A Koshin tower (庚申塔) is a stone monument associated with the folk religious practice of Koshin worship, which combines elements of Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto beliefs centered around the Koshin deity and the concept of the three corpses.
This roadside shrine houses a kōshin-tō (庚申塔), a stone monument dedicated to the Taoist-influenced folk belief of Kōshin worship, which protects against misfortune and promotes longevity. The practice centers on the "three worms" (sanshi) belief, where devotees traditionally stayed awake on kōshin nights to prevent spiritual parasites from reporting their sins to heaven. Visitors come to pray for health, protection from evil influences, and spiritual purification, reflecting the syncretic blend of Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist elements common in Japanese folk religion.
- 宗教
- shinto
- 座標
- 35.3224524, 139.560786
参拝のヒント
These stone towers are often found along old roads and in temple or shrine grounds, serving as important markers of Japan's syncretic folk religious traditions.
文化的背景
Koshin worship involves the belief that three corpses (sanshi) residing in the human body report one's sins to heaven on Koshin nights, which occur every 60 days according to the Chinese calendar. Devotees would stay awake all night in groups to prevent the corpses from leaving their bodies, combining this practice with community gatherings and prayers.