Mt Fuji Sight Seeing Part 3

SEGEN SHRINE

The Segen Shrine was build honoring the shinto god kami. It is the god of Fuji. There are multiple shrines in this one area and they all fall under the title Segen Shrine.

From what I remember of the narrative from our tour guide the multiple shrines within a shrine is due to the the changing top Samurai known as a shogun. For a while at least when there was a shogun who had taken power, he build another shrine doing his best to out shine the one before to honor kami.

Below you once again see the ever present Torii gate

Both sides of the entrance path to the shrine are lined with mossy stone lanterns which were donated by believers.

Here are depictions of two shoguns that I spoke of earlier

Here is the largest shrine and one that seems to be in current use at Segen Shrine. I saw many believers come up before the "altar" after having cleansed at the water trough, bow throw a coin over the railing and clap twice. Please don't quote me because I may have gotten the pattern wrong - I wasn't trying to stare

If you look closely at the right side of the shrine you will see the area where you can buy trinkets including your fortune - guess the monks think they know the future
Here is a smaller shrine. Please note the group of older men standing around, I will explain later.

Like moths to a flame!

Dylan is the flame obviously. Most times that we go out people stop us to stare, talk and try and touch Dylan. At first I was very disturbed with a bunch of people mobbing Dylan and I but have come to the realization there isn't much I can do. I have been told it is his reddish blonde hair.

So in the picture below: Dylan and I had just escaped from the group of older men you saw above who kept saying in English whose papa (very strange)only to be rushed by the school children. At least I think they were school age. An American on our tour was recording the whole thing - so great Dylan and I are now apart of some random guy's home video. I must say it would probably be hilarious to view from the outside. Since he was documenting all the fun I said you better get a picture for us. You can't even imagine the excitement that created. After which I said thank you. The students kept yelling thank you back to us - of course this thank you part was all in Japanese.




Below you will see barrels to your left and in the center and right hanging wooden shapes. Inside the barrels is sake. The hanging shapes are prayers. When someone make a wish/prayer they write it down and hang it on the hook outside the shrine. If the wish comes true they are to come back take the wish down and give an offering of thanks to the god.
I am not sure if you can click on the picture and enlarge it or if you would even want to. That black spot on the back of the man is a beetle! It was the young boys pet!! Ok I have a son and never had brothers is this the kind of pets I will be dealing with? My only hope - did you notice he had it crawling on Dad not Mom - smart boy!!

FUJI PEACE PARK

The Peace Park was built as a prayer of peace and happiness in Japan. The park seems to be dedicated to buddha and his underlings.

This disturbing statue was one of the two that "guarded" the entrance. I must say it doesn't look too peaceful. What do you think?

Notice the slippers/flip flops for buddha

Our guide told us that there are either 33 or 23 goddess who represent the students under buddha. I can't remember but I am not too concerned I have other things I would much rather commit to memory.

There was a statue for every one of these goddess along this pathway.

Here is the white pagoda. The dome-shaped stupa is thought to represent an upside down rice bowl. Our guide told us that under this pagoda some of the bones of the founder of buddhism are buried.

Notice the gold statue inside the "entrance way". There are four, one on each side, which represent the 4 seasons of life.

There is a row of lion/dogs or liogs if you like. Don't repeat that unless you want to sound really goofy! I just made it up. The liogs were donated by different countries with strong Buddhist ties to protect the pagoda. Two examples that I remember are Thailand and Hong Kong.
The next two pictures are of a cemetery in the back of the pagoda. I was told it is for WWII soldiers. This made me pause and contemplate what I know about the war, our two countries and most importantly were these men honorable or not? There were many atrocities by the Japanese that we don't learn about in school the Bataan Death March being only one of the more well known. You also have the sons, husbands and fathers who answered the call of duty.


Speaking of answering the call of duty, the USS George Washington pulls into Yokosuka for the first time tomorrow morning!!!
We are making history having a nuclear powered ship station abroad but you know all that matters - Rory will be here!!!