese temple, you can read very important information that teaches the rules of conduct in a Shinto shrine:
- First of all, this applies to those who wish to receive divine support - clothing and appearance must correspond to the current situation. Often discharged youth and crowds of tourists in ordinary shorts or jeans walk around the territory of the temple. If the purpose of a visit to the temple is to receive support from the supreme forces, it is worth considering your appearance more thoughtfully.
- Before entering the inner territory of the imperial tomb, you should rinse your mouth and hands in the sacred fountain. This is the oldest custom in the Shinto religion - the purification rite is one of the most important and revered.
- Approaching the main building, each tourist or ordinary visitor can give the gods several coins by throwing them into a special box located near the entrance. It is advisable to throw coins from afar so that they can ring and be able to awaken the supreme forces so that they turn their attention to the person who donates their money.
- After that, it is advisable to bow twice towards the main altar and clap your hands twice (just in case the gods decide to take a nap again) and bow again.
That's all. After this, the supreme forces will certainly turn their attention to the one asking. And for greater persuasiveness and confidence that a trip to the temple will bring fulfillment of desires, you can turn to the gods in writing, leaving your request on a wooden plate "ema". Such tablets are hung around a majestic tree, and at the end of the year they are burned on a sacred fire. Thus, all desires along with the smoke go up.
Foreign tourists and residents of the Land of the Rising Sun are happy to buy up amulets and talismans that are sold in the adjacent park. Here you can buy a family amulet, protection from damage and the evil eye, an amulet for successful studies or driving a car ... In a word, there would be a problem, and protection from it will certainly find its owner. Fortune-telling by waka verses is very popular on the territory of the imperial tomb. Throughout his life, the emperor, together with his wife, created many creations that were written as an edification to future generations.
Meji Jingu is the largest, largest and most popular Shinto shrine in Tokyo. The Japanese come here to seek the blessings of the gods in various life endeavors, be it a wedding, the birth of a child, business projects, or just passing an important exam at school or university.
The souls of Emperor Meiji, who bore the name of Mutsuhito during his lifetime, and his wife, Empress Shoken, "live" in this sanctuary.
Emperor Mutsuhito ruled Japan from 1868-1912. History suggests that the country has never known such a powerful leap in development as during this period, when Japan from a feudal backward state turned into one of the leading world powers. Mutsuhito was the bastard son of Emperor Komei, and inherited the throne from his father at the age of 15. With his accession to the throne, a new era began, called Meiji - "enlightened rule".
They say that kings do not belong to themselves, because they belong to the whole country and history, and therefore, with all their apparent power, they often turn out to be deeply unhappy people, deprived of the right to act according to their convictions. Oddly enough, but one of the most revered emperors in Japan, declared an absolute monarch; "Great reformer"; the first ruler who welcomed Western civilization and radically changed the face of the country, as a person was deeply alien to all the changes that were made on his behalf.
As the supreme ruler, he was present at all meetings, but never took part in discussions, he was almost always silent and only signed decrees that were written on behalf of the emperor. Anyone who has watched the film "The Last Samurai" probably remembers the modest, silent young man - the emperor of Japan under the Meiji reign.
The largest wooden torii in the country lead to the sanctuary. Barrels of sake are an offering to the temple.
He was a notorious conservative and deeply respected the traditions that had developed at court over many centuries, but it is his signature that bears on documents that break the centuries-old foundations of Japanese society.
Not wanting to deviate from the path of his predecessors, even in small things, he nevertheless had to wear alien and uncomfortable clothes - all these frock coats and uniforms, sewn according to the Western pattern. For the nation, he remained a living deity, which is forbidden to touch by mere mortals, so all the costumes were baggy on him: the tailor could take measurements only at a distance, and sewed trousers and jackets "by eye".
Just like his divine ancestors, in addition to his legal wife, he had a harem of concubines, but at social events he was forced to appear with his wife and portray a happy married couple of the Western model. Once he was even forced to walk in public with her arm, which was completely unacceptable according to old Japanese etiquette. It was for the silver wedding anniversary. They say that Mutsuhito was forced to give in, but after walking a few steps, he could not bear such shame and fled far away from shame.
South Gate is opposite the main pavilion
In essence, a peaceful person, but it was under Mutsuhito that Japan fought with Korea, China, and then with Russia.
We cannot know how consciously Matsuhito played his part in turning the ship of Japanese history on a new course. It is known that Mutsuhito drank a lot, and not only traditional Japanese sake, but also Western wines that came to his taste. On the path leading to the Meiji Temple, barrels of red Burgundy wines are installed: this is how the Western world expressed its gratitude to the first "pro-Western" emperor of Japan, whose spirit dwells in the temple.
It is also known that the emperor expressed his timid protest to the innovations of civilization by banning electricity in his palace: until his death, the palace was lit only with candles. They say the "great reformer" was so far from civilization that at first he took a chamber pot for something that was placed under the head at night.
Be that as it may, Emperor Mutsuhito will forever remain in the memory of the grateful Japanese. Eight years after his death, a new shrine was built in 1920, called Meiji Jingu. The temple structure was destroyed during the bombing of World War II: the Americans regarded Emperor Meiji as a symbol of militaristic Japan, and purposefully dropped bombs on this sanctuary. The restoration of the temple and the surrounding park was completed in October 1958. People from all over Japan brought trees and bushes here. As a result, 365 species of plants have been collected on the territory of more than 700,000 square meters.
Temple Sanctuary Courtyard
On the guide, which can be freely taken when visiting the temple, we are taught to correctly express our respect for the royal spirits:
1. First of all, if you are serious about receiving divine support, your appearance and dress must match. The Japanese follow this point only on especially solemn occasions, crowds of local residents wander here with a noisy merry din. Most of them are wearing jeans or even shorts. Cheerful young people in disguise often drop in here during the Sunday fancy-dress parties taking place nearby.
2. Before setting foot in the interior, it is necessary to rinse your hands and mouth in the sacred fountain. This custom is typical for all Japanese temples: the rite of purification is the main act in Shintoism.
3. You go to the main building and, if you wish, you can give the gods a few coins by throwing them into a special box. They say that you should throw coins from afar so that they ring, and the deities wake up from the sacred slumber, drawing attention to you.
Sacred dances during the annual festival
That's all, consider your mission accomplished: the gods have heard you. It’s hard to think of an easier way to pray. So that the perfume does not forget your request, you can address them in writing using a special wooden "Ema" plaque. Such signs are hung here on boards set around a chic tree. At the end of the year, these “petitions” will be burned on the sacred fire, and all requests will go to heaven to the gods along with the smoke.
People are also happy to buy amulets that give protection and favor in various situations: you can buy an amulet against the evil eye, for family well-being, for a safe completion of childbirth, for a successful study, safe driving ... in general, there would be a problem, but there would be an amulet ...
One of the most popular types of fortune telling on the territory of the temple is fortune telling by the waka verses left to us by the emperor and his wife. Matsuhito created about 100 thousand creations in his life, the Empress - 30 thousand. They are all written as an edification to the living.
Here are some of them:
moon
Profound changes
occur
Because there are so many
of people
Left this world
Only the moon in the autumn
night
It always remains the same
Accidental thought
Understand life
Seeing like a stone
Is washed away by the rain
Don't cling to the illusion
That nothing changes
Accidental thought
I don't need
Angry to heaven
Or blame
Others (for my suffering)
When I see
Your own mistakes
Accidental thought
So many accusations
In this world
So don't worry
About it
Too much
Your guide in Japan,
Irina
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Emperor Meiji was known for his love of waka writing. After himself, he left more than 100 thousand poems to the Japanese people. His wife, Empress Shoken, also wrote poetry in this genre. She has about 30 thousand poetic works on her account.
Meiji Shrine Feature
Meiji Shrine is a relatively new place of worship. It was created in 1920 according to the concept of wakonesai (the soul of the Japanese and the talent of the Western man). Therefore, unusual omikuji are not the only feature of the temple.
According to Miki Fukutoku, most people tend to think that the temple is just the main shrine. In fact, he, with his internal and external parts, is something big. The temple located in the inner garden is a symbol of the Japanese soul. Here you worship and show your reverence to the spirits. But the outer garden of the temple is made in a pro-Western style. There is an art gallery with 80 paintings. They reflect the life of Emperor Meiji, who actively maintained friendly relations with foreign countries. For example, symmetrical ginkgo trees are also Western influences.
The Treasure Museum, located in Guyenne Gardens, vividly illustrates the fusion of Japanese and Western flair. The architectural design of the building is reminiscent of Sosoin, the treasury of the famous temple in the prefecture. However, the Meiji Treasure Museum, unlike the temple, is not made of wood, but concrete.
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| Meiji shrine (nian), top view |
The sanctuary has three main parts:
- Nyan (interior), where the sanctuary buildings are located,
- Gayenne (outside), which houses the Memorial Art Gallery and sports facilities, including one of the oldest baseball stadiums Meiji Jingu and the Meiji Memorial Hall and Wedding Hall.
Note that the total area of the forest is about seven hundred square meters. About 170 thousand trees, consisting of 245 different species, grow here. This landscape was designed and created by Seiroku Honda, along with his assistants Takanori Hongo and Keiji Uehara, who bravely turned down then-Prime Minister Shigenobu Okuma's proposal to use exclusively cedar in the design. Honda wanted to create an evergreen forest, but as it turned out, the local soil was not suitable for this tree.
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| Meiji Shrine Forest |
« In 2011, in preparation for the centenary of the temple, we monitored the tree species growing in the area. So, as it turned out, in the local forest there are much fewer trees alien to Japan than, say, in the parks of the central part of Tokyo. This man-made forest was created to delight with its beauty for many centuries and it seems that it will be so"Miki said to Fukutoku.
Such a wealth of nature attracts more tourists to this place than believers. In addition to plants, you can also meet rare birds that often come to the forest. The site is home to the endangered Japanese Golden Orchid and many other rare plant species.
The forest, which has become a wonderful brainchild of Honda, Hongo and Uehara, will delight tourists and locals for more than one year. Fukutoku explained, “ According to experts, the trees did not live even half of their life. The thing is that camphor trees can live from 300 to 400 years. That is why not only our grandchildren, but also great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren will be able to come here!»
According to Fukutoku, despite all these attractions, the number of foreign tourists is increasing, but not so rapidly. They are expected to increase steadily in the future, as Meiji Temple is the best way to experience Japanese culture.
Fukutoku proudly added, “ Of course, the shrines on the outskirts of the city may offer a more authentic atmosphere, but our temple is more accessible. We can, for example, boast of a guest like US President Barack Obama who was in the temple last year. Meiji Shrine is truly unique. Being in the center of the capital, you can not only see the shrine, but also suddenly find yourself in a real forest».
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Meiji Temple celebrations and weekdays
The most important festival of the temple is Reisai (a major autumn festival), which takes place on November 3 in memory of Emperor Meiji. Ambassadors from various countries are invited to this event to enjoy traditional Japanese performances. Such a holiday is a harbinger of the upcoming hectic period of New Year's days. Of the ten million annual visitors, three million visit the temple during this period. Therefore, it is Reisai and the following New Year's days that are an important time for all people who, in one way or another, are involved in the Meiji Temple.
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| Harajuku-guchi - Meiji Temple Entrance |
There are three entrances to the temple:
- Harajuku-guchi,
- Yoyogi-guchi
- Sangubashi-guti.
As a rule, the entrance from the Harajuku side is constantly open, but when the number of visitors increases significantly, the remaining entrances are opened. As Miki Fukutoku explained, using Harajuku-guchi as the main entrance is justified. Entering through these gates, it is easier for a visitor to orientate himself and get to the temple. In addition, with the opening of Harajuku Station, most tourists and believers come to the entrance of Harajuku-guchi. This is why the street adjacent to the temple is called Omotesando. Literally the name means: "omote" - front, "sando" - road, i.e. "Front road". In addition, the Harajuku-guchi gate is the largest gate of the Meiji Temple.
In 2020, during the period, the sanctuary will celebrate its centenary. Therefore, serious restoration work is planned at the Meiji Temple, thanks to which the shrine will be noticeably transformed and will attract the attention of even more tourists.
The main work will be the restoration of the main building of the temple. During heavy rainfall, the roof periodically leaks in it, so repairs will begin precisely from this part of the shrine. But this is not the main reason why the administration decided to start preparations from here. It is believed that the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are located in the main building. This is the most important part of the Meiji Temple.
Based on materials from online publications.
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Meiji shrine, located in the Shibuya area, in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park, is the largest Shinto shrine in the metropolis. It is dedicated to Emperor Meiji, known as Mutsuhito, and Empress Shoken, who ruled the state in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The idea of creating the monastery was born after the death of the imperial couple and in 1920 it was brought to life. However, the building did not last long and during the Second World War it became a victim of numerous bombings. After the end of hostilities, the temple was restored and since 1958 has been receiving visitors again. Today, the building enjoys great attention among believers and is considered a religious symbol of the capital of Japan.
The territory of the Meiji shrine covers an area of more than 700 thousand square meters, and the trees and shrubs surrounding the temple harmoniously complement its appearance, embodying the traditions of Japanese temple architecture. Particular attention is drawn to the picturesque Inner Garden, where many varieties of plants growing in the land of the rising sun are presented. In its formation, at one time, thousands of Japanese took part, donating their own bushes and trees for the benefit of the monastery. Just over a kilometer away is the Meiji Jingu Outer Garden, known as the center of sports events. At the end of the alley, where ginkgo trees flaunt, is the Meiji Memorial Art Gallery, which contains several dozen large murals depicting events in the life of the emperor and empress. In the other corner of the Outer Garden is the Meiji Memorial Hall. Lavish Shinto wedding ceremonies are held there to this day.
The territory of the monastery is surrounded by a carved fence, and you can get inside through an impressive wooden gate, which is considered the largest in the country made of wood. The Meiji Treasury is located directly behind the temple, with the personal belongings of the imperial couple and unique works of art that adorned the interior. It goes well with the architectural style of Nagarezukuri, which contains the main building, a small pond with white water lilies, so beloved by the wife of Emperor Mutsuhito.
At the moment, the Meiji Temple is very popular not only among foreign tourists, but also very revered by the Japanese themselves, who often come here from different parts of the country to pay tribute to the memory of the great emperor, undergo a wedding ceremony or introduce children to the history of the state. The abode fits perfectly into the landscapes of the Shibuya area and is rightfully one of the main religious attractions.
Tokyo's Yoyogi Park is home to Tokyo's most popular Shinto shrine, Meiji Jingu. The history of the existence of this Shinto shrine is relatively small, it is 90 years old this year, the age for the temple is "infant". The decision to create this sanctuary in the capital of Japan was made shortly after the death of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and his wife, Empress Shoken (1850-1914). The years of the reign of this imperial couple fell on the difficult years of the country's formation after the liquidation of the medieval system of military rule (shogunate) in 1868. In a historically short time, the country managed to get rid of medieval vestiges, to adopt the positive experience of developed countries, both in the economic and social spheres. The people of Japan largely associated these changes with the efforts of Emperor Meiji. Therefore, the enthusiasm with which ordinary Japanese met the decision to establish the Meiji Jingu shrine in the capital is understandable. Emperor Meiji was buried in Kyoto, but the new shrine, in accordance with Shinto traditions, was intended to house the spirit of the imperial couple. The former estate of Ii became the property of the imperial house. Both Emperor Meiji himself and his wife have been here more than once. A tea house was built for them on the bank of a pond, a fishing platform. The main building of the temple and the treasure store (personal belongings of the Meiji imperial couple) were located in the Inner Garden. The sanctuary is constructed of moisture-resistant Japanese cypress wood. Therefore, the walls were not even covered with paint. The roof of the temple is covered with copper sheets. Having acquired a green patina in the air over time, they helped the sanctuary to organically fit into the greenery of the surrounding park. As is typical of any Shinto shrine, the only way to reach the shrine is under the sacred torii gate. For the construction of the Meiji Jingu gate from Taiwan (at that time it was part of the Japanese Empire), the trunks of huge 1,500-year-old cypress trees that grew on Mount Ari were brought. The girth of these trunks was almost 4 m. Of these, the largest gates in the country, 12 m high, were erected, separating the inner, sacred, zone of the sanctuary from the outer, mundane. And on the territory of Guyenne, a Memorial Art Gallery was erected, which contains 80 paintings depicting the stages of the life of Emperor Meiji, the Memorial Hall, which is now used for holding Shinto wedding ceremonies, and the National Stadium. No matter how great in scale the construction work was, the main effort had to be spent on creating a temple park. Around the temple, on 8.3 hectares of land, a real forest of 120 thousand trees has grown. Since the seedlings were sent in a wide variety of varieties and varieties, the environment of Meiji Jingu began to somewhat resemble a botanical garden with a magnificent selection of national flora. The construction of the sanctuary was completed in 1920, and a few years later it was surrounded by green bushes with cozy paths, opening up a leisurely pedestrian almost at every step more and more new views, often reflected in the mirrors of the lakes. Surprisingly, Meiji Jingu is visited daily by thousands of believers, pilgrims, tourists, but in the surrounding park you can always find solitude and peace, which is not disturbed even by the sounds of the surrounding metropolis, which are not able to break through the dense foliage. In season, the park is decorated with flower meadows - azaleas, irises, roses, water lilies, wisterias. The history of the existence of Meiji Jingu is short, but this did not save the temple from shocks. In the final year of World War II, American bombers destroyed the sanctuary with incendiary bombs. Only in November 1958, through the efforts of thousands of volunteers, the temple and park were restored. This required a huge sum for those times - 600 million yen (1.67 million dollars), which was collected by subscription. The shrine is not only a tribute to Emperor Meiji. Thousands of people come here with their prayers. It is enough to buy a wooden ema plaque for 500 yen, write a wish on its reverse side, hang a plaque on any tree twig or bush (all plants in Guyenne and Nyen are considered sacred), and the prayer is guaranteed to reach the divine
