Vermilion torii gates mark the entrance to a sacred space. This is Tamaru Inari Jinja shrine. Inari shrines are Shinto shrines. They are built to worship the kami Inari.
Inari is a popular deity. The deity is associated with foxes. It is also linked to rice and household wellbeing. Inari is further connected to business and general prosperity.
Inari shrines often have white stucco walls. The woodwork is usually red-lacquered. These features create a visually striking and spiritually significant place. Both Buddhist and Shinto Inari shrines are located throughout Japan.
The legend of Inari has ancient roots. The Yamashiro fudoki tells the story of Hata no Irogu. He used sticky rice for target practice. Once an arrow pierced the rice, it transformed into a white bird. The bird flew to the peak of Mount Mitsumine. Upon arrival, it changed back into rice plants.
The development of Inari shrines began in the ninth century. Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, appointed Inari as the protector kami for the Toji temple in Kyoto. Kobo Daishi’s recognition played a large part in advancing Inari worship. Legend says Kobo Daishi ascended Inari mountain. He met an old man and recognized him as the rice kami, Inari. Kobo Daishi built a shrine. He inscribed it with the Chinese characters for “rice” and “sack.”
Inari worship spread. It started with the adoption of Inari as a yashikigami. This functioned as an estate deity. They were commonly enshrined on family land. Merchants of developing cities adopted Inari. The deity became the kami of business.
The practice of dividing and re-enshrining deities became common in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This was especially true for Inari. The reason was to increase the status of the deity’s town or patron. This practice continues today. The Motomiya festival is held annually. It celebrates the roughly one thousand enshrinements of the Inari kami. This number includes small household shrines. It also includes shrines belonging to other public institutions.
The term “Inari” encompasses a wide variety of deities and beliefs. When Buddhism first came to Japan, many Buddhist temples were attached to Shinto shrines. This blurred the line between the two beliefs. In the 12th century, Prince Kangan Giin had a dream. The Buddhist goddess Dakini-Shinten was riding a white fox. Dakini-Shinten became the manifestation of the Shinto goddess Ukanomitama-no-mikoto.
During the separation of Buddhism from Shinto during the Meiji restoration, Buddhist Inari temples survived. They asserted Kangan Giin’s belief. They claimed they primarily worshipped Dakini-Shinten, not the fox. Their congregation was only paying respect to the fox as her companion. This allowed them to continue to honor both.
Inari or Inari Okami is the Japanese kami of improvement in the performing arts. The deity also represents household wellbeing and business prosperity. Inari is further associated with rice, sake, tea, fertility, foxes, agriculture, and industry. The word “Inari” is an abbreviated term for “Ine Nari” or “Ine ni naru.” This translates to “reaping of rice.” Rice is important in the daily Japanese diet. It symbolizes the miracles of heaven and earth. As one of the principal deities of Shinto, Inari houses, feeds, and protects all people.
The entrance to Tamaru Inari Jinja shrine is marked by vermilion torii. Images of foxes are common. The foxes are often adorned with red yodarekake. These are votive bibs. Worshippers offer them out of respect.
The kitsune statues typically come in pairs. Each represents a male and female. These fox statues hold symbolic items. The items may include jewels or keys. Sheaves of rice, scrolls, or fox cubs are also popular. Almost every Inari shrine features a pair of these statues. They usually flank the altar or stand in front of the main sanctuary.
Offerings of rice, sake, and other foods are given at Tamaru Inari Jinja shrine. The offerings appease and please the kitsune messengers. They are expected to plead with Inari on the worshipper’s behalf. Inari-zushi is another popular offering. This Japanese sushi roll of rice-packed fried tofu. Fried tofu is believed to be a favorite food of Japanese foxes. An Inari-zushi roll has pointed corners. They resemble fox ears. This reinforces the association.