伏見稲荷

Established in 711, Fushimi Inari Taisha holds a history spanning over 1300 years. Here, at the foot of Mount Inari, the very mountain itself was once revered by locals. They gave thanks for the water, soil, and resources that sustained them. This ancient faith of Kannabi, prevalent throughout the archipelago, often intertwined with the worship of Ryuda Shin, the deity of dragon and snake, both associated with water’s life-giving power and its ability to ward off evil. Fushimi Inari Taisha’s origin story, as recounted in the Yamashiro no Kuni Fudoki, speaks of a wealthy man, Irogu Hatanokimi, whose arrogance led him to shoot a rice cake with an arrow. Transforming into a swan, the rice cake landed on Mount Inari, causing rice plants to sprout miraculously. This event prompted the founding of Inari, a shrine dedicated to agriculture, particularly rice cultivation. The name “Inari” itself signifies the growth of rice, reflecting Japan’s staple food. Fushimi Inari Taisha enshrines Uka no Mittama no Ohkami, whose name, “Uka,” denotes food, especially grains. Later, in the 8th century, two more deities joined the enshrined: Satahiko no Ohkami, guide of the imperial ancestor’s descent from Takamagahara, and Ohmiya no Me no Ohkami, guardian of the Imperial court. During the 9th century, Fushimi Inari Taisha became a Chinjyu Sha, a guardian Shinto shrine, for Toji temple, reflecting the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism prevalent at the time. An incident during the construction of Toji’s pagoda highlights this connection. Emperor Junna fell ill, and divination attributed it to a curse from Mount Inari, angered by the use of its lumber for the pagoda. Granting Fushimi Inari Taisha a low status, Ju Goi Ge, temporarily appeased the curse. Yet, by the 10th century, Fushimi Inari Taisha attained Sho ichi, the highest Shinto shrine status, becoming a beloved site for Kyoto residents, as documented in Sei Shonagon’s “The Pillow Book.” The shrine’s agricultural significance deepened in the middle ages with the addition of two more deities. Tanaka no Ohkami, deity of rice paddies, and Si no Ohkami, deity of the seasons, joined the pantheon. Furthermore, Uka no Mittama no Ohkami merged with Dakini Ten, an Indian deity of fertility. This fusion explains the numerous fox statues found at Fushimi Inari Taisha today. The fox serves as a messenger of Dakini Ten and, by extension, of Inari. The devastating Onin War in the 15th century brought destruction to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Like other religious sites, the shrine resorted to Kannjin, sending monks to collect donations for reconstruction. This outreach contributed to the widespread popularity of Oinari-san (Uka no Mittama no Ohkami) and the association with prosperity in business, leading to the proliferation of Inari shrines, especially in Edo (Tokyo). The tradition of donating torii gates, symbolic of wishes coming true, also flourished during this period, laying the foundation for the famed Senbon Torii. The Meiji Restoration in the 19th century brought the legal separation of Shinto and Buddhism. While Fushimi Inari Taisha chose the Shinto path, the people’s beliefs remained intertwined. Thousands of Otsuka, small shrines enshrining lesser-known deities chosen by mediums, sprung up on the mountainside, a testament to the enduring power of personal faith. Today, Fushimi Inari Taisha remains a popular destination, welcoming millions of visitors annually.