 Last additions - Meoto-Iwa Wedded Rocks 夫婦岩 |
Making sure that the rope is aligned and positioned correctly.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The rope installers return to shore.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The job is finished.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Wedded Rocks with a new rope. Japan has numerous other Wedded Rocks and stones, but this is by far the most famous.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Replacing the rope for the Wedded Rocks, Mie Pref.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Pieces of the old rope. Anyone could take home the pieces of old sacred rope if they wanted.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Five ropes are being positioned and made taut.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
All the while, the cheering section chants and wave streamers.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The second rope is installed.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
One by one, the men carefully positioned the new sacred ropes on the two Rocks. All the while, young children and young men are chanting on the shore.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The new ropes are strung across the two rocks. A small rope tied to the end of the large rope is used to pull the large rope up the rock.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The first rope is wound around both rocks.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The old rope is taken away.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The ceremony attracts a large crowd.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The ropes are now completely cut, breaking the bond between the two rocks.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The shimenawa rope actually consists of five smaller ropes. They cut the ropes one by one.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The men begin to cut off the old rope. Those sharp sickles soon made short work of the old sacred ropes which were brought ashore in small pieces.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
5月5日、9月5日と12月下旬には夫婦岩の大注連縄の張り替え神事が行われる。これらの写真は5月5日に撮影された。Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Men carry spanking-new shimenawa ropes to the rocks.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The Wedded Rocks are actually a type of torii gate for worshipping the Okitama Sacred Stone in the ocean.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The torii on the larger rock is quite small. The sacred rope is replaced three times a year on May 5, September 5, and at the end of December.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Futami Okitama Shrine does not have a main hall (Honden) like most other shrines. It worships the Okitama Sacred Stone in the ocean beyond the Wedded Rocks. 二見興玉神社Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Lantern and sunset at Futami Okitama ShrineApr 23, 2007
|
|
The shimenawa rope bonding the Wedded Rocks is replaced three times a year. May 5, when these photos were taken, is one of the days when they replace the rope. First, they gathered at the shrine at 10 am for a 30-min. prayer ceremony.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Sunset at Futami Okitama Shrine. In the old days when traveling was a hazardous undertaking in Japan, pilgrims who traveled to worship at the Ise Grand Shrines prayed here for a safe return home.Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The frog is Sarutahiko's messenger. Frog is called "kaeru" in Japanese, which is a homonym for the another word meaning "return home." If you travel a lot, pray here for a safe return. 夫婦岩Apr 23, 2007
|
|
Meoto-Iwa Wedded Rocks off the coast of Futami-cho, Ise city, Mie Prefecture. 夫婦岩Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko and Ukano-mitama. Sarutahiko is a god which serves as a pathfinder guide. Deities for land/sea transportation safety. 二見Apr 23, 2007
|
|
The Wedded Rocks are part of Futami Okitama Shrine known for frog sculptures. 二見興玉神社Apr 23, 2007
|
|
|
|
