About
As you walk through the quiet residential area of Naruse in Machida City, you may suddenly notice a small roadside shrine. There, a rare tengu-shaped Dosojin deity, erected in the mid-Edo period, stands quietly. This stone statue, which is said to be unique even nationwide, takes the form of a karasu-tengu, holding a feather fan in its right hand and a shakujo staff in its left, strongly reflecting the influence of Shugendo practices.
Dosojin deities have been worshipped as protectors of villages, enshrined at village boundaries and mountain passes to guard against epidemics and evil spirits from outside. However, tengu-shaped Dosojin are extremely rare and have hardly been found outside Machida City. The background to the existence of this tengu-shaped Dosojin in this area lies in the history of the Naruse district, where there was once a Yakushido hall that served as a base for Shugendo practitioners who spread prayers and the faith of building stupas. Due to their influence, a Dosojin with a tengu child image as its principal deity was erected as a guardian deity of the village.
This tengu-shaped Dosojin was registered as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Machida City on March 7, 2025. The city’s Board of Education stated, “It is a rare cultural property even on a national scale. We will consider appropriate methods of protection with the cooperation of the local community,” and, taking into account the current situation where the stone is deteriorating and being damaged by weeds, they are exploring future protection measures.
When you visit this place, you can feel how the quiet presence of the tengu-shaped Dosojin has continued to watch over the local people across the ages. Influenced by Shugendo, this rare stone statue is a valuable testament to the history and culture of Naruse, Machida City, and leaves a deep impression on those who visit.