Teaching Resources

Akakura Mountain Shrine Rituals

The Mountain Opening Ceremony (Yamabiraki)


Each May 1st, the assembled congregation climbs Akakura mountain, from Akakura Mountain Shrine up to the Waterfall of Fudo (Fudo taki) to  hang a great rice straw rope (shimenawa) across the gorge.   After the ceremony has been performed the mountain is considered "open" for the performance of shugyo (ascetic discipline) on the mountainscape above the shrine itself.   (see Immortal Wishes, pp. 94-103)

 

Previous Ceremony Dragon Princess (February)

See: Slide Show 1991 Mountain Opening See: Video Clips 1991 Mountain Opening Rope Carry 1 Rope Carry 2 Raising the Rope

Next Ceremony 33 Tsugaru Kannonsama Pilgrimage (June)

 

Related Interent Resources

 

The Living Rope that connects us all: Mariyo Yagi

http://www.sensorium.org/sensingjapan/interview/yagi/

Fascinating interview with Japanese artist Mariyo Yagi, who constructed and ritually burned a great ritual rope ("nawa") to honor the souls of those who perished in the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake in Kobe. The artist specifically mentions Tsugaru, and compares the burning rope to a "fire dragon." The symbolism of this work of performance art strikingly recalls the dynamics of the Mountain Opening rite at Akakura.

More on Mariyo Yagi and her rope-inspired art:

http://www.sensorium.org/sensingjapan/interview/yagi/profile/yagi_pro.html

http://www.mariyo.net/

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