Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
In this video we’ll show you the center of Seimei Shrine (晴明神社), Kyoto.
Seimei Shrine is a small shrine located near the south east corner of Imadegawa and Horikawa in Kamigyo-ku in Kyoto.
Seimei Jinja is dedicated to the Heian Period court astrologer, cosmologist and astronomer Abe no Seimei.
Fortune tellers were considered almost like magicians at the time and were known in Japanese as onmyo-ji. They were followers of onmyodo - the Way of Yin and Yang.
Abe no Seimei served the emperor and the Fujiwara family as diviner, adviser and astrologer in the early part of the Heian Period (794-1185). In addition to telling fortunes, he also held special prayers and was known as a talented astronomer.
For his time Abe no Seimei lived a long life, well in to his 80's, and was free of illness. This helped to build up his mystique and standing at court.
He lived near Ichijo-modori Bridge (modori means "to return" in Japanese). It was a famous place that was also known as 'the devil's gate' as it was located at the north east corner of the original Imperial Palace compound. The Japanese followed the Chinese in believing that danger and evil always arrived from the north east.
The Emperor requested Seimei live in this area to protect the court from malign influences.
Abe no Seimei became a great favorite of the Imperial court and on his death the shrine was built in his memory by Emperor Ichijo in 1007.
＊japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/seimei-shrine
#Kyoto
#京都
#晴明神社
In this video we’ll show you the center of Seimei Shrine (晴明神社), Kyoto.
Seimei Shrine is a small shrine located near the south east corner of Imadegawa and Horikawa in Kamigyo-ku in Kyoto.
Seimei Jinja is dedicated to the Heian Period court astrologer, cosmologist and astronomer Abe no Seimei.
Fortune tellers were considered almost like magicians at the time and were known in Japanese as onmyo-ji. They were followers of onmyodo - the Way of Yin and Yang.
Abe no Seimei served the emperor and the Fujiwara family as diviner, adviser and astrologer in the early part of the Heian Period (794-1185). In addition to telling fortunes, he also held special prayers and was known as a talented astronomer.
For his time Abe no Seimei lived a long life, well in to his 80's, and was free of illness. This helped to build up his mystique and standing at court.
He lived near Ichijo-modori Bridge (modori means "to return" in Japanese). It was a famous place that was also known as 'the devil's gate' as it was located at the north east corner of the original Imperial Palace compound. The Japanese followed the Chinese in believing that danger and evil always arrived from the north east.
The Emperor requested Seimei live in this area to protect the court from malign influences.
Abe no Seimei became a great favorite of the Imperial court and on his death the shrine was built in his memory by Emperor Ichijo in 1007.
＊japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/seimei-shrine
#Kyoto
#京都
#晴明神社
