Sessho-seki
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The Sessho-seki (Japanese: 殺生石), or "Killing Stone," is an object in Japanese mythology. It is said that the stone kills anyone who comes into contact with it. The stone is believed to be the transformed corpse of Tamamo no Mae, a beautiful woman who was exposed to be an evil fox plotting to kill the Japanese Emperor Konoe and take his throne. As told in the Otogizoshi, when the evil fox was killed by the famous warrior Miura-nosuke, its body became the Sessho-seki.
The Sessho-seki was said to be haunted by Hoji,the transformed spirit of the evil fox, until a Buddhist priest called Genno stopped for a rest near the stone, and was threatened by Hoji. Genno performed certain spiritual rituals, and begged the spirit to consider her spiritual salvation, until finally Hoji relented and swore to never haunt the stone again.
In Matsuo Bashō's famous book, The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Oku no Hosomichi), Bashō tells of visiting the stone in the Japanese prefecture of Nasu.
References
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| Japanese Mythology |
|---|---|
| Stories and Myths: Kojiki | | Nihon Shoki | Otogizoshi | Yotsuya Kaidan Divinities: List of divinities in Japanese mythology | Kami & Megami | Seven Lucky Gods Legendary Figures: Abe no Seimei | Hidari Jingoro | Kintaro Momotaro | Nezumi Kozo | Tamamo no Mae | Tomoe Gozen | Urashima Tarō Mythical and Sacred Locations: Horai | Mt. Hiei | Mt. Fuji Rashōmon | Ryugu-jo | Suzakumon | Takamagahara | Yomi | |
| Religions | Sacred Objects | Creatures and Spirits |
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