白山神社、新潟市

There are numerous shrines named Hakusan in Niigata City; we are concerned with the main shrine, located downtown in Furumachi. Before continuing, it should be noted that this shrine, like all others by the same name, traces its roots to 白山比咩神社 in Ishikawa Prefecture. 白山 (also known as Shirayama) is one of Japan's three holy peaks, the others being Fuji and Tate. The photo shows the main shrine gate, or torii (鳥居). Now, some authorities have averred that the gate derives its name from the fact that fowls were provided a perch at shrines from which to announce the sunrise, while others have maintained that the characters simply refer to a gateway. Whatever the case, let us consider Hakusan's torii:

The pendent banner urges the faithful to offer up their prayers for the coming year at 初詣、the New Year's shrine visit. The white board to the right suggests prayers for success on school entrance, employment, and qualifying exams will be answered.

To return to the gate itself: notice the plaque attached to the two horizontal crosspieces:,扁額 (hengaku), it's called. On the board are inscribed the name of the shrine (true at all shrines) and, in this instance, the following characters: 来客山人鎮守。 Hakusan Shrine's homepage doesn't elucidate, but the internet offers 山 (the natural world), 人 (humanity) and 鎮守 (the Shinto deities), the idea being, I think, a holistic vision of Japanese society. It is now January first' Happy New Year. 新年あけましておめでとうございます。良いお年を。