The Toshogu Shrine (Shinto) in Ueno was founded in 1627 and dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu (the first shogun and founder Tokugawa Shogunate - 1600) - this shrine is one of the only completely intact and original shrines remaining in Tokyo - virtually unharmed by the Battle of Ueno, 1923 earthquake, or WWII... it is the site of 256 bronze and stone lanterns...
there are about 50 bronze lanterns that are listed as National Treasures because they are the only non-stone lanterns...
The entrance of the shrine is protected by Shishi - a type of mythical lion... and the front of the shrine is also protected by a pair of dragons... these dragons are said to be so life-like that many believe they come down at night and drink from the nearby pond...
Toshogu Shrine is also the location of the Flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki... after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - a man went in search of his uncle... when he reached his house there was no sight of his uncle and his house was nothing but burning rubble... he fashioned a torch and took part of the flame back home with him to set up an altar... at first he used the flame as an inspiration for revenge, but later began to see it as a sign of peace for the future... the flame was later taken to the UN for a peace conference...
when the flame returned, a case was created to house the flame and has been burning at Toshogu shrine ever since... very moving experience...
Super cool!
ReplyDelete