y Lantern z
There are so many stone lanterns that
it was said that we could be rich if we
could count all the lanterns.
Most of them were offered by the common
people and some were offered by daimyo, or
feudal lords. The oldest
lanterns were made in 1324.
People donated lanterns to repay the
Buddha for providence, to go to heaven after
their death, and their families will prosper.
A famous lantern lighting ritual is carried
out here in both February and August.
This ceremony is held to pay respects to
the spirit of creation and to pray for health
and harvest.
Prayers and sightseers ignite 1769 stone
lanterns and 843 hanging lanterns, which
creates a lovely glow and
lights up this shrine. This event started
as an annual ritual in the 11th century,
and came to be held
in February and August after the Meiji era.
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