Okunoin Maoden Sanctuary: The Mountain Sanctuary of Mao-son, Spirit from Venus
Why is it significant?
Reach the secluded high forest plateau of Okunoin Maoden, revered by esoteric pilgrims as the innermost and most sacred sanctuary of the entire Mount Kurama complex.
Key Facts
| Place | Okunoin Maoden Sanctuary: The Mountain Sanctuary of Mao-son, Spirit from Venus |
|---|---|
| Address | Kuramahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto 601-1111, Japan |
| Geo Coordinates | 35.12350, 135.77100 |
| Part of Walk | Kyoto: Kurama and Kibune, Sacred Mountain Sanctuaries and River Shrines |
| Generated | Generated |
Reach the secluded high forest plateau of Okunoin Maoden, revered by esoteric pilgrims as the innermost and most sacred sanctuary of the entire Mount Kurama complex. Enclosed by colossal, ancient moss-carpeted boulders and towering Japanese hemlock trees, the weathered wooden shrine pavilion stands in absolute mountain tranquility. The cedar timbers have darkened to a rich umber over centuries of weather, while white paper zigzag shide streamers flutter gently around the stone foundations. The weathered cedar shrine looks completely one with the ancient crags, anchored deeply and securely into the living granite spine of the mountain.
The founding mythology of this sanctuary is unlike anything else in Japanese religion. According to Kurama temple chronicles, six million five hundred thousand years ago, the great cosmic deity Mao-son, also known as the Great King of the Conquerors of Evil, descended from the planet Venus to this exact mountain crag to redeem humanity and instill universal cosmic vitality into planet Earth.
Whether interpreted as mystical metaphor or extraterrestrial legend, Mao-son has been venerated here for over a millennium as the earth-energy component of the Sonten trinity, possessing eternal youth and superhuman vigor. The rugged crags behind the sanctuary are known as the Gosho-seki, or Imperial Reclining Stones, where the deity is said to have rested upon arrival on Earth.
The temperature drops noticeably here, and the only sound is the wind sighing through the branches and the faint rustle of cedar needles dropping onto the mossy earth. Take a moment of silent contemplation before the altar to honor the ancient mountain spirits that watch over these northern peaks.
Begin the steep descent down the rocky western flank of the mountain, following the shaded switchback trail down toward the roaring waters of the Kibune River.