Shinto – Mt. Oyama Shrine

The ceremony performed by an individual involves providing an offering (usually monetary), bow twice, clap twice, and bow once, with reflection time involved in between.

This particular shrine involves the guardian who controls water and is located on Mt. Oyama. Also, this particular shrine dates back to at least 2,200 years ago with relics from over 10,000 years ago. Over 700,000 people a year now go to Mt. Oyama to worship – not the shrine, but the mountain.

In general, Shinto is nature worship, and in this case, the mountain is the spirit that is worshipped. It teaches to appreciate nature, appreciate the spirit. The mountain, in this case, is worshipped due to its importance to the locale – it acts as a “lighthouse” for fisherman, a weather map for farmers, etc. For the most part, people come to the shrines to wish for various things – health, family, business, etc. (nowadays, people wish for things like leisure, prosperity, safety, etc.). The priests’ role is to provide offerings in the shrine to the spirit and to keep care of the forest. Shinto is also unique in that is has no doctrine or written scripture.

Presented by:

Shinto Priest, Mt. Oyama Shrine