Okinawa, Japan | A Scroll of Cultural Memory: "From Sea to City, From Common People to Gods" in Art Screens

According to historical records, Futenmangu Shrine was built during the Ryukyu Kingdom era to enshrine the Kumano Three Gods and incorporate local ontake worship. Artistically, this fusion of three elements—vermilion, limestone, and spirituality—culminates the story of Futenmangu's founding: the culture of the royal palace, imported deities, and local sacred natural sites. Today, travelers entering Futenmangu Shrine encounter a modern reconstruction of the shrine's main building, but if they let their imaginations run wild, they can imagine the artistic image: the caves are the canvas's backdrop, the torii gates are the brushstrokes, and faith is the spiritual light that permeates it all.