The "Child Year" has finally begun.The first of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, the "child" (rat), symbolizes the birth of new life.The company says that it has been doing so since Since ancient times,The rat symbolizes a hard-working person who accumulates wealth, since the word "rat" is related to "mouse" and "mouse" means a person who never sleeps.The "M" in "M" is the word used to refer to a number of different types of products, including

Also, in the Heian period literature "The Tale of Genji",Child's Day" is a day to celebrate longevityThe following description is found in the book. It is said to bring children, prosperity, wealth, and longevity. ...... There is a place in Kyoto where you can meet such a lucky "mouse". It is Otoyo Shrine, an ancient shrine in Shikagaya, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto.

According to the shrine legend, it was a shrine for the worship of mountain spirits, with the fifteenth of the 36 peaks of Higashiyama (Mt. Higashi) in the background as its deity. The shrine is said to be an imperial shrine. In addition to Sukuna-Hikono-no-mikoto, the shrine also enshrines Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning, and Emperor Ojin, the god of victory and luck.

We went eastward through a residential area, up a slope and a little east of the path of philosophy, and visited the precincts of the temple.

Otoyo Shrine

The temple grounds are nestled among the trees of Tsubakigamine. Early in the morning in winter, the precincts of the shrine are quiet and refreshing. After climbing the stone steps in the back of the main building, we went to the main shrine, which was the purpose of our visit.Okuni-sha, the last shrine (deities: Okuninushi no Mikoto)To.

To the Okuni-sha Shrine with Komainu (guardians)

Up the stone steps at the far right of the precincts is the Okuni-sha shrine. In front of the shrine, there is a guardian dog, not a dog.A-Un "Koma-nezumi" (a pair of guardian rats)will greet you.

The reason why Okuni-sha is a guardian rat is a myth from the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters),A rat saved Okuninushi from a wild fire by leading him into a cave.It is based on the fact that Each of the two expressive guardian rats is holding something in its hands. I wanted to know what it was, so I asked the shrine's Gonmiyoshi (chief priest),The right guardian rat holds a scroll symbolizing learning, while the left holds a ball of water, symbolizing fertility and medicinal properties, as well as the source of life.That's what he said.

(Right) A guardian rat. Holding a scroll.
(Left) A guardian rat of Un. Holding polka dots.

The guardian rat on the left with polka dots represents fertility and safe delivery, and the child born will grow up healthy, learn and grow up to become an adult and nurture the next life, as symbolized by the guardian rat on the right.The two constellation of the guardian rats represents the cycle of life, the human world.He told us.

The head and base of the guardian rat holding a polka dot were decorated with camellia flowers. There are many camellia trees in the precincts of the temple, which is embraced by the sacred mountain Tsubakigamine in the background,Camellia japonica.It is also known as a "cherry blossom viewing spot. There is also an old weeping plum tree in front of the main shrine, and it is said that once every 50 years, the plum and cherry trees bloom at the same time.

By the way, there is much more to see in the precincts of the shrine than just komain (guardian rats). At Atago Shrine, which is dedicated to the protection of the shrine from fire, there is a guardian flying fox, and at Hiyoshi Shrine, which is dedicated to the protection of the shrine from calamity, there are guardian monkeys!　At Atago Shrine, where fire is warded off, there is a guardian toby (tobi)! At Hiyoshi Shrine, where misfortune is warded off, there is a guardian monkey. At Hiyoshi Shrine, which is for the prevention of calamities, there are guardian monkeys. There are also guardian snakes for curing illness, health, longevity, and money!　I would like to visit this shrine on another occasion.

We left the temple grounds, completely healed by the various deities, the sound of chickadees, and the sound of water flowing from the sacred mountain, wishing for safe childbirth and the birth of a child in the declining birthrate of the 2022 childbearing year, and for academic success (may our writing ability increase!). We left the temple grounds wishing for a childbirth and safe delivery in the declining birthrate in the year of the 2025 child.

Mr. Gonomiyaji, who guided us around the precincts of the shrine, and komane (guardian rats)