Japanese Deer
The deer belongs to mammalian order of Artiodactyla. Deer are found in Japan from Hokkaido through to Okinawa, and are classified into seven regional subspecies.
The deer belongs to the mammalian order of Artiodactyla. Found throughout Asia, deer also inhabit Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Japanese deer are classified into seven regional subspecies - Ezo, Honshu, Kyushu, Mage, Yaku, Kerama, and Tsushima.
Deer have lived on the Japanese archipelago for a long time. Their remains have been excavated from archeological sites dating back to the Jomon era. During the Yayoi era, deer were often represented in objects, such as bronze bell-shaped vessel, and in paintings related to supernatural beings, while during the Kofun era, haniwa (clay figures) of deer were made. Over time, deer have come to be treated as divine beasts.
The Kasuga Grand Shrine was established in what is currently Nara city, during the Nara era. Deer are considered to be the shrine’s messenger to the kami, as it is believed that the god, Takemikazuchi no Mikoto arrived on a white deer.
Deer that are raised on the grounds of a shrine as messengers of the kami are known as Shinroku (divine deer), and were well protected from the Muromachi era through to the Edo era.
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春日大社は、春日山原始林を背景に奈良公園内にある神社。世界遺産「古都奈良の文化財」であり、 奈良時代に平城京の守護と国民の繁栄を祈願する為に創建され藤原氏の氏神を祀る。
鹿島神宮は、日本建国・武道の神様である「武甕槌大神(たけみかづちのかみ)」を御祭神とする、神武天皇元年創建と伝える由緒ある神社。鹿島神宮の神使は鹿。
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「奈良のシカ」の保護育成や調査研究を行う財団法人。鹿について学べる。