Kasuga no Ozeki [Powerswood]
Kasuga no Ozeki
| The power of wood | Brings happiness, prosperity, nobility, harmony, and good relationships |
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Approximately 1,300 years ago, Kasuga Taisha Shrine welcomed Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto to Ukigumo-no-mine, the summit of the sacred mountain, Mt. Mifune, and the shrine building was constructed in 768.
It is the head shrine of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, of which there are approximately 1,000 across the country, and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the cultural assets of the ancient capital of Nara.
This is part of a large Zelkova tree on the premises, and the roots of the stump still remain in place.
There are also various trees planted by the Emperor and Empress within the shrine.
Mount Kasuga, which is regarded as sacred as the mountain of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, has been banned from cutting down trees since 841, creating a mysterious space where people coexist with deer, messengers of the gods.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine and its branch shrine, Meoto Daikokusha Shrine, are known as the gods of marital harmony and matchmaking, as their name suggests.
About 1,300 years ago, Kasuga Taisha welcomed Takemikazuchi no Mikoto to Ukiunmine at the summit of Mt.
Mikasa (a mountain where a god lived), and a shrine was constructed in the second year of Jingo Keiun (year 768).
This shrine acts as the general headquarters for about 1,000 Kasuga shrines nationwide, and among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is registered as one of the “Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara.”
This type of wood is from a part of the Large Zelkova that was on the premises of the shrine.
Even now, the root portion of the stump of that tree remains. In addition, within the shrine, there are various trees that were hand-planted by the emperor and empress.
Because it has been prohibited, since 841, to cut down trees at Mt. Kasuga (which is considered sacred due to being the mountain of Kasuga Taisha Shrine), there exists a mysterious space upon the mountain, in which deer that act as messengers of the gods can coexist.
As their names indicate, Kasuga Taisha Shrine and its subordinate shrine, Meoto Taikoku Shrine, are known as the shrines where the gods of “harmonious marriage,” and of “tying destiny,” lived.
