## [[Mizunomi-oji (水吞王子)]] | Nakahechi 16 | [[Haraido-oji (祓殿王子)]] #trail/kumano-kodo/nakahechi > [!NOTE] Fushiogami-oji > From the lookout point at Fushiogami-oji, pilgrims finally get their first glimpse of their goal, the [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano Hongu Taisha]]. Pilgrims traditionally fell on their knees and prayed, which is what the word "Fushiogami" means. At the lowest point in the valley lies [[Attractions/Oyunohara (大斎原)|Oyunohara]], the holy sandbank where the [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano Hong Taisha]] was originally located until a flood destroyed it in 1886. The salvaged remains were used to rebuild the shrine on higher ground. > > There is a story that took place here at Fushiogami-oji that epitomizes [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano]]. Around 1000 years ago Izumi Shikibu, a famous female poet, was on pilgrimage and started to menstruate at Fushiogami-oji. Purification is an important element in Japanese religion and blood is considered impure, so women who were menstruating were not allowed to worship. She was terribly distraught at not being able to pay homage and composed a poem in her distress. > > | | | | > |---|---|---| > |はれやらぬ|hareyaranu|Beneath unclear skies, my body| > |みにうきぐものたなびきて|miniukigumo no tanabikite|obscured by drifting clouds,| > |つきのさわりと|tsuki no sawari to|I am saddened that my monthly| > |なるぞかなしき|naruzo kanashiki|obstruction has begun.| > > That night the Kumano deity came to her and replied. > > | | | | > |---|---|---| > |もろともに|Morotomoni|How could the god who mingles| > |ちりにまじわるかみなれば|Chirini majiwaru kaminareba|with the dust| > |つきのさわりと|Tsuki no sawari to|suffer because of your| > |なにかくろしさ|Nanika kurushiki|monthly obstruction?| > > Even deities suffer from impurities, so [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano]] does not exclude anyone from worshipping here. Compared with other sacred sites in Japan where women were banned, anyone was welcome in [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano]] regardless of sect, class or gender. Openness and acceptance is a fundamental theme of the [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano]] faith. A monument to Izumi Shikibu is located here at the lookout point. > > Wakayama Prefecture > [!NOTE] Remains of the Haraido Stone Mound > This stone mound measures roughly 15 m north to south, around 4 m east to west, and about 1.3 m high at the peak. Most of the stones piled up here are riverbank stones measuring less than 30 cm, from among which ceramics and coins dating back to the late Edo period (the 18th to 19th centuries) were excavated, suggesting that this mound was built in that time. > > Stone mound remains of this kind are also located in Oyodo-cho, Yoshino gun, Nara Prefecture. It is thought that pilgrims piled up stones to purify themselves or pray for safety along the pilgrimage route, resulting in the stone mound remains we see today. > > The excavation at the remains of the Haraido stone mound also unearthed remnants of stones arranged in lines or gathered together in certain spots. These date back to before the stone mound was constructed. Also found were part of a Hokyointo type pagoda and other articles. These findings have enabled us to infer that structures related to religious faith already existed here in the medieval period (the Kamakura to Muromachi periods) before the stone mound was constructed. > > People in the Edo period may have built the Haraido stone mound because they still had memories of this place as a sacred area. ![[? fushiogami-oji IMG_6702b.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_0163.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6709b.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6715.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6719.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6726.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6725.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6732b.png]] There was a viewpoint where you could see [[Attractions/Oyunohara (大斎原)]] from the trail. ![[fushiogami-oji PXL_20240926_061137859.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji PXL_20240926_061048666.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_7939.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6751.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_7937.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_7941.png]] ![[fushiogami-oji IMG_6765.png]]