What kind of place is Toshogu?
Toshogu is a shrine in Tochigi Prefecture.
It is also called Nikko Toshogu.
The god that is enshrined is Tokugawa Ieyasu, who opened the Edo Shogunate.
It is sung as “Tosho Daigongen”.
It is famous for animal sculptures in the precincts.
Stone torii
A stone torii gate at the entrance to the approach, designated as an important cultural property.
It was erected in 1618.
The stone used is from Kyushu.
Five-storied pagoda
Go through the stone torii gate and enter the approach.
It was founded in 1650 (Kei An 3rd year).
It was destroyed by fire once and then rebuilt in 1818 (first year of Bunsei).
It is a beautiful vermilion tower and is designated as an important cultural property.
Niomon
The gate is on the entrance to the precincts.
Nio statues are enshrined on the left and right.
Therefore, it is called by another name of Niomon.
This front gate is also an important cultural property.
Yomei-mon Gate
Yomei-mon Gate is a gate built at the entrance of the shrine.
It is designated as a national treasure.
It is said to be one of the most beautiful gates in Japan.
There are more than 500 sculptures with narratives, play, saints and other motifs.
Please observe the sculpture.
Shinkyusha
Shinkyusha is a building that connects horses and is designated as an important cultural property.
There is a tradition that a monkey protects a horse, and there are a total of 8 monkey sculptures.
Here is the famous sculpture of “Three Monkeys”.
Corridor
The corridor extends from the Yomei-mon Gate to the left and right and surrounds the shrine.
The walls have flower and bird sculptures, which are the largest in the country.
The sculpture that can be said to be this beautiful art work is also the highlight.
Along with the three monkeys, the famous “sleeping cat” and “sparrow” sculptures are found in the corridor.
The corridor is both designated as a national treasure.
Main hall, worship hall, Ishinoma
The main shrine is a building that enshrines God at a shrine.
The worship hall is a building for worshiping the worshiping God.
Often in front of the main shrine, Toshogu has the same structure.
The building that connects the main hall and worship hall is called “Ishinoma”.
The main hall, worship hall, and Ishinoma are collectively called “Honsya”.
It is designated as a national treasure.
Animal sculpture
The Toshogu building is decorated with many sculptures, including many animal sculptures.
There are various theories why there are so many animals, but here are some must-sees.
Three monkeys
A sculpture that represents Toshogu, a symbol of Toshogu.
This is a sculpture of three monkeys representing “I can’t see, hear, or say”.
It is sculptured by Shinkyusha, and there are monkey sculptures in addition to the three monkeys.
These monkeys are caricatures of human life.
Three monkeys are a scene from the era of cubs, which also caricates human children.
It means, “When you are a child, it is better not to see, say, or listen to evil”.
It is a lesson for adults: “Don’t look at things that are inconvenient to you, do n’t say, do n’t listen.
Sleeping cat and sparrow sculpture
The sleeping cat is a famous sculpture along with the three monkeys.
This sculpture is dug on the wall of the eastern corridor and is a work by Goro Sajo, a famous sculptor from the Edo period.
Represents a sleeping cat surrounded by peony flowers.
A cute sleeping face is impressive.
There is a sculpture of a sparrow flying on the back of a sleeping cat.
Sleeping cats and sparrows have become national treasures along with the corridors.
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