INARI

 EXECERPT FROM THIS BOOK: A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN JAPAN (INCLUDING FORMOSA), BY BASIL CHAMBERLAIN,F.R.G.S. AND W.B. MASON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND LATE OF THE IMPERIAL  JAPANESE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. WITH THIRTY MAPS AND PLANS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. NINTH EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT. LONDON. JOHN MURRAY, ALLEMARLE STREET. YOKOHAMA, SHANGHAI,- KELLY&WALSH, LIMITED-HONKONG, SINGAPORE.1913

INARI IS

INARI- the Goddess of Rice also called Uga no Mitama. SHE IS THE PATRON OF FOXES AND BLACKSMITHS AS WELL.

 The fox whose image is always found in her temples, is her servant or messenger.Though the more igno rant worshippers take that wily beast for the goddess herself .There is some confusion with regard to the sex of Inari, who is occasionally represented as a bearded man 

Inari- a temple of the Shingon sect of Buddhists dedicated to the worship of Miroku and properly called Sambō in but generally known as Daigoji. Name Daigoji is coming from the name of the adjacent village. The main edifice has apartments handsomely painted by Kanō San raku and other artists,- and containing some splendid screens from Hideyoshi's palace at Momoyama. 

There is also a large pagoda besides other edifices. This is an example of interesting as exemplifying different architectural epochs. 

The garden too is very fine. On the top of the hill at what is called Kami Daigo- 24 m further, there are several more buildings. The whole neighbourhood is finely wooded, and the maples in the autumn are being exceptionally beautiful. This spacious foundation dates back to the reign of the Emperor Daigo AD 904, and it was restored under Hideyoshi in the 16th century from which period also dates the garden. 

CITATION FROM :

INTIMATE TALES of OLD JAPAN by HAROLD HUGGINS and OSAM SHIMIZU -PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS TOKYO JAPAN 1929 

THE GODDESS OF FOXES,  FIRMEN, ACTORS AND BLAKSMITHS- INARI

Buddhism  kas reached Japan about 650 AD. The God Daikini of Buddhism rapidly disappeared in the worship of the Japanese diety Inari . At first Kwannon Sama was worshipped at the shrine of Inari Daikoku Sama and Benten Sama are often depicted riding on white foxes.

 Fudo Myojin also rides a white fox .

There is a close relation between Dakini and Kali, the evil blood drinking. flesh eating cannibal god of degenerate Buddhism. In Japan the esoteric sects of Shingon and Tendai are followers of the cult of Dakini.

There is one strange point,  which Dakini and have in common  with Inari and which is not often mentioned in early literature.They both wandered  late in the night, about at seeking the souls of men that they might devour them.

Inari is also the patron of blacksmiths and iron mongers.  They celebrate the festival of Inari on November 8 and call it Fuigo Matsuri. Low class actors were often called Inari machi .Actors are fervent worshippers of Inari. Firemen also worship Inari, who protects them especially from the ravages of fire.

THE JEWELS OF THE FOX WORLD- HOSHI NO TAMA

One more superstition about Inari and foxes. It is said that very old foxes, having the highest rank in the fox world always bear a jewel called the "hoshi no tama" at the end of their tails. Even these exalted foxes some times get into fights. and have been known to lose their hoshi no tama. They are then outcast, and no fox will have anything to do with them. If a human being picks up one of these precious jewels. his for tune is made. for the poor fox will give anything on earth or in the heavens above .or the seas below, in order to get it back again .This is quite true because many people have picked up these hoshi no tama and become suddenly rich, so they say. But to the doubting Thomases ,the hoshi no tama look remarkably like balls of animal hair which there is some reasonable ground for believing really are dropped by foxes.