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sirenutsukushi · 3 years

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Yowainari Family Information

Just a little information about the Yowainari family, their traditions, and visualization of the estate, shrine and temple.

-The Yowainari family is one of the oldest families in Japan and the oldest in the Kansai region of Japan. They have existed since before the Edo period, long before the Edo period if some reports are believed.

-The Yowainari family name roughly means Delicate Fox, and the family is known for dedicatedly worshiping and serving Inari Okami-Sama, the foxish god and protector of rice cultivation and fertility, as well as Kitsune. The men born into the family were said to be experts in the fields, while the women were said to give birth to strong boys and beautiful girls.

-The Yowainari Family is led by a matriarch, but if the matriarch passes away then the patriarch will lead the family. The current members of the Yowainari family who still live around the Temple or are apart of the newest generation are as follows.

•Grandfather (Patriarch) ~ Katashi Yowainari

•Mother ~ Nana Yowainari

•Father ~ Manzo Yowainari

•Eldest Son ~ Ren Yowainari

•Eldest Daughter ~ (Y/n) Yowainari

•Younger Daughter ~ Ran Yowainari

•Youngest Son ~ Yukio Yowainari

-The Yowainari family is dedicated to Inari Okami-Sama, or they used to be. Because of this the old estate they own was built near the temple, in an arc, with the family shrine sitting in the center of the arc, and the temple a further bit away. There’s hardly any steppable ground outside the engowa, as surrounding the arc of the estate and the family shrine are a series of large, connected koi ponds. To get around the estate minkas and shrine, traditionally styled bridges are built and lit by paper lanterns. Beautiful willow, cherry blossom, maple and wisteria trees grow around the property, with shimmering furin hung here and there on branches. Growing on the surface of the ponds are lotus and water lilies, along with a few other aquatic plants. The estate property is home to three minka, houses, surrounding the shrine in the center. The middle and largest minka is where the current head generation stay and live. The one to the left is where the grandparents or former head generation stay and live. The one to the right is where the future generation is supposed to stay, however it’s been abandoned since the Taisho Period.

-The inside of the Minkas are styled traditionally as well, with tatami flooring, shoji walls and traditional, antique furniture. Futons are slept in, instead of western style beds, kotatsu tables and cushions are used, and there are even rooms with kimono stands for the elegant clothing. However the buildings have had renovations done to add electrical utilities, running water, etc. The only minka that is the same as it was when it was constructed is the one that has been abandoned. (Y/n) wishes to eventually fix up and repair the minka so it’s livable, while keeping it the same as it was in Edo period, but she doesn’t like being inside there for too long.

-The Yowainari family Shrine is a Shinto style shrine, with a gazebo like appearance. Glass furin hang around the shrine, and fuda and talismans are scattered here and there. Large stone lanterns outside the shrine are lit religiously every evening at 7pm, and put out religiously every morning at 6am. Inside the shrine, a stone statue depicting a Kitsune with its right paw raised and a fuda slip held in its smiling mouth, with the family name written in kanji. Sitting in front of the kitsune’s feet, with two of the yokai’s tails wrapped around it is a bowl where offerings are laid, and wrapped around the statue are shimenawa, protection fuda and even a few wilted flower crowns a top it’s head. Above the statue, a brass bowl hangs. This is where incense is placed and lit five times a day. A few raised podium like fixtures hold important artifacts related to the Yowainari family, and along the wall behind the statue are the names of family members who have passed, written small.

-The temple outside of the estate is located following the lined pathway, between towering wisteria trees. It’s not insanely large, but it boasts ancient elegance. The first gate is right outside the beginning of the bridge over the estate koi pond, followed by the sando and temizuya. Passing through the second gates, instead of komainu to guard the tamagaki and temple, there are two inari statues, smiling coyly, with shimenawa around them. Past the tamagaki, the temple is composed of two separate buildings, an inner and outer one. The outer building is home to the haiden (worship hall). Behind the haiden is a second, outer fence and then the honden (main sanctuary). The honden architecture is styled like ones in the Nara prefecture. Unlike some temples however, yes it is rather bare and empty looking, however inside the honden is a single ornate statue of golden fox with nine tails outstretched in different positions, some curled around itself. It’s left paw is raised, a smile on its face, holding the incense bowl by the chain between its teeth. Wrapped around the fox is a thicker, red roped shimenawa. In front of the fox, lay by its paws are a few bushels of rice. Just outside the honden, on two pedestals outside the entrance are two, smaller golden statues of single tailed foxes, sitting paws flat and ears turned back. Inside the Haiden is a single altar, with a few incense bowls hung above it. The altar is where offerings of food are placed, while the smaller altar connected to it are where other offerings are placed. The tatami mats are placed strategically a bit before the altar for prayers and blessings, although this mostly takes place in the honden. Inside the outer gate that surrounds the honden, the area is a smaller zen garden, white sand decorated with different designs from the rakes. Three ancient maple trees grow around the stone stepping path leading up to the temple, each with shimenawa wrapped around their trunks and furin hanging from their branches. It’s (Y/n)’s job to care for the gardens/ponds and the life they hold as well as keeping the temple clean and kept

-Despite the beautiful estate being more than livable, Nana and Manzo do not live there, only staying for a few days every few months. (Y/n) and Ran (sometimes) are the ones who stay in the middle minka, despite their grandfather technically being the head of the family. It’s a bit far from Inarizaki High School, so (Y/n) has to bike every morning, but that’s not an issue for her. She has to get up early to light the incense, so the blessings and put out the lanterns anyways. She’d much rather stay at the Temple Estate than with her parents in the city.

-(Y/n) and her grandfather are the only people who care for the shrine, temple and estate other than Ataiyo, Midōba, Mizuki and Kazashi. But Miko training isn’t the only thing (Y/n) is learning. She also gets to learn the art of tessen wielding from her grandfather, who teaches Mizuki, Kazashi and her. However, (Y/n) is the only one who wants to be a shrine maiden, a priestess.

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