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【WOW】Visiting the Setting of a Classical Tale — Experiencing the World of Tsurezuregusa, Section 52

In December, the Japanese Language Department held the “Iwashimizu WOW” event. This project invited 8th-grade students to visit Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, the setting of Section 52 of *Tsurezuregusa* (“Essays in Idleness”) titled *The Priest from Ninna-ji Temple*, which they had studied in class. In the tale, a priest from Ninna-ji Temple long wishes to visit Iwashimizu Hachimangu but ends up visiting only the temples at the foot of the mountain — Gokuraku-ji and Kora Shrine — missing the main shrine due to lack of a guide, which leads to a humorous yet poignant anecdote.


On the day of the excursion, students climbed Mt. Otokoyama on foot and descended via the cable car. Along the way, they stopped by the remains of Gokuraku-ji and Kora Shrine—where the priest in the story mistakenly concluded his pilgrimage. Students were able to retrace the priest's steps and reflect on the question, “Why was he satisfied with only this?” while also enjoying the peak autumn foliage.


Visiting the actual locations described in classical literature helped students grasp the settings and characters more vividly than through text alone. They deepened their understanding of the story and also learned that Iwashimizu Hachimangu is known as a shrine where the Genji clan once prayed for victory in battle. During their visit, many students offered their own prayers—for example, for their club teams’ success in competitions. “Even for small matters, having a guide is desirable.” — With this lesson from the text in mind, the day proved to be both meaningful and memorable.


Reference: Modern Translation of *Tsurezuregusa*, Section 52
A certain priest from Ninna-ji Temple had long wished to visit Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine but never had the chance. Finally, one day he went alone on foot. He visited Gokuraku-ji and Kora Shrine at the base of the mountain, and thinking that was enough, returned home. When recounting the story to his companions, he said, “I finally fulfilled a long-held wish. It was an even more sacred place than I had heard. By the way, I noticed many people climbing the mountain—was something going on? I thought my main purpose was to pray at the shrine, so I didn’t bother with the mountain.” — Even in small matters, having a guide is desirable.
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