日本遺産‐紀州東照宮（和歌山市の神社）公式サイト

日本遺産　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　紀州東照宮・和歌浦
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Kishu Toshogu is a Shinto shrine that was built in 1621 and has a history spanning 400 years. It enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate which ushered in a 265-year period of peace in Japan. The ornately-decorated main hall has been designated as an important cultural property by the Japanese government.

The hawks and the pheasant (in front of the shrine)
Please look at the engraving on the front door. The work by Hidari Jingoro that shows the appearance of hunting hawks and pheasant. Two white birds indicated the hawks. The brown pheasant is being caught at their feet. This work is positioned in front of the shrine because Tokugawa Ieyasu liked hunting hawks.


The dragon and the tigers (in front of the shrine) Please look up for engravings on the front four poles. These engravings of　 dragon and tigers, is a work by Hidari Jingoro. The tigers on the right and left indicate our live lessons. The one on the right represents leading a positive life with a goal, and the one on the left represents other than looking forward positively, sometimes looking back and learning from reflection is necessary as well. Tokugawa Ieyasu was born on the year, month, day, and time of the Tiger. Tiger is the symbol of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The red carp & black scarp (East side of the shrine)
Please look at the engraving above the door. This is an engraving of red and black carps, a work of Hidari Jingoro. There is an expression called "Toryumon" (登龍門/The gateway to success). Legend has it that when a carp reaches the swift current called "Ryumon" located upstream of the Yellow River in China, it will be transformed into a dragon. The engraving was made based on this myth. It is said that if you look at this carp engraving, it will lead you to success in life.

The crane & the turtle (West side of the shrine)
Please look at the engraving on the door. This is an engraving of a crane and a turtle, a work of Hidari Jingoro. Facing the crane on the left side is a Minogame turtle with a straw raincoat on its back that looks like a tail. A Japanese legend says that “Cranes live for 1000 years, turtles live for 10,000 years". It is said that you can live longer if you look at this engraving.



Phoenix and Angel (Front east side) Please look at the phoenix and angel sculpture stretching on the back side of the 4 pillars that the dragon and tiger sculpture has. This is not assembled, it is made in fretwork after sculpturing the Zelkova tree as high as 2m 40cm. The Phoenixes on the two ends look as if they are ascending to the sky while the angel of the second pillar is playing a Japanese transverse bamboo flute and the angel of the third pillar is holding Japanese Shime-daiko. If you look at them from the opposite direction, it becomes a different sculpture with a different pattern.



Phoenix and Angel (Front west side) Please look at the phoenix and angel sculpture stretching on the back side of the 4 pillars that the dragon and tiger sculpture has. This is not assembled, it is made in fretwork after sculpturing the Zelkova tree as high as 2m 40cm.The Phoenixes on the two ends look as if they are descending from the sky while the angel of the second pillar is playing a Japanese Sho flute and the angel of the third pillar is playing the Biwa (Japanese lute). If you look at them from the opposite direction, it becomes a different sculpture with different pattern.

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