RIP: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Tree
Posted: March 12, 2010 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Japan, Shinto | 7 Comments »As an amusing (and Buddhist) reminder that all good things must come to an end,1 I noticed in today’s edition of the Asahi Shimbun that the famous 1,000 year old Ginkgo tree at the Shinto shrine of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū has fallen in a recent storm. If you’ve ever visited the ancient city of Kamakura, chances are you’ve seen this shrine and the immense Gingko tree there. I have seen the old shrine twice, including this picture (which includes the famous tree, now gone):
The Ginkgo tree is on the right, and it really is a big tree. Sadly, it was the best picture I have, but other better pictures can easily be found on the web. It’s also here, coincidentally I once saw a traditional Japanese wedding:2
Again, apologies for the fuzzy picture. Photography is not my forte. :p
Anyway, as the Asahi article points out, this tree has seen some very important aspects of Japanese history, and it’s hard to imagine something living long enough to see so many changes and so many pilgrims over the centuries. The tree is an iconic aspect of this very famous Shinto shrine, and it will certainly be missed by many.
Namu Amida Butsu
Update: Good news on the tree restoration efforts.
1 Reminds me of the last episode of Star Trek: the Next Generation, when Q says the same line.
2 My wife pointed out to me that in order have a real traditional wedding, at such a famous shrine meant that this was no ordinary wedding.
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
Yes, I read about this. There is an interesting story about this tree you may have heard of. Maybe just a myth but the tree is famous because of an event that took place in 1219. In 1219, Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo was assassinated by Minamoto Kugyô. From the stories I’ve read, apparently Kugyô hid behind this ginkgo tree to assassinate Sanetomo which he succeeded in doing. Kugyo was captured and beheaded the next day. Sanetomo was the 3rd Kamakura shogun and it was following his assassination that the Hojo clan became the real power behind the Kamakura shoguns.
What a great loss! The tree stood there all these centuries! Fortunately, I took a few photos of it when I was there last year.
UPDATE: One expert thinks the tree might be saved. Here is the news story:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100313a6.html
I hope it works out!
I like viewing old trees. You can sometimes feel their age and lifetime, and it can give you a humble feeling. Existing in one place for so long as everything around you changes, including yourself. If only trees could talk I would be so willing to listen.
Hi guys,
Lots of good comments, always enjoy hearing from you.
Tornado28: Funny how one tree, a very venerable tree at that, can be so directly a part of history for a whole country. Life is interesting, no?
Johnl: Thanks for the update. Let’s hope they can save the tree.
Kendall: Me too. I saw a special in Japan about old trees in Chiba Prefecture, and it was amazing what you could find there. They were less famous trees, but some had become points of Shinto veneration, while some just sat in people’s backyards out in the countryside.
I saw on the news today that the tree (trunk? stump?) was unveiled today. It looked about 2-3 metres high with no branches but they are hoping the roots will be good and shoots will appear. Never seen it myself though, still it doesn’t look to be dead yet.
Oh wow, that’s good to know. Kind of symbolic in a way too.