[Kyoto] Gion Great Torii Gate

This is a print depicting the large stone torii gate that stands at the main approach to the Gion Shrine during the cherry blossom season, when the spring sun sparkles.

This great torii gate was built in the third year of the Shoho era (1646) in the early Edo period. It collapsed during the great earthquake of the second year of the Kanbun era (1662), but was repaired and rebuilt in the sixth year of the Kanbun era (1666), and it remains to this day.

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The torii gate bears a plaque inscribed with "Kanjin-in." This is because until the Edo period, Gion Shrine was a temple called "Kanjin-in" that practiced the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. It became the current "Yasaka Shrine" due to the Shinto and Buddhism separation policy of the Meiji Restoration.

There is a diagram depicting the state of Gion Shrine in the late Edo period (around the Anei era).

The torii gate visible on the bottom right is the great torii gate drawn by Teishin. You enter the shrine grounds by passing through the torii gate from the main approach and going through the Romon gate.

The red building visible behind the great torii gate is the Romon gate.

The red building that we generally imagine when we hear "Yasaka Shrine" is the West Romon gate facing Shijo-dori Street, which is built at the bottom left in the diagram above, up the stairs. Teishin also drew the West Romon gate, so please take a look at the past note "[Kyoto] Gion Shrine West Gate" if you like. 👀

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The spring sun seems a bit strong, and the women carrying matching bullseye-pattern parasols catch the eye.

They are four sisters who fit perfectly into Junichiro Tanizaki's "The Makioka Sisters." Perhaps the woman in the navy kimono with a vermilion obi is the third sister, Yukiko; the girl with the heko-obi is the youngest sister, Koisan; the woman in the brown kimono is the second sister, Sachiko; and the woman in the green kimono is the eldest sister, Tsuruko.

Their poses and costumes are drawn very beautifully, and you can feel the attention to detail in the kimono, obi, kake-eri, han-eri, and hakkake, as well as the obi-jime.

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These women are sharing a parasol.

They are wearing dust-cover hoods (ageboshi) on their hair. A man in striped hakama passes by and calls out to them. The man with his kimono tucked up seems to be stopping and looking around to check the road.

These women are also happily engaged in conversation.

The men are also absorbed in small talk, and it must be a bit hot for them too. They each have a folding fan and a parasol in their hands.

This man also has quite a high sense of style, and looks like he is waiting for someone.

Everyone is dressed in stylish outfits, typical of Kyoto, the city of fashion.

　　I would like to hide the petals
　　　　　　in my cherry-blossom viewing robe, to keep the memory of spring alive. From "The Makioka Sisters"

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Reference: National Diet Library Digital Collections "Shiseki Shuran 22 Revised", "Encyclopedia of Japanese History [Main Volume]", "Shuko Jusshu: Section on Tablets", "Kannann Meishi", Aozora Bunko "The Makioka Sisters", Yasaka Shrine Website "History of Yasaka Shrine", "Highlights of the Grounds", "Buildings of Yasaka Shrine"

Author's Note: I will update this as needed when I decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer". 📖