The Objects and Performances of Religion and Tourism

The Case of Seimei Shrine, Kyoto

Abstract

In recent years, many Japanese shrines and temples have become popular tourist attractions. While this phenomenon has previously been discussed as the process of representation, this study will focus on the material side of religion and tourism. The subject of the study, Seimei Shrine, is a shrine dedicated to the sorcerer Abe no Seimei (921-1005), who is frequently featured in popular culture. In the 2000s the shrine became a tourist attraction for the fans of the novel series Onmyōji (1988-) and the movie adaptation (2001). Due to the increase in visitor numbers, the shrine started improving its premises and changing its image by placing bronze statues and other objects realizing the legends of Abe no Seimei. The visitors, with their various interests and motivations, interact with these objects in different ways―not only through the common rituals but also more improvisational performances. In these performances, the statues and other paraphernalia are not only the objects of action but can be seen as actors that attract various actions and responses. Using the approaches of performance studies and material religion, this paper sheds light on the interaction between people, objects, and the environment in shrine tourism.