Fushimi Inari Taishya 3 伏見稲荷大社

In every day
An endless repetition
sunlight, shadows

毎日
無限の戦い
日光、影

Fushimi Inari hit the world stage when "Memoirs of a Geisha" hit the big screen. Celebrating a chance meeting the lead character is seen running throught the Torii of Fushimi Inari. (Here actually). I tried to recreate the scene using video... but I couldn't keep from laughing, so it ruined the effect!

So why does Fushimi Inari have so many Torii anyway? Many sites on the web mention the presence of all the Torii but don't explain why. A Torii usually marks the entrance to a Shinto Shrine. You may find them at Buddhist Temples and get a little confused. That's because the Buddhist Temple you are at probably has a Shinto Shrine in it as well. The Torii marks the separation between the real world and the Sacred.

The Wikipedia Link mentions that there are often several Torii as you move deeper into the shrine. The Torii signify an increasing level of sanctity. The Torii in Fushimi Inari are purchased by individuals, families, or businesses as an offering for success in business. I remember several stands along the hike where one could buy miniature Torii. I can't imagine how expensive the full sized variety were... I'm guessing one's business must be pretty good to afford one!


All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.