#shinto

Under a blue umbrella, two figures approach the Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara, Japan. Woodblock print by Kawase Hasui. 1933.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

I call this one... "Trying my PATIENCE"

Aqua has quickly spun her way into my heart!~! I love me a little chaos gremlin who likes you but keeps causing you trouble!

This whole chapter was a blast, and frankly worth the wait! And I cant wait for the next one cause goddamn!

Especially since its just... so japanese! I love japan, its mythos, its architecture, fashion, anime of course... and fuck the music was so much the vibe!!!! Toby outdid himself. Hope he gets a good few weeks of rest before resuming the creation of peak!

And, because im a masochist, I put way too much effort into the background!

Hoping to use this for something else in the future!

Hope you enjoy, and if you do, I take commissions and have a patreon! Details on the pinned post of my tumblr!

Buddhist temple of Hōryū-ji, the oldest wooden structure in the world, commissioned by Prince Shōtoku, 7th-8th century, Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The structure represents the beginning of Buddhism in Japan. Hōryū-ji was originally commissioned by Prince Shōtoku in the early 7th century under the name Wakakusadera and dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing. The first temple complex, completed around 607, was likely destroyed by fire after a lightning strike in 670 and subsequently rebuilt in a slightly different orientation by the early 8th century. Over the centuries, it underwent multiple repairs and restorations.

As devotion to Prince Shōtoku grew—particularly during the Kamakura period—the temple became a major center of his veneration. New halls were added, annual memorial rites such as the Shōryō-e ceremony were established, and the temple developed close ties with the Hossō sect, especially during the Edo period, when it received regular shogunal support.

The Meiji Restoration brought severe challenges: the elevation of Shinto as state religion reduced Buddhist funding and led to sectarian reorganization. Although briefly affiliated with Shingon Buddhism, Hōryū-ji later returned to the Hossō school. Financial hardship led the monks to donate treasures for museum display, prompting compensation and eventual conservation efforts. Major restoration began in 1934, was paused during the Second World War—when parts of the temple were dismantled for protection—and resumed afterward, concluding in 1985.