Japanese Culture - Report 3 (Nukui Shrine)

Tety Maryenti

Japanese Culture Report

Nukui Shrine

Nukui shrine is a famous shrine near Koganei. This shrine is close to Buddhist temple. Even though it’s close, but the shrine is more popular than Buddhist temple,  since Japanese people believe in Shinto’s Faith, on the other hand, Buddhist is minority religion in Japan, so perhaps, that’s the reason why the shrine is bigger than temple. When i was entering the house of noble family, i saw a beautiful garden there. There was a big tree, which leaves will be turned into red-golden colour as autumn season coming. I also found a monument of that house, it was written by Kanji so i couldn’t read it, but my friend from China  told me the meaning of the monument, which means the owner wanted to protect the forest for his wife. The forest was dedicated specially for his wife. I thought it was so heart-touching story.

After that, we visited the shrine. Nukui Shrine has two different entrances, the easy one is for women, and another  is for men which has many stairs, showing that men are stronger than women. There was a big grey gate. I love that Shinto’s gate, because the shape was so beautiful and it had sturdy looking, like no one can destroy it. I have seen the other Shinto’s gate in Mitake Mountain Shrine,colored in red. I don’t know why the color of the gate is different. Besides, there was a big pond  which many of big ‘koi’ fishes swimming inside it. Koi Fish is symbolized as a good luck.

If we want to pray, we have to throw money to the big-wooden box in front of the shrine then rings the bell by pulling the bell-rope, then bow twice, clap hands twice and bow once for finishing praying. On the other side of the big shrine, there was a small shrine, which gate was colored in red. The gate was so small like the shrine and i was so interested with this shrine. I saw 6 foxes sitting on the box inside the shrine. They were so cute. These foxes symbolized richness. They will pursue your dream. Another thing was dog creature statue. According to the story, this dog always protects the shrine from the demon.  I think i know why dog was choosen as a guard, because its loyalty and its bravery to save people around itself. Then, we went to the upstair side of shrine. There was a branch shrine, used for simplifying visitors to pray and we can see Fuji mountain from there. I found Buddhist statues there. These status are believed as protectors for kids and foreigners who visit the shrine. I was so happy being there, and it was really fascinating history. 

Taken at Nuki Shrine :) with Guan from China XD