Japan Shinto Shrine Dragon

[shattori1]

Dragons were common in folklore and mythology in Japan and were considered as a form of deity, which is how Shinto is based off. Shinto believe in the supernatural and worshipping deities through nature. That is why you see Torii or Shinto Shrines up in the mountains, or near some form of nature.

Also, Japanese dragons are slightly different from Korean and Chinese ones. Japanese dragons have 3 fingers on their claws, as oppose to 4 - Korean, or 5 - Chinese.

[vendettaseve]

Its sad all these ignorant Christian church planters are so set on destroying this lovely culture and religion.

[shattori1]

@vendettaseve but you do realize Christianity/Catholicism first arrived in Japan during the mid 1500's and have existed through out many historical time periods in Japan. As a Japanese, I can say that the amount of foreign religious influence is relatively low compared to other Asian nations such as Korea, Taiwan, or China. Christianity is the most common among the main monotheistic religions but many Japanese people as a whole don't consider themselves too religious in the first place.

[jedihunter176]

@vendettaseve Lol vendetta you just got served

[vendettaseve]

@jedihunter176 Sort of yes, it was a very well written rebuttal. I agree on some points and I am thankful Japan isnt a destitute country where the disease would spread like wildfire.

[jedihunter176]

@vendettaseve What do you mean? Christianity is one of the three major religions out there in Japan.

[bottomOFair]

@jedihunter176 three major religions in Jpn? 1~2% of japanese in christianity and 90% are in shinto, and 90% are in buddhism too. its called sinbutsu-syuugo(amalgamation of kami and buddhas). and funny thing is that most of us dont believe any god thingy actually. you cau say japanese are kinda atheists.

[darkmagic1516]

To bad that japan have radiation sorry about that but that dragon is gone ....

[ShadowRG91]

SQUISH IT lol i Love Dragons

[x3Pockiex]

Dragon Ball <3

[POMED100]

dragon ball is wat he is fortold to hold :D

[GayWhoReadThis]

the almighty shen ron is not awaken

[CCUNXT]

dragon ball z lol

[mimickthecopycat]

you sound like tthe guy from 'Destination Truth' on discovery channel you should watch it.

[donenzonen]

Wow, nice carving

[Czaendermajer]

0:21 looks like got roundhouse kicked in the face!▐▐▐

[carl12345678911]

lol iv painted somfin similar^^

[joustinApe]

this is why u dont get paid in bubble gum. u already have enough awsome crap.

[desireing1]

thier dragon ballz you collect all the dragon ballz and you make a wish among a giant dragon, basically.. you use it to revive goku back

[aaronlovestruth]

what is the ball the dragon holds for?

[softypapa]

@aaronlovestruth I'm afraid that I am unaware of the meaning of the ball. Sorry. ~Kurt :-)

[aaronlovestruth]

@softypapa thanks but i have been looking for why or what the ball the dragon holds means .. i was told to find this out by god him self.

[aaronlovestruth]

@softypapa you are a fucking retard 9 year old snot nose faggot

[GundamFanDeluxe00]

@softypapa like dragon ball z :D ? btw dont u tink dragon looks pevy?

[andyroon85]

@softypapa fly over and ask?

[Jigsjigz]

@softypapa i think its a pokeball gotta catch them all! u can see it at 0:57 in the big dragons hand far right of this screen... its holding it with 3 fingers looks like a ball with a swirly pattern

[tazira1]

@softypapa I read in a dragon book that the ball was it's egg. That's what it might be

[IAMSILVERHORN]

@softypapa Its The Dragon Ball :U

[bibi4u100]

@aaronlovestruth i dont know but i heared its called the dragon ball xD LOL

[RyuuHatake]

@aaronlovestruth Since dragons serve as protectors of the living and dead, it probably serves as a container for all spirits, which it burns with everlasting flames so that none may steal/ disturb it =]

[aaronlovestruth]

@RyuuHatake thank you!! your the only person with half a brain in the world. thank you

[RyuuHatake]

@aaronlovestruth Very welcome! I hope you have the chance to visit some wonderful shrines like this in your lifetime, if you already haven't that is! :)

Good day!

[RyuuHatake]

@aaronlovestruth As a bonus little tidbit of information, the paper banners hanging under the carving are believed to keep evil spirits away. They also put these on very old trees in japan, since nature is very sacred to them. :)

[aaronlovestruth]

@RyuuHatake thank you so much

[cids7777]

@aaronlovestruth

[ability1213]

@aaronlovestruth If you collect all 7 you get a wish (:

[TacNguyen]

@aaronlovestruth it was believed the ball or pearl represents the dragon's reign over all rivers, lakes and seas and held all of the dragons power within. In some stories a pearl was given to a magistrate after saving the life of the serpent son of the dragon king. In others stories mostly in Korea the stone or jewel is embedded on the dragons forehead and had healing abilities.

[zangatz]

@aaronlovestruth hes gay....

[eleszar1]

@aaronlovestruth ITS A DRAGONBALL!

[TheMasterminds207]

@aaronlovestruth it's a 5 star dragon ball!

[JackyLum]

@aaronlovestruth

same as the chinese, the ball actually came with the dragon as a "guide" in chinese we call it the "Dragon Ball" the dragon will chase down the ball of fire to hold on to it, perhaps we can say it is the legend that said we got 7 suns before in our sky, the dragons took and consumed each and left only 1 for our earth, =/ not i don't believe it but it is just a legend

[Jigsjigz]

@aaronlovestruth Gotta catchem all!

[cuzaseso]

@aaronlovestruth Its a DRAGON BALL! KAME HAME HAAAA!

[yamadago]

@aaronlovestruth

This is HOU-GYOKU.(marble jewel)

[99knight]

@aaronlovestruth i think dragon like to hold b@lls

[Autobots4ever]

@aaronlovestruth Dragon ball Z?

[VgendAirsoft]

@aaronlovestruth DRAGON BALL Z!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Traces1000]

@aaronlovestruth question is already answered. It's a dragon ball or dragon's ball

[jackywong77777]

@aaronlovestruth Its an fire ball, some time it hold it with its mouth some time it hold it with it's claw. LOLS\s

[SaintLouisX]

@aaronlovestruth In Japan, Pokemon catch you.

[jin54363]

@aaronlovestruth

i think that ball is the ball of wisdom

[sergio311]

@aaronlovestruth an orb with a sertain trait kanji inside, like the word ,strength, :p

[Shetyre]

@aaronlovestruth

you know what ball its holding to :P

ITSA DWAGON BAWW

[SomethinDwnUrPantss]

japan looks like a boring place.. i thought it was gonna be all about girls and guys and high school stuff like in all animes :P

[Bleach20174]

That's really nice!

[ROCKLOCK997]

love japan:3 so much to see and do :D

[qiranger]

Beautiful! I can't believe I'm only seeing this now! The image quality is great!

[krelllabs]

Reminds me of the incredible detail found in the work of the English wood sculptor, Grinling Gibbons.

[Skaijo]

Hey Kurt,

How do shrines such as these "stay in business"? I mean they always see so clean and well kept--and if they "open" for the public, some group has to do that, right?

[softypapa]

Hello Skaijo, Your's is an excellent question though I am not sure if I know enough to give you a satisfactory answer. I believe that some shrines (such as the one in this video) are privately owned and managed while others are managed by a collective organization or group. In both cases though the shrines rely on donations and volunteer work for upkeep and maintenance as well as for help during festivals. I wish I knew more though I hope this info is helpful to you. -Kurt :-)

[denitson777]

That's a beautiful Dragon :D

[BlueMew]

Awesome! I love dragons! Have you seen any more dragon related art in shrines?

[softypapa]

Hello BlueMew, Thank you for your comment. I'm sorry for my long delay in response. I don't often see dragon images at shrines though I seem to recall some paintings adorning the ceiling of a few Buddhist temples I have visited. I will certainly keep my eyes open for more dragons at Shinto shrines. Thanks again for watching and commenting! -Kurt :-)

[Veternik94]

nice

[gtpluvr]

Beautiful wood carving!!!

[RisuMiso]

Neat carving! I recently watched a program that showed how the lion masks (for the lion dance) are carved. It was pretty cool!

[LivingDog94]

Hey Kurt, was the music live, or did you record this onto the video? Awesome as always, 5* :)

[softypapa]

Hello LivingDog94, The music you hear was being played over loud speakers under the shrine eves. I think that they were trying to create a festival atmosphere. I visit this shrine at least once a month though this is the first time I have heard music. -Kurt :-)