Meoto-iwa
On our day trip to Ise we made a stop in Futami to see the Meoto-iwa (Wedded Rocks). We made the stop for a few reasons. First, we weren’t quite done sight-seeing for the day. Second, we were so close to the ocean that I wanted to make sure I saw it before we headed back to our little landlocked town.
Meoto-iwa is a part of the Okitama-jinja (Okitama Shrine). The two rocks are considered to be male and female (who can guess which is which) and are physically joined in matrimony by the rope. The rope is replaced each year, signifying a renewal of the marriage bond, at a special festival on January 5.
Aside from the two rocks, there were an awful lot of frogs around the shrine. I am not quite sure what the symbolism of that is, but I would be interested to find out. Any guesses?
My guess is fertility. There is nothing quite like a spawning frog!
Okay, you got me interested, so I tried a little search on the Internet and here were a couple of good explanations in my opinion. I got these from some forum on japan-guide.com.
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“Frog” in Japanese is “kaeru.” While the kanji/kana involved in writing the words are different, it is pronounced the same way you say “return/to return” (also “kaeru”).
As it has been explained to me, frogs can be linked with things/or people returning to a place or origin. They are lucky to keep around so that money, friends, good things stuff which you usually see off or give away will at some point “kaeru” or come back.
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They are a sign of spring and therefore youth. If you keep one for a pet they are suppose to bring good fortune.
Also, there is a pun [that translates to] “Money returns”
Which sounds like “Money is frog”
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They are not as cool as the jumping origami frog Aaron made me….