Seimei-jinja
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TEL :075-441-6460(9:00~17:00) Address :806 Seimeicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto Access :Subway Karasuma Line Imadegawa Station > 12 minutes walk |
Who is Abe no Seimei?
This shrine enshrines Abe no Seimei, a nobleman and astronomer from the mid-Heian period (around the 10th century).
Abe no Seimei is a legendary figure as an Onmyoji (exorcist/diviner). There is a statue of him on the shrine grounds.
Stories have been passed down about him saving samurai targeted by demons and emperors suffering from illness, as well as using numerous miraculous techniques.
It is also said that the shikigami (spirit familiars) he controlled were hiding beneath the nearby Ichijo Modoribashi Bridge.
A mark possessing mysterious powers
At Seimei-jinja Shrine, the protective symbol created by Abe no Seimei is used as the shrine’s crest. It has the same shape as a pentagram, but because it resembles a bellflower, it is called the bellflower crest. This incorporates the Five Elements theory (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).
Incidentally, beautiful purple bellflowers bloom on the shrine grounds around July.
There are also bellflower charms available only during this season.
There is also a Taijitu (Yin-Yang symbol) on the shrine grounds.
The nine-character incantation is also depicted. These nine lines each represent a powerful word.
There are also peaches that are believed to ward off evil spirits. In Onmyodo (Japanese esoteric cosmology), peaches have been considered a powerful plant since ancient times.
There are many other unusual things on the shrine grounds. If you’re a fan of Abe no Seimei or have a fondness for the mystical, you should definitely pay a visit.
