Kumano-Nachi
As described in the "Fireflies" chapter of The Tale of Genji: "Murasaki too had become addicted to romances. Her excuse was that Genji's little daughter insisted on being read to. 'Just see what a fine one this is,' she said, showing Genji an illustration for The Tale of Kumano." |
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View of Nachi Falls from
below Kumano-Nachi shrine. |
Nachi was one of the three shrines of the Kumano faith, a Buddhist-Shinto cult devoted to a long life and rebirth in paradise. In the 12th century, four retired emperors made almost 100 pilgrimages to these shrines in Wakayama and the monk Mongaku's amazing austerities at Nachi Falls are recounted in The Tale of the Heike. |
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The Kumano-Nachi shrine
near Japan's highest waterfall. |
Nachi shrine sits next to Seiganto-ji temple, the first stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage. |