Chikubushima

Episode three of chapter seven follows Tsunemasa as he makes pilgrimage to the island of Chikubushima. After arriving, Tsunemasa proceeds to kneel before the buddhist shrine, saying: “One pilgrimage to your shrine assures, they say, fulfillment of every prayer” (356). This appeal was to the deity of the island, Benzaiten; the Kami of eloquence, luck and beauty. Benzaiten was sometimes referred to as Myōon. However, these two names refer to the same deity. Sanctuaries in honor of this goddess are almost always near water; Japan’s Three Great Benzaiten Shrines are located on the Enoshima Island in Sagami Bay, the Chikubushima Island in Lake Biwa, and the Itsukushima Island in Seto Inland Sea (Guignard).

Benzaiten is one of Japan’s most complex (and beloved) deities. In Japan today, shrines that honor Benzaiten can be found all across the country, and every major city has at least one. The origin of the buddhist goddess stems from the Hindu water-goddess Saraswati, the goddess of art, knowledge and music (Tripathi). In Japan, her rise in popularity began during the aristocratic period known as the Heian period. The goddess was adopted as the protector-deity of the state (aka the Taira family) and eventually of all the people of Japan. During this time, Benzaiten was often depicted as an eight-armed weapon-wielding defender. After some time, her role as goddess of music and her connection to water became more prominent within Japanese culture - it is at this time we see a shift in portrayal to that of a two-armed beauty, often playing a lute or Biwa (Faure).