Occultist Temple of Art & Divination - Li Clan Public Temple
Mar 9, 2016 8:00:04 GMT -7
Post by jimmiyz8 on Mar 9, 2016 8:00:04 GMT -7
Occultist Temple of Art & Divination |  |
The Temple  |
Transcendence. That is the sensation one feels when the arch ways of the temple come into view. The serene view of nature and man inspires a connection with the spirit world. Atop a large hill the temple sits, deep within the forests of the village, and a yellow chūmon carved by hand serves as greeting. Before actually reaching the temple one would have to walk a total of three-hundred stone steps and walk a distance of two-hundred meters surrounded by nature. The spirits dance in the woods bordering the walk way, or sandō, occasionally stealing away to the humans and playing tricks upon them though most are harmless.[/ul]
After scaling the arduous stone steps one arrives at the temple. A reserved and humble temple, it stands only a single story and possesses only one room. Before scaling some wooden steps and opening the sliding doors of the temple one must venture beneath a special wooden torii. This is an entry way to a special zone of spiritual awakening. Past this point the connections between the realm of man and the spirits is at its strongest. Behind the torii sits the Niōmon, guarded by the temples Niō. The Niō take the shape of two lion dogs carved of stone. They are the representations of both Misshaku Kongō, Agyō, and Naraen Kongō, Ungyō, and are proceeded by two tōrō which sit behind them with the image of a stone bird carved atop them. The hisashi for the temple is rather narrow as it surrounds the moya however it serves its purpose well. Finally, on clear days and days when guests are expected a wooden fortune telling cart is pushed outside where people can test their luck.
A chinjusha, shrine dedicated to the kami, sits out to the right of the temple. This chinjusha is dedicated to Omoikane for his great insight into the heavenly deities.[/ul]
In this room Michiko meets with those who have come to see her and works with them. A simple room fited with tatami mats it possess only a small black, square table with four Zabuton at opposite ends. Michiko sits opposite her guests with by her side acting as an assistant throughout the process. Acting as a light source are two lamps either side of a nobori. They are covered by a rectangular rice paper covering with bamboo acting as a brace creating a checkered pattern. Outside of this, the room is rather bare with only a few cupboards beneath to roof and what would appear to be a closet space however this is actually a noborirō serving as an entrance to the under ground pool.[/ul]
A man made structure, this pool in ancient times was carved by a race of man long since forgotten. Natural in design water flows through a small canal before pooling into a single point. In this area most, but not all, divination's are performed as the water holds special properties that allow for miricles under the guided hand of Michiko.[/ul][/div]
The place where Michiko sleeps. It is positioned behind the temple and is equally as humble as the temple. A single story with a mere two rooms. The first room is where Michiko herself sleeps, the second where the three maidens who serve her sleep in lo of an official sōbō. The kitchen, or kuin, is here as well. Outside, at the back of the honbō is a large cherry blossom tree behind which Michiko often sleeps or meditates.[/ul][/div]
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