筑波山パワースポット~Mt. Tsukuba Power Spots~

 

せきれい石(Sekirei Stone (wagtail stone))

この石の上に鶺鴒(せきれい)という鳥が止まり、イザナギノミコトとイザナミノミコトの二神に夫婦の道を教えたという言い伝えがあります。

It is said that a long time ago a wagtail bird perched on this stone and taught the two deities of ‘Izanagi-no-Mikoto’ and ‘Izanami-no-Mikoto’ how to get along well as husband and wife.

縁結びパワースポット(A power spot of matchmakin)

 

天浮橋(あめのうきはし) Ame-no-Ukihashi (the floating bridge of heaven)

神代の昔、イザナギ、イザナミの二柱の神様が山頂の「天浮橋」(あめのうきはし)に立ち、玉で飾った天の沼矛(ぬぼこ)を下ろし、かき回したところ、その矛の先からしたたりおちた塩で成った島(オノコロジマ)が筑波山であり、天地開闢の地とされています。

One day during the time immemorial, the two pillar deities called ‘Izanaki’ and ‘Izanami’ stood on Ame-no-Ukihashi, and unloaded a jeweled spear called Ama-no-nuboko and stirred the primeval ocean with it.  When they pulled up the spear, drops of salty water dripping down from it into the sea began to create an island called Onokorojima, which finally turned into Mt. Tsukuba.  That’s why the mountain has been regarded as a place of heaven and earth creation.

縁結びパワースポット(A power spot of matchmaking)

 

立身石(りっしんせき)Risshin Stone (success-in-life stone)

間宮海峡の発見で知られる間宮林蔵が少年時代に心願成就を祈願した地。また、親鸞聖人が餓鬼を救済した場所とも言われています

This is the place where Rinzo Mamiya, who is well known for discovering the Mamiya Strait, used to pray for the realization of his dearest wish.  Also, it is said to be a place where Shinran, a holy priest, saved lots of starving ghosts.

金運・出世パワースポット(A power spot of luck with money and work)

 

ガマ石 Gama Stone (imaginary-toad stone)

あの筑波山名物「ガマの油」ガマ口上を考案した永井兵助が、この石の前で口上の文句を考えたといわれています。この不思議な形の石は、実は江戸時代には「竜石」と言われ、その尾は霞ヶ浦に達すると言われています。

口の中に石を投げ込むと金運があがると言われています。

It is said that Heisuke Nagai, who developed the toad-oil (special ointment sold at Mt. Tsukuba) sales talk later, came up to the attractive words while he was sitting on the stone.  This unusual-shaped stone had been called ‘Dragon Stone’ during the Edo period (1603-1867) and the imaginary-dragon’s tail is said to reach Lake Kasumigaura.  If you put your hand into the mouth-like hole here, you might get luck with money.

金運・出世パワースポット(A power spot of luck with money and work)

 

裏面大黒(りめんだいこく) Rimen-Daikoku

打ち出の小槌で有名な大黒様がその名のとおり大きな袋を背負っている後姿に見える岩です。

近くに蛭子命(ひるこのみこと)を祀る筑波山神社摂社「渡神社」があります。
御神徳:豊漁繁栄・航海安全・金運良好・交通安全・心願成就

This rock looks like Daikokusama (a deity presiding over food and wealth) with a large sack on his back. Daikokusama is popular for his uchidenokozuchi (a mallet of good luck), too.  Watari Shrine dedicated to Hiruko-no-Mikoto is nearby and the shrine is popular for answering prays for good fish-catch, safe voyage, luck with money, safe travel and realization of one’s dearest wish.

金運・出世パワースポット(A power spot of luck with money and work)

 

白蛇弁天(はくじゃべんてん)
Hakuja Benten (white-snake goddess of eloquence, music and art)

白い蛇が住んでいるといわれ、この白蛇を見ると財をなすとの伝説があります。

It is said a white snake inhabits here, and a legend says that seeing the white snake would make you rich.

金運・出世パワースポット(A power spot of luck with money and work)

 

国割り石(くにわりいし)  Kuniwari Stone (land partition stone)

太古の昔、集まった神々がこの石の上に線を引き、それぞれの統治めるべき地方を割りふったといわれています。

Ages ago, the deities got together here and applied lines on this stone to decide what part of land each of them would rule.

金運・出世パワースポット(A power spot of luck with money and work)

 

屏風岩(びょうぶいわ) Byobu-Iwa (sheer cliff)

まるで屏風のように見えることから名付けられました。筑波山神社の摂社「安座常神社(あざとこじんじゃ)」があり、素戔鳴尊(すさのおのみこと※開祖の神)を祀っています。
御神徳:水難除・火難除・病難除・五穀豊穣・文芸上達・学問上達・縁結び

Since this cliff looks as if a huge folding screen were standing straight, this place is called Byuobu-Iwa.  Azatoko Shrine, a branch shrine of Tsukubasan Shrine, is near here and it is dedicated to Susano-no-Mikoto (the founder deity of the shrine). This place is popular for answering praying for protection from water-caused disasters, fire-caused disasters and various kind of diseases.  Also, this deity is popular for prayers for good harvest, progress in studies and tying the knot.

信仰・神々(Praying / Deities )

 

出船入船(でふねいりふね) Defune Irifune (ships going out and coming in)

石の姿がまるで出てゆく船と入ってくる船が並んでいるように見える。船玉神(ふなたまかみ)を祀り、この岩より熊野灘を遥拝する。

御神徳:航路の安全を守る神

This rock looks like a row of ships coming and going.  Funatama-no-Kami (a ship guardian deity) is worshiped here, and the deity in the rock offers a prayer in the direction of the Kumano Sea.  A guardian deity of safe voyage.

信仰・神々(Praying / Deities )

 

高天原(たかまがはら) Takamagahara

高天原とは日本神話で、天照大神(あまてらすおおみかみ)をはじめ多くの神々が坐す「神様の世界」。その天照大神(太陽神であり、天皇の祖神)を祀る筑波山神社の摂社「稲村神社」があります。

Takamagahara is said to be ‘God World’ where lots of heavenly gods including Amaterasu-Omikami dwelled. Inamura Shrine is near here, which worships Amaterasu-Omikami (goddess of the sun and ancestor deity of the emperor).  This place is popular for answering praying for land stability, better fortune, luck in the game, and bringing happiness.

御神徳:国土安泰、開運、勝運、招福

信仰・神々(Praying / Deities )

 

北斗岩(ほくといわ) Hokuto-Iwa (big dipper stone)

天にそびえたつ岩で、天空に輝く北斗星のように、決して動かないことを意味しています。その脇には祭神の月読尊(つくよみのみこと)を祀る筑波山神社の摂社「小原木神社」があります。

御神徳:農業守護・五穀豊穣・豊漁・航海安全・家内安全

This rock soars to the sky and seemingly would never move like the big dipper twinkling in the sky.  Obaragi Shrine, a branch shrine of Tsukubasan Shrine, stands by the rock, worshipping Tsukuyomi, a moon god.  The deity is popular for answering prays for protecting agriculture, huge harvest, good fish-catch, safe voyage and family welfare.

奇岩・怪石(Fantastically-shaped rocks / bizarre stones)

 

母の胎内くぐり(ははのたいないくぐり)
Haha-no-Tainai Kuguri (passing through the narrow sanctified cavern)

筑波山禅定(修験の行)の行場の一つ。岩を抜けることで、罪穢の無い清い心身に立ち返ることを意味しています。

This is a place of training for Zenjo (ascetic practice atop a sacred mountain).  Going through the narrow space like a birth canal in the rock means returning to an innocent state of body and mind.

奇岩・怪石(Fantastically-shaped rocks / bizarre stones)

 

弁慶七戻り(べんけいななもどり)
Benkei Nana Modori (Benkei’s seven-time return)

古くから、神々の世界と現世を分かつ場所とされてきた石門。頭上の岩が今にも落ちそうで恐れおののいた弁慶が「七戻り」したといわれている石です。

This is a stone gate that is said to divide the sacred world from the mundane one.  Since the huge rock looks as if it’s about to fall, Benkei, a strong warrior monk, is said to have hesitated to go through under the rock and he went ‘back and forth seven times.

奇岩・怪石(Fantastically-shaped rocks / bizarre stones)

 

大仏岩(だいぶついわ) Daibutsu Rock

大仏のように見えるこの巨岩は、高さなんと15m。女体山頂近くにそびえ立っています。

Yin implies negative things including the earth, female, the moon, night, stillness and the dark.  Yang indicates positive things including the heaven, male, the sun, day, movement and light.  The two opposite-meaning rocks seem to stand up close together.

奇岩・怪石(Fantastically-shaped rocks / bizarre stones)

 

陰陽石(いんようせき) Yin Yang Stone

陰(地・女・月・夜・静・暗など)と陽(天・男・日・昼・動・明など)、相反する二つの巨大な岩が寄り添うようにそびえ立っています。

Yin implies negative things including the earth, female, the moon, night, stillness and the dark.  Yang indicates positive things including the heaven, male, the sun, day, movement and light.  The two opposite-meaning rocks seem to stand up close together.

奇岩・怪石(Fantastically-shaped rocks / bizarre stones)