Mt. Fuji
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Mt. Fuji (xmR, 3,776 m high) stands at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) high and is surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi (͌), Lake Yamanaka (R), Lake Sai (), Lake Motosu ({) and Lake Shoji (i). They, and Lake Ashi (m), provide excellent views of the mountain. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (ymɓ).
In the ancient records (Õ), Mt. Fuji was described as "Fuji-san" with two different ways using Chinese characters: (sR) or (ssR) meaning the mountain standing unrivalled in Japan. The present representation has been used since the Kamakura Period first ruled by the samurai class in the late twelfth century because it implies that "bushi" (m; "samurai") is rich. Mt. Fuji has also worshipped by Japanese people. The head shrine is Fujisan-Hongu-Sengen-taisha Shrine (xmR{{ԑ, reportedly founded in 31 BC) in Fujinomiya City (xm{s), Shizuoka. There are about 1,300 branch shrines of Sengen-jinjya Shrine across the nation. They enshrines Asama-no-Okami (ԑ_) and Konohana-no-Sakuyabime (؉ԔVv).
Today, Mount Fuji is an international tourist destination and common destination for mountain-climbing. In the early 20th century, American populist educator Frederick Starr (1958-1933)'s Chautauqua lectures about his several ascents of Mount Fuji in 1913, 1919, and 1923, were widely known in America.
Mount Fuji is an attractive volcanic cone and a frequent subject of Japanese art. Amongst the most renowned works are "Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku" (uqG`v, anonymous, 1069), "The Mandala Chart of Mt. Fuji" (uxm֑ɗ}v, anonymous, c. 15th century), Minsetsu Kawamura (͑ )'s One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (wSxmx, 1767), "Hokusai Katsushika ( k)'s 36 Views of Mount Fuji (wyԎO\Zix, 1831) and the first collection of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji (wsO\Zix, 1852) and the second collection of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji (wymO\Zix, 1858) by Hiroshige Utagawa (̐Ld; also Hiroshige Ando [Ld]). The mountain is also mentioned in Japanese literature throughout the ages and the subject of many poems.
Mt. Fuji also houses a warrior tradition: ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a remote training area, near the present day town of Gotemba City (as). The shogun Yoritomo Minamoto ( ) held yabusame (Ln: the art of shooting arrows on horseback; horseback archery) in the area in the early Kamakura Period. As of 2006, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the United States Marine Corps operate military bases near Mount Fuji. |