Comments on: Sugawara Shrine

By: Kan Tetsuji

Kan Tetsuji — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:49:12 +0000

Your first respondent, Margaret, is related to me via Sugawara Michizane whose shrine is hereinabove depicted. Wonder how much of the genealogy she knows. Michizane was only the third generation to have that name from about 20 B.C. to 781 A.D. our name was Haji (or Hanishi) and before that, Nomi. Nomi no Sukune is said to have fought using atemi, that developed into both jujutsu and sumo. There are few shrines that honor him as well. According to the Nihongi (chronicles) the Nomi claimed descent from the god Amenohohinomikoto. So it you are a follower of Shinto you have three gods in your lineage. I don’t believe in this; I am a Lutheran pastor.

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 01 May 2005 12:26:11 +0000

I don’t think it’s quite the same thing. Foxes are considered supernatural here, but from what I’ve been able to find out—which admittedly is not much—they’re something to be feared rather revered.

By: Sonya

Sonya — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:38:17 +0000

I wonder if there’s a link between Japanese shrine foxes and the rampant superstitions about fox spirits in China at the end of the Qing dynasty. This theme shows up to this day in Hong Kong Kung fu period films where fox spirits manifest as beautiful young women wearing robes with long white sleeves and twirling around in the air with otherworldly speed and accuracy.
Any young kung-fu/video game types worshiping these foxes?

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 02:34:50 +0000

This morning I had a brief conversation about the foxes with one of the teachers at my school. She told me that the little white ceramic figures (foxes and snakes) are a kind of spirit messenger, and also sometimes revered as gods/spirits in and of themselves. She also said something about their messages not always being happy, and that the general view of these spirits is not positive. The altar may be to appease them and avoid bad luck. I found this extensive writeup about Inari. There are further links at the bottom of that page. And wikipedia has what at first glance appears to be a decent overview of Shinto beliefs.

By: Pat Tondevold

Pat Tondevold — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 02:18:29 +0000

Japan.guide.com reports that foxes are thought to be messengers of Inari, the Shinto god of rice. This raises more questions. Would this little shrine be a shrine to Inari? Does each little shrine honour some specific deity? Are the happy little snakes in honour of someone?

By: Lia

Lia — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 04:39:19 +0000

What’s even more interesting is that it just happens to be our neighbourhood shinto shrine! About a 10 minute walk from our apartment :)

By: margaret

margaret — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 18:39:32 +0000

Interesting that you should visit this shrine that was named for this Sugawara person – he is an ancestor on my mother’s side of the family. Her father’s family, Tobimatsu, had large tracts of land in the interior of Kyushu. Of course, with the reforms of the last century, most of it’s gone. What was left went to her father’s nephew (because my grandfather had 5 daughters and no sons, so it went to the next male in line).

I find it fascinating that we are uncovering so many ‘coincidences’ in our respective lives and experiences. Really enjoying your updates Ed! Hugs to Lia and Jarrod.
Margaret