Gozu-Tenno, the enshrined deity of Yasaka jinja shrine

Yasaka jinja shrine is one of popular sightseeing places of Kyoto.
At June, we can see "Gion matsuri" festival at the shrine and area around.
That season, the area becomes bustling and crowded with local people and tourists.

The enshrined deity of the shrine is to be thought Gozu-Tenno or Susanoo no Mikoto.
Gozu-Tenno's origin is not sure, but it seems the deity had a connection to Korean peninsula.
The deity's figure is descrived as a male person with a huge body and a bull's head.

Gozu-Tenno has many interesting anecdotes, however we hardly understand how the deity really is like.
According to a legend, when a plague come to Heian-kyo (ancient name of the central of Kyoto), people thought the plague was caused by a curse of some terrible deities.
People prayed to Gozu-Tenno, then the plague stopped.
After that, people started to worship the deity as a guardian deity for health.

It seems the religious faith of Gozu-Tenno have brought to Heian-kyo by foreign people like merchants or technical experts from Korea or China.
They have brought new technology, culture and even faith of deities to Japan.
In other words, Japanese culture is consists of both native and foreign customs and traditions.
This is the way our unique culture have made.