Tatezuna (Sand Cones) of Kamigamo Shrine

Following a divine revelation in a dream from Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami, a rigorous ritual to welcome the deity was performed, and as a result, the deity descended. Although the location is not specified in the 'Kamo Kyuki' (Old Records of Kamo), Kamigamo Shrine identifies this site as Mt. Ko-yama. According to the shrine's website, Mt. Ko-yama is a 301.5-meter-high mountain located 2 km north-northwest of the shrine. The largest rock at the summit (iwasaka) is said to be the 'descending stone' where Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami is believed to have arrived, and the shrine's main hall is built to face Mt. Ko-yama in worship. In other words, by praying at the main hall, one is simultaneously worshipping the rock where the deity descended. Mt. Ko-yama is a beautiful, conical mountain, fitting for a sacred mountain. Within the grounds of Kamigamo Shrine, there are 'tatezuna' (sand cones) said to be modeled after Mt. Ko-yama. First, let me introduce the tatezuna.
Inside the second torii gate of Kamigamo Shrine, there is a long, horizontal building called the Hosodono, and in front of it, two white, conical piles of sand are lined up. It is quite impressive. These are the tatezuna (standing sand). They are also called morizuna (piled sand). These tatezuna are modeled after Mt. Ko-yama, and the word 'tatsu' (to stand) in tatezuna originates from the appearance of a deity; thus, the tatezuna serves as a 'himorogi' (a temporary dwelling place for a descending deity). This sand is used as 'purifying sand,' and by scattering it at the kimon (northeast) or ura-kimon (southwest) of a property, it wards off impurities and acts as a protective barrier. This is the root of 'morishio' (piled salt). The two tatezuna are lined up on the left and right, and are almost identical in size and shape. Each is about the height of a child. However, the difference is in the number of pine needles placed at the top of each sand cone: there are three needles on the left and two on the right. This is based on Onmyodo, where odd numbers represent 'yang' and even numbers represent 'yin.' That odd numbers are 'yang' can be understood from the fact that the festival on March 3rd or May 5th, where odd numbers align, is called the 'Choyo' (Double Yang) festival. Also, since 'yang' signifies male and 'yin' signifies female, the pine on the left tatezuna is called the male pine, and the one on the right is called the female pine. Pines with two needles are common and found everywhere, but pines with three needles are very rare; at Kamigamo Shrine, there is one along the tamagaki fence to the left after entering the second torii gate. This originates from the legend that a pine tree stood at the summit when Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami descended onto Mt. Ko-yama.
In the past, Shirakawa sand was used for the tatezuna. The 'Shirakawa' in Shirakawa sand refers to the river that flows from the Higashiyama mountains through Gion and joins the Kamo River. It is weathered granite distributed in the eastern part of Kyoto City, including Mt. Hiei and Mt. Daimonji. Traces of its use have been found in Jomon period ruins in this area. Shirakawa sand was used in gardens such as the dry landscape gardens of Ginkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji, and the original Shirakawa stone was also used for buildings and stone lanterns. Although it was counted among the three great famous stones of Japan in the Kamakura period, it is no longer used for tatezuna because its collection is prohibited by Kyoto City ordinances due to resource depletion, environmental conservation, and flood control.
Since Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami descended onto Mt. Ko-yama, people initially climbed the mountain to perform rituals. Eventually, as they began to welcome the deity into the village to worship, they would set up pine trees brought from Mt. Ko-yama as a temporary dwelling place. However, once the shrine buildings were constructed, pine leaves were used instead of the tree itself, and sand began to be piled up in the places where the trees had been set. At Kamigamo Shrine, there are tatezuna in front of the Hosodono, as well as in front of and behind the Norito-den. Although the tatezuna are just piles of sand, their conical shape makes them surprisingly resistant to rain. However, because their shape can be disturbed by heavy rain, a priest repairs them each time. A priest repairs both tatezuna alone using a large trowel and water from the 'Nara-no-Ogawa' stream that flows through the shrine grounds. If multiple people were to work on them, they would not be symmetrical due to the individual styles of the priests. The work is said to take nearly two hours.
On September 9th, the 'Karasu-zumo' (Crow Sumo) ritual is held in front of the tatezuna. It is a very unique Shinto ritual, so it is also featured in the media. The 'Karasu' (crow) in 'Karasu-zumo' originates from the fact that Taketsunumi-no-Mikoto is called Yatagarasu.