[東方] Neo-traditionalism of Japan - (02) Led On by a Cow to Visit Zenkou Temple

～ Story ～

"See how that pillar at the main temple is way out of alignment from the rest of the foundation?"
"So this is the 'Earthquake Pillar'?"

After Merry was discharged, Renko and Merry decided to go sightseeing through Shinshuu as they were in the area.
Their first stop was at the Zenkou-ji temple, where they planned on visiting Japan's oldest Buddha statue. There was nothing new about the main shopping street that ran through the shrine, packed as it was with visitors. As the world of souvenirs was bound by tradition, it was like time had been stopped for over a hundred years there.

"It's supposedly one of the after effects of the Zenkou-ji Earthquake."

The Zenkou-ji Earthquake struck the northern part of Shinshuu in the fourth year of the Kouka era (1847).
Zenkou-ji temple was famous for publicly displaying its private Buddha statue only once every seven years, and during that time the temple would be flooded with people from all over the country. Since the Zenkou-ji earthquake struck right in the middle of the ceremonial unveiling, the damage dealt by that powerful earthquake was catastrophic, and it is said that the dead numbered in the thousands.

"Are they trying to say that just this one pillar shifted in the earthquake? Is that even possible?"
"Well, the truth is that the pillar dried out and twisted that way over time.
However, everyone decided that in order to convey the fearsome power of earthquakes to later generations, they should call it the 'Earthquake Pillar', and the name stuck."

But Merry had seen it. She had seen a landscape wrought by a frightening earthquake that could easily have twisted that pillar.



Story and music by ZUN/Team Shangai Alice
Story translation by kafka-fuura