On Ōshima Island

🌊 On Ōshima Island, home to the elder sister deity of Munakata Taisha, the dreamy little Sayo Island sits along the coast with a torii gate standing gracefully in the sea. 🫣

Since ancient times, Japanese people have deeply revered protruding rocks, solitary islands, and giant trees as sacred yorishiro — places where gods descend. 🌸

Even though it’s connected to the land, Eshima on Awaji Island is said to be the very first island created in Japan and holds the same spiritual significance. 😌

Torii gates and small sacred islands also serve as boundaries separating the everyday world from the divine realm — a concept that deeply connects with the spirit of tea ceremony. ✨️

Before entering a tea room, samurai would remove their swords — an act of leaving behind worldly status to enter a sacred space.

The low entrance door of a tea room symbolizes the torii gate of the gods. ⛩

Visiting a shrine or stepping into a tea room are both approaches to a “pure, clean space” detached from daily life.

Their spiritual structures are remarkably similar.