Even in one single leaf on a tree, or in one blade of grass, the awesome Deity presents itself.
-Shinto Saying
Covered by a blanket of lush, skyscraper-esque trees, Nikko’s mountains erupt from the earth like green fingers, reaching for the sky. Underneath this dense forest lies a gilded Shinto shrine, snaking up the mountain like a vein of gold. It is here that an ancient harmony has been preserved, a perfect equilibrium between nature and man. How was such a perfect balance created so long ago? Lacking modern technology or tools, Toshugu stands as a testament to a time of human ingenuity and a deep reverence for the natural world. Carefully crafted to fit the ebb and flow of the environment it is nested in, Toshugu Shrine has achieved a relationship with nature that has been lost during the modern era. According to Shinto beliefs, spirits can be found in all parts of nature. From the towering cedar trees to the smallest river pebbles, all parts of the environment are treated with the utmost respect. It is this belief that has allowed Toshugu Shrine to craft such a unique relationship with nature. By treating every aspect of the environment as not only important but inherently sacred, human creations follow nature’s path instead of bending it to our will.
However, Toshugu is more than just a beautiful shrine crafted seamlessly into its surrounding environment. It serves as a model for environmentally sustainable human development. Toshugu Shrine’s achievement of such a perfect equilibrium between man and nature is not simply a relic of the past. Its respect for every single part of the natural world is a beacon of hope in our increasingly modernizing world. We can learn so much from this venerable, sacred place that it would be a shame to ignore it. From the building of cities to the agricultural techniques that sustain our life and breath, Toshugu Shrine stands as a silent teacher leading by example. In such a technologically focused world, sometimes we need not look ahead but back, to move forward.
