Earlier this month, people in Japan went viral after it was discovered that the famous Sessho-seki “killer stone” in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, had been broken in half.
The reason this broken rock became the focus of discussion on the internet afterwards is because it has long been believed that it houses the spirit of a nine-tailed fox. And the fox in Nasu is not considered a friendly spirit, as it originally transformed into a beautiful woman to carry out a plot to assassinate Emperor Toba, who ruled Japan from 1107 to 1123 To escape punishment, the nine-tailed fox fled to Nasu, then transformed into a stone capable of leaking poison, killing everyone and animals passing by.
The Sessho-seki Stone was broken in half in early March.
For years, the murder stone or vengeful fox spirit had been bound inside, and secured with a sacred rope called a shimenawa, which was wound around by a priest at the local temple. So, after the stone was broken in two, a priest from a local temple was called in to perform a special ceremony called the “Remembrance of the Murder Stone, the Nine-Tails of Lake Nasu, and the Ceremony of Praying for the Dead.” pray for peace”.
Local tourism officials performed a purification ceremony for the evil fox’s soul on March 26.
Memorial ceremonies are a way to appease souls in Japan. So instead of tying the rock with ropes and physically interfering with any natural or unnatural forces that would lead to the stone breaking in two, the monks prayed to bring the soul to its destination. rest in peace.
However, a few foxes were present at the ceremony, playing characters in cosplay, along with artwork depicting the mythical beast.
Several cosplay foxes attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, which took place on March 26, attendees along with the monk bowed as he read prayers in front of the altar, where offerings such as sake and fresh fruit were placed. The monk then climbs the stone steps to stand in front of the broken rock, waving a haraegushi (wand made of strips of paper) around the area to purify the nine-tailed fox’s spirit.
The ceremony also included a performance on taiko drums, with rhythmic sounds penetrating and eerily resonating amid the rocky landscape. After the formalities were over, Nasu’s local mascot Kyubi – a friendlier version of the nine-tailed fox – posed for pictures with other cosplay foxes who attended the event.
Kyubi is the local mascot, reimagining the nine-tailed fox, posing with the cosplay fox.
The Nasu Tourism Association, which oversees the popular tourist destination and arranges for the ceremony, said it hoped the soul purification would calm the “beast” and make it an omen of good luck. bring peace and prosperity to the region.
No one knows if the ritual actually had a calming effect on the monster. But, some locals believe it had some effect, as a mysterious mist fell over the area shortly after the purification ceremony took place.
Fog fell over the area shortly after the ceremony. On the sign is the words “killer stone”.
A large area was shrouded in a mysterious mist.
The stone is no exception. No one knows if anything came out with the mist.
The mist that covered the stone after the ceremony added a layer of mystery to the story of the broken rock and the nine-tailed fox. Some have suggested that it could be a sign that the fox’s spirit has left the area. But there are also fears that it could be a bad omen for things to come. Or this is simply a time when the elemental forces of heaven and earth are at play, like many other ancient mysteries in Japan.
Refer Soranews24