Thursday, April 18, 2013

Unequally Yoked

The Wedded Rocks (Meoto Iwa), just off-shore, close to Ise Shinto (The Holy City or Capital of the Kami) shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan. These are the “Husband and Wife Rocks,” a Shinto shrine representing the union of creator kami (deities) Izanagi and Izanami, and thereby celebrate the sanctity of marriage between man and woman.The larger rock is said to be the male rock, and has a small torii, or sacred purifying entrance, at the top. It is known as Oiwa. The male rock measures 9 meters tall and 40 meters around; the female rock is 3.6 meters high and 9 meters around. The female rock is known as Meiwa.

1 comment:

Matt D said...

That's not far from where I'ved for almost 20 years now, but I did not know all of this. I am suitable ashamed.

Thank you for pointing it out. I have been to the Ise Shrine, and it was by ferry boat that I went ... I'm pretty sure I've seen those rocks, but its been a while ...