## [[Gyuba-doji Statue (牛馬童子)]] | Nakahechi 8 | [[Tsugizakura-oji (継桜王子)]] #trail/kumano-kodo/nakahechi > [!NOTE] Chikatsuyu-Oji remains > National Historic Site > Designated November 2, 2000 > > Chikatsuyu-oji is located in a large intermountain basin (elevation: 300m) bisected from North to South by the Hiki-gawa River, approximately halfway between [[Takijiri-oji (滝尻王子)|Takijiri-oji]] and [[Trails/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Hongu]]. It is one of the oldest Oji shrines and a major site along the [[Kumano Kodo]]. Ojis are subsidiary shrines (of the [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano Grand Shrines]]) that line the trail offering places of worship and rest, and are an integral component of the pilgrimage process. > > Over 900 years ago, during the peak of the imperial pilgrimages to [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano]], parties of up to 300 people would be accommodated in the area. They performed cold-water purification rites in the river before worshipping. The buried remains of 13th century religious artifacts were discovered close by, and until 1906 a large pavilion was located at this site. It was dismantled because of an imperial edict to merge shrines. ![[chikatsuyu-oji IMG_6313.png]]