It is not only time that is marked on the body of big trees

The greatness of a tree can't identify by the size of it, but a huge tree with a trunk so large that both arms can't reach it impresses us its depth and the passage of time. Ancient Japanese people also feel greatness and mysterious of big trees and worshiped it as sacred tree at shrine. Many trees are still cherished by people at shrines, temples and other places today.
When many Japanese people find a big tree, they touch it because they feel it gives them energy. An old lady I once met at a shrine told me that we were sharing our energy with the trees and were receiving something in return. When you visit a shrine, find a sacred tree and touch it to feel its energy.