Although the shrine dates to 1190, it was given its current name when the thrills of Emperor Go-Saga's (後嵯峨天皇 1220-72) carriage broke just outside the main gate.

Locals reported that broken wheels and shafts were a common occurrence before the shrine.

#Kyoto #車折神社 #Japan

The appearance of the red boards is a very recent tradition, begun as a way for the shrine to cash in on the area's connection to the entertainment industry.

Kyōto's first film studio was created in Uzumasa in 1925, and from then this area of the city became famed for movie making.

#Uzumasa #太秦

Geinō-jinja (芸能神社) was founded in the grounds of Kurumazaki-jinja in 1957 in response to the many actors, directors and studio staff that came to pray.

It enshrines Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命), 'goddess of dawn, mirth, revelry, meditation, and the performing arts'.

#芸能神社 #Geinojinja

Kurumazaki-jinja's origins begin with the death of the
Confucian scholar Kiyohara-no-Yorinari (清原頼業 1122-89).

Thanks to his stalwart character in life Kiyohara became a guardian deity of promises, and people would pray at his mausoleum for dues to be paid and accounts settled.

#清原頼業 #Arashiyama

When he died in 1189, Kiyohara was buried in the grounds of his mansion (close to the current shrine).

His mausoleum was known as Godō Myōkan-sha (五道冥官降臨). Godō Myōkan are 5 underworld officials who assist King Enma in the trials of beings from the 5 realms of hell, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, & heavenly beings

Soon after, the mausoleum was expanded into a family temple. It was called Hojuin-den (宝寿院殿), after Yorinari's posthumous name.

In 1190 the first shrine was constructed as part of a syncretic site. This is considered the origin of Kurumazaki-jinja (車折神社).

#Arashiyama #Kurumazakijinja #車折神社 #嵐山

Kiyohara deeply loved cherry blossoms in life, and the grounds were filled with sakura trees.

Almost immediately the shrine became known as Sakura-no-miya (桜の宮). By Edo times the shrine went simply by the name Sakura Daimyōjin (桜大明神 'Great God of the Sakura').

#sakura #桜 #桜大明神 #桜の宮

Kurumazaki-jinja stands on the west side of the Arisu-gawa (有栖川) in Sagano (嵯峨野).

The name Sagano is thought to have originated from 'Sagashiki' (さがしき/険しい), meaning precipitous and impregnable...a reference to the rugged appearance of the mountain range stretching from Mt Atago to Kitayama.