Okay, this is the last of my Kyoto posts. I just couldn’t resist writing about this place, knowing how some of my friends are trying to find love and will even resort to astrology, fortunetelling and other crazy schemes to know who their life partner will be!
( speaking of psychics and such, one said I will marry a white guy and other spot-on projections, but I’ve never consulted a manghuhula again since getting hitched, for fear of angering the gods… tee hee)
The Jishu Shrine is within the complex of Kiyomizu Temple, but it is independent and does not form part of the temple. It’s known among its devotees as the Cupid of Japan. According to literature: “Japanese young people have looked up to and relied on Jishu Shrine as the dwelling place of the god of love and matchmaking.
In front of the beautiful main building, there are two stones set about ten meters apart. They are called ‘love fortune-telling’ stones. If a person walks safely from one stone to the other with closed eyes, his or her love will be realized.”
It was interesting to see all the wishes that visitors of the temple wrote down on small wooden plaques for the heavens to read.
Common to shrines and temples, there were a lot of charms being sold and each one promised fulfillment of a variety of wishes such as a good marriage, safe delivery and the chance to love.
We never got around to writing on the plaques or buying the charms, but I did get to say my thanks to the god of love and matchmaking for granting my wish. After all, everyone of us deserves good fortune! 😀
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