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Nachi Waterfall |
Kumano-san-zan is a collective name of three shrines/temple of Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine and Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine/Nachi-san Seiganto-ji Temple. And each of them has its origin in nature worship of huge rocks, river, falls, etc where considered to be the home of Gods.
In the 11th century, unique religions were formed to identify their own principal images as Tathagatas or Bodhisattva. For example, Hongu Grand Shrine identified Amitabha as Tathagatas. Hayatama Grand Shrine, Baisaiyaguru. And Nachi Grand Shrine, Senju Kannon based on the Honji-suijaku-setsu.
Since then, Kumano has become one of the sacred sites of "Kumano Junisho Gongen", worshipped as No.1 miraculous place in Japan with varieties of characteristics such as Shinto, Buddhism, Shugendo, and soon afterwards, Kumano Shrines have become located in various parts of Japan as Kumano Worship spread in the country.
1.Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine
It is located at about 270km from Kyoto, the first shrine to make a pilgrimage among Kumano-san-zan. Hongu Grand Shrine was originally located at Oyunohara, however washed out by flood disaster in 1889. By removing and reconstructing the undamaged "Kamiyonsha", it shoes today's appearance. The main image is said to be Amitabha Tathagata that ensures paradise after death. Three shrine pavilions are important cultural assets.
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2.Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine
One of Kumano-san-zan co-constitutes with Hongu and Nachi. It has been highly believed as No.1 miraculous place in Japan from ancient times. National treasures like "Makie-tebako" and "Saie-hiogi" displayed at "Jinpo-kan" are must-sees. At shrine pavilion, for example Kumano three Gods created in mid 10 century, God images of "Junisho-gongen" are worshipped and is designated as important cultural asset.
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3.Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine
Final destination of the pilgrimage of Kumano-san-zan. About 330km from Kyoto and it took about three weeks on foot. The origin of the worship is believed to be natural worship to Nachi Waterfall. Five main pavilions of Kumano-zukuri solemnly stand in a row, and precious materials related to Kumano worship such as Kumano-gongen-miya-mandara are displayed in the treasure house.
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4.Nachi-san Seiganto-ji Temple
It is the first amulet-issuing office of Westland 33 places, and was a big Buddhism-Shintoism training school with Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine next to it. But they parted and were clearly divided into categories of temples and shrines in Meiji era. The main pavilion that Toyotomi Hideyoshi built is the oldest building in Nanki and is designated as the important cultural assets of Japan.
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5.Nachi Waterfall
It is said to be the No.1 Great Fall with height of 33m, 13m of width, and 10m of depth of fall basin. The mystical Fall of Nachi is the sacred object of Hirou Shrine, annex of Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine. At the Fall observation site, you can see the drop of the Fall in the nearest place, and can also drink the holy water of long life from the Fall.
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6.Nachi primeval forest
It is a laurel forest spreads about 32 ha(s) in the east of Nachi Waterfall, preserving the feature of natural forest which grow animals and plants of temperate and warm-temperate zone in good condition. It has been preserved because entering and logging have been prohibited as a sanctuary of Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine from ancient times.
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7.
Fudaraku-san-ji Temple
It is located near the coast where two sacred pilgrimage roads meet, about 6km from Nachi Waterfall, where 20 and several times of "Potalaka-tokai" has been tried by Buddhist monk heading to Potalaka-san, pure land of Goddess of Mercy on the southern ocean, on boat from 9th century to 18th century. It is located adjacent to "Hamanomiya" enshrining "Kumano-sansho-gongen" from ancient times, showing the form of syncretization of Shinto with Buddhism.
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Sacred Site "Kumano-san-zan"