Kumano Nachi Taisha

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Kumano Nachi Taisha's heiden

Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社^?) is a Shinto shrine part of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. The Kumano Kodō route connects it to other sites under the same classification, all of which are in Nachikatuura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The four sites on the route classified as pilgrimage destinations and Wold Heritage Sites are: 1) Nachi Taisha; 2) Hongū Taisha; 3) Hayatama Taisha; 4) Koya-san.

Kumano Nachi Taisha is also one of the three sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines: 1) Nachi Taisha; 2) Hongū Taisha; 3) Hayatama Taisha. This classification is based mostly in Japanese history, as pilgrims would travel to all three sites to complete their pilgrimage.

Kumano Nachi Taisha is an example of Buddhist and Shinto syncretism (Shinbutsu shūgō) nestled in the Kii Mountains, near Kii Katsuura, Japan. Cedar forests surround the site. The Nachi Waterfall, worshiped at Hiryū Shrine near Kumano Nachi Taisha is believed to be inhabited by a kami called Hiryū Gongen.^[1] Also, there is a sacred tree at this site.

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[edit] References

^ Kamizaka, Jirō. "Hiryū Gongen" (in Japanese). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport - Kinki Regional Development Bureau. http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/wakayama/rekishi/disco131.html. Retrieved 28 March 2010.