A stone monument dedicated to the Koshin faith, representing a syncretic religious practice that combines Shinto, Buddhist, and Taoist elements. These towers typically feature carved imagery of the Three Wise Monkeys and serve as focal points for community religious observance.
- Religion
- shinto
- Coordinates
- 35.3224595, 139.5607843
Visitor tip
Look for the carved imagery of three monkeys representing 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' which is commonly found on these stone monuments.
Cultural notes
The Koshin faith represents a unique blend of folk religion in Japan, incorporating the Taoist concept of the Three Corpses (Sanshi) with local Shinto and Buddhist practices. The three monkeys motif has become internationally recognized as a symbol of moral principle.
Historical note
Koshin towers became popular during the Edo period as part of the Koshin-machi tradition, where communities would gather on Koshin nights (occurring every 60 days) for religious observances. The practice stems from Taoist beliefs about preventing evil spirits from reporting one's sins to heaven during sleep.