A huge stack of sakedaru (sake barrels) at Matsuo Shrine near Kyoto. Matsuo is the home of the patron kami of sake brewers.
Sake when offered to the kami is known as O-miki. It is one of the primary offering (shinsen) to the kami. After a ceremony the omiki will be shared among the participants and congregation.
I don't drink sake, but gladly drink omiki.
The wooden sakedaru are wrapped in a ricestraw blanket to protect them during transportation.
Most of the major shrines will have a stack of sakedaru, usually, but not always, donated by brewers.
I love all the different designs on the barrels. Can I ask if you took these early morning or sundown? Or perhaps neither!?! I'm mainly referring to the light in the penultimate pic.
ReplyDeleteThat was Dazaifu Tenmangu, late afternoon, October
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