JonDent - Exploring Electronic Music: Suwa Shrine

Tuesday, 2 January 2024

Suwa Shrine - Nagasaki Japan

The Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deity Suwa-no-kami, who is believed to protect people from calamities and disasters. This shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Nagasaki Prefecture and holds significant cultural and historical value.

Links

+ japan experience

+ Wikipedia

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There are lots and lots of stairs. But the view from the top is worth it.

Like many Shinto shrines, Suwa Shrine hosts various festivals and events throughout the year. These festivals often involve traditional rituals, music, dance, and food. One of the most notable festivals held at Suwa Shrine is the Suwa Shrine Autumn Festival, which takes place in October and features processions and performances.

The Suwa Shrine is located in Nagasaki City, specifically in the Suwa-machi area of the city. It is easily accessible by public transportation and is often included as a stop on cultural tours of Nagasaki.

The shrine dates from the early 1600's.

Some internet sources claim its construction was pushed to act as a bulkward against Christianity.

Im not sure if this is accurate.

Its true that the shrine was established in the early 17th century, during a time when Christianity faced persecution and restrictions in Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate's policies.

During this period, the Tokugawa shogunate implemented a policy known as sakoku (closed country), which aimed to isolate Japan from foreign influence, including Christianity brought by European missionaries. This policy led to the persecution of Christians and the suppression of their activities, including the destruction of churches and the prohibition of Christian practices.

However, I understand that the primary purpose of building Shinto shrines like Suwa Shrine was typically to enshrine and honor Shinto deities, rather than as a direct response to Christianity.

Shinto, as the indigenous religion of Japan, has a long history predating the arrival of Christianity in the country.

That said, Shinto shrines like Suwa Shrine played a role in promoting Japanese cultural and religious identity during a period of political and social change, including efforts to maintain traditional Japanese beliefs and practices in the face of foreign influence

Due to the shrine's location at the top of this mountain, the shrine survived the atomic bomb largely intact. Some say this indicated the strength of the Shinto religion over imported Gods....

the famous Urakami Cathedral and surrounding Catholic neighborhoods were obliterated.

So maybe there is a grain of truth that Suwa did play a role in the struggle against imported religion.

The architecture of Suwa Shrine reflects traditional Japanese Shinto shrine design, with a distinctive entrance gate (torii), main hall (honden), and worship hall. The buildings are typically constructed using wood and feature intricate designs and carvings.