shinzo statues

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shinzoo, shinzō　神像 statues of Shinto kami deities

A portrayal in sculpture or painting of a deity or deities.
Shinto iconography developed under the influence of Buddhism. Once created, the icon is believed to become the dwelling place for the spirit of the deity.
Famous examples of early shinzô include the wooden statues of the male and females deities at Matsunoo Taisha in Kyoto.

Shinzō
Wooden images of kami carved from the end of the Nara period under the influence of Buddhist culture and in imitation of Buddhist sculpture. The trend toward the identification of Buddhas with indigenous kami (shinbutsu shūgō) intensified in the Heian period, and statues of honji-butsu (Buddhist divinities identified as the "original ground" or true essence of a deity) came to be installed in shrines together along with images of their corresponding kami. Since they were generally installed deep within the shrine's sanctuary (honden), however, such images did not become direct objects of worship in the manner of Buddhist statues.

In form, shinzō could portray kami appearing either as Buddhist monks (a style called sōgyō, and featuring the figure in a robe with Buddhist surplice), or as unordained lay persons (zokutai, depicting the figure dressed in the formal costume of a court noble). Male divinities are shown wearing a formal high headpiece and large-sleeved robe (hō). Female forms are usually depicted with hair bound in a topknot with the remainder cascading down the back, wearing a skirt-like train (mo) with formal Chinese jacket (karaginu) over a large-sleeved underrobe. In the late Heian period, shinzō images reflected the ornate fashions then current at the court, and the Kamakura period brought more realistic styles of sculpture. On the other hand, statuary gradually became smaller from the 11th century onward, and examples displaying native Yamato-style dress became more prevalent. Unusual examples of woodcut print shinzō also appeared.

From the Muromachi period, shinzō became linked to folk beliefs, and statues were carved in many different styles. However, as a result of the Meiji-period separation of buddhas from kami (shinbutsu bunri), there are very few shrines today that still possess shinzō.
- source : kokugakuin - Okada Yoshiyuki


. Matsunoo Taisha 松尾大社 Matsunoo Grand Shrine .
中津島姫命　Nakatsushima Hime no Mikoto
市杵島姫命 / 一杵島姫の命 Ichikishima Hime no Mikoto

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“Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines” at the Tokyo National Museum


吉野御子守神像 Yoshino Mikumari

「国宝　大神社展」
“Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines” at the Tokyo National Museum
- source : www.tnm.jp


- quote
Seeing where Shinto and Buddhism cross
“The number of Shinto shrines in Japan has changed over centuries due to various political and social changes. There were about 190,000 shrines during the early Meiji Era (1867-1912), before a drastic change came about in the merging of shrines and temples. The number of shrines was greatly reduced, and now there are only around 80,000. That’s not much more than the number of convenience stores across Japan.”

This is how Tsunekiyo Tanaka, president of Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines) began a lecture — with a little humor. Established after World War II, Jinja Honcho was created to supervise Shinto shrines throughout in Japan, and Tanaka was speaking at a recent special public event hosted by “The Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines” at the Tokyo National Museum.

The exhibition celebrates the 62nd “grand relocation” of the Ise Grand Shrine and is being held with special assistance from Jinja Honcho and with the cooperation of numerous individual shrines throughout Japan.

Although Shinto, the way of kami (gods), is believed to be an indigenous faith of Japan, few Japanese are devoted Shintoists. Instead, many visit Buddhist temples as well as pray for luck and happiness at Shinto shrines. It is believed that before Buddhism was introduced in Japan, however, Shinto was born from an existing primitive form of religion that worshipped nature.

The ancient people of Japan honored sacred spirits that they recognized in nature, manifesting in mountains, rocks, rivers and trees. As communities grew, they began erecting shrines where they could worship these deities, and the shrines became centers of regional life and culture.

The arrival of Buddhism, however, brought with it stylistic carved figural icons, an art form that influenced Shinto imagery, and as Shinto-Buddhist syncretism progressed, many Shinto shrines and their deities were combined with Buddhist temples and figures. Even Japanese who still follow Shinto find it difficult to grasp what it really means, although many Japanese customs, such as an emphasis on purification and aesthetics in harmony with nature, appear to be derived from Shinto.



Tanaka, a Shinto priest of Iwashimizu Hachimangu, Kyoto, explained it as simply as he can: “In comparison to Western religions, such as Christianity, for which people believe in an absolute God, followers of Shinto sense kehai (presence of spirits) in the nature.

“Shinto never had holy scriptures like the bible to follow, nor does it have a doctrine. It’s more of a way of living, or the wisdom of how to live in harmony with the nature, while being grateful and respectful of all the spirits of life,” he continued. “Shinto has permeated everyday life in such a way that most people are not particularly conscious of its influence.”

Omusubi (rice balls), for example, originally symbolized the tying of the “souls” of ine (rice plants), which themselves are believed to be inherited from kami.

“You take firm hold of the rice, the souls, and mold them with both hands, which have been purified with a little salt and water,” Tanaka said. “Mothers’ hands are ideal to make omusubi, as the mother represents life, love and care. Now, though, people often buy omusubi at convenience stores.”

As Tanaka explained in his talk, it is rare to have the relocation of two major shrines, Ise and Izumo, in the same year — and so he hopes these events will help “revive the relationship between people and kami by evoking the awareness of its tradition and rich cultural background”

Ise Grand shrine in Mie Prefecture, the most venerated of shrines in Japan, is dedicated to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, who, according to myth, is the original ancestor of the imperial family. The first relocation ceremony of Ise was in 690 AD, and since then the ritual is repeated every 20 years. It involves the temporary relocation of the shrine’s kami during the renovation of the grounds’ buildings. The procedure not only ensures the preservation the original design of the shrine, but it also gives craftsmen the opportunity to showcase and pass down their skills to the next generation.

“It is believed that the kami are also rejuvenated through the renewal of buildings and furnishings,” said Hiroshi Ikeda, special research chair of the Tokyo National Museum. “And that implies the idea of everlasting youth, known as tokowaka.”

Numerous sacred treasures — including 160 designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties — from various shrines have been brought together for this commemoration of Ise’s grand relocation. Unprecedented in scale and scope, the exhibition showcases Shinto artworks that vary from symbolic objects such as a bronze mirror and Japanese magatama beads, to more practical items including arms and armor, beautifully embroidered garments, furniture, a writing box and an accessory box complete with a toiletries set of combs decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay and maki-e lacquer.

“The sacred treasure items are often oversized or undersized, emphasizing that they were not for human use,” Ikeda explained. “They emulated the styles once popular in the residences of imperial and aristocratic families, and so such objects came to represent court society life and aesthetics, from which Japanese style, known as wayo developed.”

Ikeda went on to explain that shinzo, (Shinto kami statues), were also made in the style of Japan’s aristocrats. Kami, which were originally understood to be invisible and intangible deities, first began to be represented in figural form in the 8th century, because of the influence of popular Buddhist statues.

“The earliest surviving examples of Shinto statues date from the 9th century,” Ikeda said. “And as there were no iconographic rules for Shinto kami statues, as there are for Buddhist ones, they were represented more freely, modeling court style.

Other sections of the exhibition focus on discoveries at ceremonial sites that indicate the beginnings of a ritual celebration of kami, and on objects — including costumes, instruments and masks — used at ceremonial performances at festivals. Such rituals involved asking kami and ancestral spirits for divine protection, and praying or giving thanks for peace and a bountiful harvest.

At festivals, specially prepared foods were presented as offerings, to be enjoyed alongside a variety of ceremonial performances, including music, dance and Noh plays. All of this harks back to the original purpose of food and performing arts in Shinto — the idea that those involved in the preparation of food and musical or Noh activities would devote themselves to the skills of their art form to please kami, with the belief that kami also reside in the highest achievement of art.

In the words of Tanaka: “In Japan, anything in your life can be the ‘way’ of something, or a discipline, which is something I believe was influenced by Shinto. Take for example, the way of the sword, calligraphy, singing, or even cooking noodles — these can be accomplished with the sincere aim of excelling to the highest achievement, the results of which can be only offered to kami.”
- source : www.japantimes.co.jp - 2013


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source :　yosinomikumarijinjya
Tamayori Hime from Yoshino Mikumari Jinja


. Mikumari Jinja 御子守神社 and Mikomori Myōjin 御子守明神. .

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Female Shinto spirit, approx. 1100–1200
This figure represents a Shinto goddess; her name is not known. She is depicted as an aristocratic woman, dressed in a thick kimono-like garment. Shinto images like this one were not meant to be seen but were kept hidden in movable cabinets in a special part of shrines, where they were privately worshiped.
Since ancient times, the Japanese worshiped spirits (kami) who were believed to exist abundantly in such forms of the natural world as mountains, rocks, waterfalls, and trees. As such, they were not depicted in human form, male or female. It was only in the ninth century, under the strong influence of Buddhist image-making, kami began to be depicted in human form.
- source : education.asianart.org

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Shinto Arts: Nature, Gods, and Man in Japan.
by Kageyama & KANDA, Christine Guth HARUKI (Author)
- source : www.amazon.com






Shinzo: Hachiman Imagery and its Development
by Christine Guth Kanda (Author)
- source : www.amazon.com



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Ikeda Jinja (Ikota Jinja) 伊居太神社
Kureha Jinja 呉服神社 - Osaka



Kureha Hime
呉服姫神像は寿命寺 Statue at temple Jumyooji - Jumyo-Ji




Ayaha Hime
穴織姫神像が伊居太神社

Click for more photos :
source :　atamatote.blog


. Kureha Jinja 呉服神社 . - Osaka, Ikeda

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- Reference : 日本語

- Reference : English


. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .


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. origami shinzoo 折紙神像 deities made from folded paper .

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