Fundraising for the Statue of Sukunabikona

Honoring the Small Man of Renown—Protector, Healer, and Kami of Sacred Waters

We are creating a powerful new addition to the Rime Healing Garden at the Land of Shambhala: a stone statue of the Shinto kami Sukunabikona, also known as the Small Man of Renown. Humble in stature yet immense in spiritual presence, Sukunabikona brings the healing spirit of the hot springs, protection from disease, and the vitality of nature’s lifeforce.

This sacred statue will serve as a place of communion with this benevolent kami, offering a deeply peaceful and energetically vibrant space for prayer, healing rituals, and cultural appreciation. The figure may stand approximately 1.5 to 2 meters tall—small in size, yet expansive in sacred significance.

Who is Sukunabikona?

In the Japanese Shinto tradition, Sukunabikona is a divine kami of healing, herbal medicine, sake brewing, and protection from illness and danger. Though he appears as a miniature man, his presence is profound. He traveled alongside Ōkuninushi, helping to shape and civilize the land of Japan, teaching humanity how to heal, ferment, and live in harmony with nature.

He is especially revered in:

• Onsen (hot spring) cultures as a guardian of therapeutic waters

• The sake brewing tradition as a divine fermenter and inventor of sake

• Shinto healing shrines for his protection from disease and wild energies

Shinto and the World of Kami

Shinto is not a religion of belief, but a practice of reverence. It teaches that kami are spiritual forces—manifestations of life-energy—who respond to sincere offerings, gratitude, and devotion.

Kami are not perfect. Like humans, they can grow, evolve, and even err. But when honored and remembered, they become powerful allies in human life. Sukunabikona, as one of the gentlest and most nurturing kami, responds especially to those seeking to heal, soften, or restore balance within.

Through this statue, we will:

• Create a spiritual bridge between worlds

• Invite blessings of health, peace, and fertility

• Celebrate a cross-cultural expression of healing and Earth-honoring

Why Sukunabikona in the Healing Garden?

Sukunabikona’s gifts are in alignment with the core mission of the Rime Healing Garden—to create a universal sanctuary where spiritual traditions converge in a shared vision of wholeness, harmony, and restoration.

His statue will serve as:

• A protector of sacred spaces and gentle healing energy

• A focal point for ritual offerings and gratitude

• A visual reminder that size does not limit power—that humble forms often carry great wisdom

• Causes and Conditions for us to Manifest a healing mineral spa on the property

What the Funds Will Support

• Your generous contribution will support every step in the realization of this sacred project, including:

  • Designing the base and layout

  • Creating a detailed 3D model

  • Identifying sustainable materials and structural anchoring

  • Sculpting and painting for durability in the elements

  • Transportation to or within Australia

  • Installation within the Rime Healing Garden

  • Any blessing ceremony needed in the tradition for the statue

Be Part of This Devotional Offering

By contributing, you help bridge the visible and invisible, bringing Sukunabikona’s benevolent energy into the world through devotion, art, and place-based practice.

“The kami who brings medicine, laughter, and protection asks for nothing but remembrance.” — Shinto folk proverb

Support the creation of this sacred statue and welcome this Shinto deity to our ocean of diversity.