Nishiki Tenmangū (錦天満宮) stands on Shinkyōgoku (新京極), at the east end of Nishiki Market (錦市場). Enshrining Tenjin (天満天神/Sugawara-no-Michizane 菅原道真 845-903), people pray here for wisdom, scholarship & prosperous business. #Japan
The shrine also goes by the names Nishiki Tenjin-sha (錦天神社), Nishiki Tenman-jinja (錦天満神社) and Nishiki-no-Tenjin-san (錦の天神さん).
In early Heian times it was discovered that the area's natural spring water (known as Nishiki Water '錦の水') acted as a preservative for fish, fowl & fresh produce, and as a result countless shops congregated in the vicinity.
The water, drawn from 30m underground since 1960 (when urban development began to interfere with the water table), remains at a constant temperature of 17-18 degrees.
In 1003 'Sugawara-in' (菅原院), the old villa of Sugawara-no-Koreyoshi (菅原是善 -father of Michizane), was moved to a site once occupied by the 'Rokujō Kawara-no-in' (六条河原院), lavish home of the courtier Minamoto-no-Tōru (源融 822–95 -model for Murasaki Shikibu's "Genji").
Rainy season has arrived in Kyōto☔️
Nao-san braves a wet Shōsei-en (渉成園), remnant of Minamoto-no-Tōru's 'Rokujō Kawara-no-in' (六条河原院).
One of Shōsei-en's (渉成園) most interesting features is the entrance wall.
It cleverly pieces together various types of stones, rocks and tiles...
🪨hewn stone (切石)
🪨foundation stones (礎石)
🪨millstones (石臼)
🪨mountain rocks (山石)
🪨roof tiles (瓦)
In 1587 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) relocated Kankikō-ji (観喜光寺) and its shrine to the eastern end of Nishiki Market (錦市場), a street of shops and restaurants familiarly known as "Kyoto's Kitchen" since Heian times.
Itō Jakuchū (伊藤若冲 1716-1800), one of Japan's most famous painters, was born at the west end of Nishiki Market.
Upon his father's death Itō took over 'Masu-ya' (桝屋), the family's greengrocer business, but at 40 he passed this on to his brother so he could focus on painting.
Growing up in the market certainly influenced Itō's work, and even after retirement he continued to support local businesses whilst working out of his nearby studio.
Itō's influence saved the market after it was closed between 1771-74 (the reasons for this closure are unclear).
During the anti-Buddhist movement of 1868 (神仏分離 'Shinbutsu Bunri') the shrine and temple were separated.
Kankikō-ji was moved to Higashiyama Gojō (東山五条), but its guardian Tenjin shrine remained and was renamed Nishiki Tenmangū (錦天満宮). #NishikiTenmangu#錦天満宮#Kyoto
In 1872 the first Governor of Kyōto Prefecture, Nagatani Nobuatsu (長谷信篤 1811-1902), developed Shinkyōgoku (新京極) into a shopping arcade, cutting straight through the grounds of the shrine and greatly diminishing its land. #Shinkyogoku#新京極#Kyoto#京都#NishikiMarket
In 1935 money was raised for a new stone torii between the shrine and the east end of Nishiki Market.
When the gate was finished it turned out to be too wide to fit between the buildings on either side of the street⛩️😰
Nishiki Tenmangū's tiny Anzan Shiogama-jinja (安産塩竃神社) enshrines the poet-statesman Minamoto-no-Tōru (源融 822-95) as 'Kawara-no-sadaijin' (河原左大臣), 'guardian of safe childbirth'.
Tōru is considered the model for Murasaki Shikibu's 'Hikaru Genji' (紫式部/光源氏). #Japan
Shiogama-jinja (塩竃神社) originally protected Minamoto's riverside villa 'Kawara-no-in' (六条河原院), but was later swallowed by the founding of Kankikō-ji (歓喜寺/観喜光寺) on the ruins of the mansion.
It eventually became part of Nishiki Tenmangū (錦天満宮). #Japan#Kyoto
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Each year Shimogamo-jinja (下鴨神社) holds a special tea gathering called 'Hotarubi-no-Chakai' (蛍火の茶会). Over 600 fireflies are released beside the Mitarashi-gawa (御手洗川) as evening falls, bringing an otherworldly feel to the tea ceremony. #Japan
What better way to celebrate firefly season than with Kameya Yoshinaga's (亀屋良長) cooling 'hotaru-no-yoru' (蛍の夜 'evening fireflies').
The sweet is a type of 'kingyoku' (錦玉), a jelly made from boiling agar and sugar...particularly popular in summer.
In the traditional calendar June 11th-15th is known as 'kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naru' (腐草為螢), 'rotten grass becomes fireflies'. There was a belief, imported from the mainland, that fireflies were born from grass decaying in the humid early summer heat. #Japan#fireflies
👣LOTUS LOVE😇
In Kyōto 'kanrensetsu' (観蓮節), 'lotus flower viewing', coincides with the culmination of the Gion Matsuri, when the gods of Yasaka-jinja arrive at their temporary holiday abode in the city.
Temple ponds offer a welcome distraction from the sweltering summer days.
this world
bristles with thorns...
yet there are lotuses
世の中よ針だらけでも蓮の花
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1815.
Lotus flowers in many ways perfectly compliment spring's cherry blossoms: sakura (桜) have become a symbol of life's impermanence in Japan, whereas the lotus (蓮 'hasu') offers a more hopeful message of enlightenment and rebirth.
The celebration was created by the Tōkyō Ice Cream Association (now Japan Ice Cream Association) in 1964, to remember the day in 1869 that ice cream was first sold in Japan (in Yokohama)🙌 #Japan
In 1860 Machida Fusazō (町田房造) was part of an official delegation sent to the United States from Japan aboard the Kanrin Maru (咸臨丸).
Whilst in San Francisco the group tasted ice cream for the first time & Fusazō determined to recreate this delicious dessert back home.
Back in Yokohama, Fusazō marketed his creation as 'aisu kurin' (アイスクリン). Containing milk, eggs and sugar, it was more like frozen custard than the ice cream we’re now familiar with.
On May 9th 1869 he began selling 'aisu kurin' from his store "Hyōsuiten" (氷水店). #icecream
Like many holy sites in Kyōto, Eikan-dō (永観堂) once proudly boasted of its '7 Wonders' (七不思議). This list of miraculous spots and objects acted as an early form of promotion to attract pilgrims (and their money). #Kyoto#京都#Japan#永観堂
A little while ago I talked about the '7 Wonders of Kitano Tenman-gū' (北野天満宮)🐂⬇️
As you will see with both Kitano Tenman-gū and Eikan-dō, the number is more than just 7 (I guess 7 has a nice ring to it)🤔 #Kyoto#7Wonders#京都#北野天満宮#永観堂
1) THE LOOKING BACK AMIDA🤨
Eikan-dō is perhaps best known for its 77cm tall statue of Amida looking back over his shoulder ('Mikaeri-Amida' 見返り阿弥陀).
Having been locked away from the public in Tōdai-ji's treasure house, when he left the temple Yōkan took the image with him.
cherry blossoms-
over there an edge
of Old Japan
花さくやあれが大和の小口哉
-Issa (小林一茶), 1798.
This weekend marks the start of sakura season here in Kyōto, and the crisp weather suggests the trees will be putting on a special show this year. #Japan#桜
It's often difficult to gauge when to start celebrating the various blossoms...but this isn't a problem inside the teahouse😋🌸
On 8th October 1594 the 'bandit' Ishikawa Goemon (石川五右衛門) and his young son were thrown into a boiling vat of oil beside the Kamo River.
As a warning to others the giant cauldron remained in place until a flood swept it away. #Kyoto#folklore
The story goes that Goemon, in revenge for the murder of his wife Otaki and son Gobei, crept into Fushimi Castle (伏見城) to assassinate the despot ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉). As he drew close to the sleeping Toyotomi he knocked over a small bell and was caught. #Japan
Like England's 'Robin Hood', so many legends surround Goemon and his band of outlaws that it's difficult to unpick fact from fiction.
It seems that a man was executed by being boiled alive in oil by the banks of the Kamo-gawa, but beyond that we know very little. #Japan#folklore