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{{Short description|object in Japanese mythology}}
{{Short description|Mythological stone in Tochigi, Japan}}
{{Coord|37.1016692|139.9985806|display=title}}
{{Coord|37.1016692|139.9985806|display=title}}
[[File:“Sessho-seki”(Killing Stone),Nasu,Tochigi,Japan 20160817.jpg|thumb|Sessho-seki in 2016]]
[[File:“Sessho-seki”(Killing Stone),Nasu,Tochigi,Japan 20160817.jpg|thumb|Sessho-seki in 2016]]
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The {{Nihongo|'''Sessho-seki'''|殺生石|Sesshōseki}}, or "Killing Stone", is a stone in the volcanic mountains of [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]], an area of [[Tochigi Prefecture]], [[Japan]], that is famous for sulphurous [[Onsen|hot springs]]. In [[Japanese mythology]], the stone is said to kill anyone who comes into contact with it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=殺生石 真っ二つ 以前からひび、自然現象か 那須｜社会,県内主要｜下野新聞「SOON」ニュース｜下野新聞 SOON(スーン) |url=https://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/articles/-/561829 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=下野新聞 SOON |language=ja}}</ref> In Japan, rocks and large stones in areas where [[Volcanic gas|volcanic toxic gases]] are generated are often named ''Sessho-seki'' (殺生石), meaning Killing Stone, and the representative of such stones is this one associated with the legend of [[Tamamo-no-Mae]] and the [[Kitsune|nine-tailed fox]].<ref name ="kotobank">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220306013947/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%AE%BA%E7%94%9F%E7%9F%B3-87272 Sessho-seki.] Kotobank.</ref>
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[[File:Sessho-seki 2022.jpg|alt=Sessho-seki in 2022|thumb|Sessho-seki in 2022]]
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The {{Nihongo|'''Sessho-seki'''|殺生石|Sesshōseki}}, or "Killing Stone", is a stone in the volcanic mountains of [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]], an area of in [[Tochigi Prefecture]], [[Japan]], that is famous for sulphurous [[Onsen|hot springs]]. In [[Japanese mythology]], the stone is said to kill anyone who comes into contact with it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=殺生石 真っ二つ 以前からひび、自然現象か 那須｜社会,県内主要｜下野新聞「SOON」ニュース｜下野新聞 SOON(スーン) |url=https://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/articles/-/561829 |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=下野新聞 SOON |language=ja}}</ref>

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It was reported on March 5, 2022 that the stone had split into two roughly equal parts, likely as a result of natural weathering.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCurry |first1=Justin |title=Japan’s ‘killing stone’ splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/japans-killing-stone-splits-in-two-releasing-superstitions-and-toxic-gases |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 March 2022 |language=en |date=7 March 2022}}</ref>


==Legend==
==Legend==
The stone is believed to be the transformed corpse of [[Tamamo-no-Mae]], a beautiful woman who was exposed as a [[Kitsune|nine-tailed fox]] working for an evil ''[[daimyō]]'' plotting to kill [[Emperor Konoe]] and take his throne. According to the ''[[otogi-zōshi]]'', when the nine-tailed fox was killed by the famous warrior [[Miura-no-suke]], its body became the Sessho-seki. Later, a Buddhist priest called Genno stopped for a rest near the stone and was threatened by the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae. Genno performed [[exorcism]] rituals and begged the spirit to consider her salvation. Tamamo-no-Mae relented and swore never to haunt the stone again.
The stone is believed to be the transformed corpse of [[Tamamo-no-Mae]], a beautiful woman who was exposed as a [[Kitsune|nine-tailed fox]] working for an evil ''[[daimyō]]'' plotting to kill [[Emperor Konoe]] and take his throne. According to the ''[[otogi-zōshi]]'', when the nine-tailed fox was killed by the famous warrior named [[Miura-no-suke]], her body became the Sessho-seki. Later, a Buddhist priest called Genno stopped for a rest near the stone and was threatened by the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae. Genno performed [[exorcism]] rituals and begged the spirit to consider her salvation. Tamamo-no-Mae relented and swore never to haunt the stone again.<ref name ="kotobank"/>

== Split ==
⚫
[[File:Splited Sessho-Seki.jpg|thumb|Sessho-seki in May 2022]]
⚫
It was reported on March 5, 2022 that the stone had split into two parts, likely as a result of natural weathering. Some people expressed their fear of the exorcised Kitsune.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCurry |first1=Justin |title=Japan's 'killing stone' splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/japans-killing-stone-splits-in-two-releasing-superstitions-and-toxic-gases |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 March 2022 |language=en |date=7 March 2022}}</ref> On 26 March 2022, the local government had priests host a ceremony to appease the spirit and pacify the beast at the site with prayers, offerings, and waving ''[[haraegushi]]'' upon the split rock.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGee |first1=Oona |title=Mist descends upon Japan's "Killing Stone" after ceremony to appease nine-tailed fox spirit |url=https://soranews24.com/2022/03/28/mist-descends-upon-japans-killing-stone-after-ceremony-to-appease-nine-tailed-fox-spirit/ |website=Sora News 24 |access-date=2022-03-30 |language=en |date=2022-03-28}}</ref>


==In literature==
==In literature==
There is a [[Noh play]] about the stone, attributed to Hiyoshi Sa'ami.<ref>"Sesshoseki play" [https://theatrenohgaku.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/sesshoseki/" Sesshōseki (殺生石) | .Theatre Nohgaku Blog.] Retrieved September 11, 2018.</ref>
* A [[Noh play]] about the stone, attributed to Hiyoshi Sa'ami.<ref>"Sesshoseki play" [https://theatrenohgaku.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/sesshoseki/" Sesshōseki (殺生石) | .Theatre Nohgaku Blog.] Retrieved September 11, 2018.</ref>
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* It was mentioned in ''[[Oku no Hosomichi]]'' by [[Matsuo Bashō]] as he visited the stone in the 17th century and tells of his visit in his book (''Narrow Road to the Deep North'').

⚫
* ''Tamamo-no-Mae'', a novel by [[Kido Okamoto]], was based on the legend of the stone. A film adaptation, ''Kyuubi no Kitsune to Tobimaru (Sesshouseki)'' followed.
⚫
[[Matsuo Bashō]] visited the stone in the 17th century and tells of his visit in his book ''[[Oku no Hosomichi]]'' (''Narrow Road to the Deep North'').
* In chapter 123 of the manga ''[[Bakidou]]'' the author used the story of the rock breaking to show the kick power of one of the characters.

⚫
[[Kido Okamoto]]'s novel ''[[Tamamo-no-Mae (novel)|Tamamo-no-Mae]]'' (玉藻の前), which is based on the legend of the stone, was adapted as an ''anime'' film, ''Kyuubi no Kitsune to Tobimaru (Sesshouseki)'' (九尾の狐と飛丸(殺生石, 1967)).


== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Sassyouseki,nasu-town,japan.JPG|Entrance of the area
File:Sassyouseki,nasu-town,japan.JPG|Entrance to the area
File:Stone Jizos (stone statues of Kshitigarbha) in front of the “Sessho-seki”(Killing Stone),Nasu,Tochigi,Japan.jpg|Thousand Jizōs (stone statues of [[Kshitigarbha]])
File:Stone Jizos (stone statues of Kshitigarbha) in front of the “Sessho-seki”(Killing Stone),Nasu,Tochigi,Japan.jpg|A thousand ''[[Jizo|Jizōs]]'' at the site
File:SekienSessho-seki.jpg|Picture by [[Toriyama Sekien]]
File:SekienSessho-seki.jpg|Print by [[Toriyama Sekien]]
File:Tamamo-no-mae-woodblock.jpg|Picture by [[Yoshitoshi]]
File:Tamamo-no-mae-woodblock.jpg|Print by [[Tsukioka Yoshitoshi|Yoshitoshi]]
</gallery>
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of individual rocks]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{Cite web|title=Station 9 - Sesshoseki |work=Basho's World |url=http://www.uoregon.edu/~kohl/basho/9-sesshoseki/trans-britton.html |accessdate=February 23, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041226031309/http://www.uoregon.edu/%7Ekohl/basho/9-sesshoseki/trans-britton.html |archivedate=December 26, 2004 }}
*{{Cite web|title=Station 9 – Sesshoseki |work=Basho's World |url=http://www.uoregon.edu/~kohl/basho/9-sesshoseki/trans-britton.html |accessdate=February 23, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041226031309/http://www.uoregon.edu/%7Ekohl/basho/9-sesshoseki/trans-britton.html |archivedate=December 26, 2004 }}
*{{Cite web | title=Tamamo-no-mae (Synopsis) | work=Enjoying Otogi Zoshi with the Help of Synopsis and Illustrations | url=http://ddb.libnet.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/exhibit-e/otogi/tamamo/tamamo.html | accessdate=February 22, 2006 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20060710075630/http://ddb.libnet.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/exhibit-e/otogi/tamamo/tamamo.html | archivedate=July 10, 2006 }}
*{{Cite web | title=Tamamo-no-mae (Synopsis) | work=Enjoying Otogi Zoshi with the Help of Synopsis and Illustrations | url=http://ddb.libnet.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/exhibit-e/otogi/tamamo/tamamo.html | accessdate=February 22, 2006 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20060710075630/http://ddb.libnet.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/exhibit-e/otogi/tamamo/tamamo.html | archivedate=July 10, 2006 }}


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[[Category:Noh plays]]
[[Category:Noh plays]]
[[Category:Stones]]
[[Category:Stones]]
[[Category:1967 anime films]]




Latest revision as of 08:43, 28 November 2024

37°06′06″N 139°59′55″E / 37.1016692°N 139.9985806°E / 37.1016692; 139.9985806

Sessho-seki in 2016

The Sessho-seki (殺生石, Sesshōseki), or "Killing Stone", is a stone in the volcanic mountains of Nasu, an area of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, that is famous for sulphurous hot springs. In Japanese mythology, the stone is said to kill anyone who comes into contact with it.[1] In Japan, rocks and large stones in areas where volcanic toxic gases are generated are often named Sessho-seki (殺生石), meaning Killing Stone, and the representative of such stones is this one associated with the legend of Tamamo-no-Mae and the nine-tailed fox.[2]

Legend

[edit]

The stone is believed to be the transformed corpse of Tamamo-no-Mae, a beautiful woman who was exposed as a nine-tailed fox working for an evil daimyō plotting to kill Emperor Konoe and take his throne. According to the otogi-zōshi, when the nine-tailed fox was killed by the famous warrior named Miura-no-suke, her body became the Sessho-seki. Later, a Buddhist priest called Genno stopped for a rest near the stone and was threatened by the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae. Genno performed exorcism rituals and begged the spirit to consider her salvation. Tamamo-no-Mae relented and swore never to haunt the stone again.[2]

Split

[edit]
Sessho-seki in May 2022

It was reported on March 5, 2022 that the stone had split into two parts, likely as a result of natural weathering. Some people expressed their fear of the exorcised Kitsune.[3] On 26 March 2022, the local government had priests host a ceremony to appease the spirit and pacify the beast at the site with prayers, offerings, and waving haraegushi upon the split rock.[4]

In literature

[edit]
  • A Noh play about the stone, attributed to Hiyoshi Sa'ami.[5]
  • It was mentioned in Oku no Hosomichi by Matsuo Bashō as he visited the stone in the 17th century and tells of his visit in his book (Narrow Road to the Deep North).
  • Tamamo-no-Mae, a novel by Kido Okamoto, was based on the legend of the stone. A film adaptation, Kyuubi no Kitsune to Tobimaru (Sesshouseki) followed.
  • In chapter 123 of the manga Bakidou the author used the story of the rock breaking to show the kick power of one of the characters.
[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "殺生石 真っ二つ 以前からひび、自然現象か 那須｜社会,県内主要｜下野新聞「SOON」ニュース｜下野新聞 SOON(スーン)". 下野新聞 SOON (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  2. ^ a b Sessho-seki. Kotobank.
  3. ^ McCurry, Justin (7 March 2022). "Japan's 'killing stone' splits in two, releasing superstitions amid the sulphur springs". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ^ McGee, Oona (2022-03-28). "Mist descends upon Japan's "Killing Stone" after ceremony to appease nine-tailed fox spirit". Sora News 24. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  5. ^ "Sesshoseki play" " Sesshōseki (殺生石) | .Theatre Nohgaku Blog. Retrieved September 11, 2018.


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