February 23, early spring.

Hanyu Wenxin and Shi Yun'an board the train to Gunma Prefecture.

When the two got out of the car, it was the dusk of Guiashi Mountain in Gunma Prefecture.

Gunma Prefecture does not have a strong presence in Japan, but the scenery has a unique charm.

The two of them pulled their luggage and walked on a sparsely populated highway with a stream beside the road.

There are houses beside the stream. Although these houses are small, they are scattered. At this time, the roofs of most households have smoke rising from the roofs, like a smart long snake, flying into the depths of the forest.

The setting sun is falling on the top of the mountain, under the deep sky, in the arms of the distant mountains as vigorous as Dai, are the early spring crops that dance with the wind and waves.

Farmers can be seen working in the fields, and a few early spring flowers are dotted among them. Occasionally, the silhouettes of flying birds cross under the afterglow...

"There is ghost mountain in front, Asakusa Shrine is on the mountain, and Onioshi County under the mountain can be used as our residence temporarily."

Hanyu Wenxin said.

"It seems that the shrine is not an abandoned shrine hidden in the deep mountains and forests that is often seen in horror movies. It has many people visiting it every day."

Shi Yun'an thought about it. Along the way, Asakusa Shrine seems to have become the signature landscape industry of Onioshi County. From the train platform, you can see the sign leading to Asakusa Shrine.

This kind of development is similar to that in China. The major Buddhist and Taoist holy places have finally become scenic spots, and the evolution of Japanese shrines is also the same.

The two walked and watched all the way. Shi Yun'an is a painter, and his perspective on things will be different from that of ordinary people.

"Most of the modern architecture in Japan is a fusion of Western aesthetics, but the architecture in Onioshi County is conservative and traditional, which is good."

Shi Yun'an nodded frequently.

"Onioshi County takes the shrine as its scenery and visits it all year round. Regardless of aesthetics or beliefs, it will naturally be relatively old. The buildings here are themselves a local cultural symbol."

"Mr. Hanyu, what kind of existence are Japanese shrines?"

Shi Yun'an suddenly asked, he is not very interested in Chinese ghosts and gods, let alone Japanese ones.

Hanyu Wenxin smiled and said: "The world's beliefs are actually similar, no matter Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, churches, or shrines, they are all places where human beings entrust their spirits. Play unique roles in the event, such as savior, prophet, witness, etc.”

"From ancient sacrificial sacrifices, to the divine authority in the feudal era, the handover of power between dynasties, to the common people's affairs at weddings, funerals, and marriages, the place where these events occur is basically where the 'God' resides."

Hanyu Wenxin looked up to the direction of the ghost mountain Asakusa Shrine, and said: "The shrine is such an existence. Human beings simply believe that under the gaze of the 'God', everything will be the most beautiful gesture."

Shi Yun'an nodded slightly. He glanced at his surroundings and asked suspiciously, "Why didn't I see any cemeteries along the way?"

"Because of Asakusa Shrine." Hanyu Wenxin said.

"You mean, this is the abnormality of Asakusa Shrine?" Shi Yun'an was slightly different.

Hanyu Wenxin smiled and shook his head, and said: "No, in Japanese Shintoism, death and cemetery are symbols of uncleanness, so there are almost no cemeteries around the shrine. Moreover, the Japanese believe that after death, people need When you return to the temple, you need to invite monks to recite the sutras, so that you can get rid of the cycle of life and death in the world and go to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.”

Shi Yun'an raised his eyebrows: "Doesn't that mean that Japanese monks are professional in managing death and cemeteries?"

"That's right. In Japan, death and cemeteries are handled by Buddhism."

Shi Yun'an nodded, he suddenly thought of something, and said again: "Mr. Hanyu, what is generally enshrined in Japanese shrines?"

"It's hard to say. In addition to the famous gods dedicated to worship, there are many wild gods in Japan. These are considered primitive natural gods, so the shrines can enshrine anything you see in daily life." Hanyu Wenxin is simple said.

Shi Yun'an was a little surprised: "Doesn't that mean that a dog, a cat, a stone, or a piece of rotten wood may be enshrined by the shrine?"

"Yes," Hanyu Wenxin confirmed his statement, "Actually, these are human beings who have added extra spiritual attributes to some ordinary objects through legends and stories. For people who believe in gods, they don't care what they worship. Is it stone or wood."

Indeed.

Shi Yun'an thought of his hometown.

Every year and festival, people will go to burn incense and worship gods.

After all, as long as human beings encounter unknown or uncertain events in their lives, it is difficult for them to completely trust themselves. They prefer to pin their hopes on clay statues. It seems that those unknown fears can be solved by They give peace.

There are people in China who buy incense and Buddha at exorbitant prices, and there are people in Japan who pay exorbitant prices to buy a shrine to be the first to ring the bell. These are all ways to bring a sense of peace to the heart through behavioral rituals. One is willing to fight, and the other is willing to suffer.

The two entered Onioshi County, only to see that there seemed to be an upcoming event at Asakusa Shrine?

"Shrine maiden selection..."

Shi Yun'an slowly read out the flyer that was posted on the bulletin board, which looked like an idol selection, and always felt that there was some drama when this happened at the place where the red-level sacrificial banquet was about to appear.

"I'm sure that this red-level sacrificial banquet must be related to the selection of this witch." Shi Yun'an took out the leaflet and said firmly.

This leaflet shows the images of several witches, all of them do not touch the ground, some are carried on their backs, and some are sitting on chariots. Shi Yun'an mumbled for no reason: "Are they all disabled?" ?”

Hanyu Wenxin glanced at him: "Miko is a person who communicates with God, and must remain holy and pure."

"It's really formalistic," Shi Yun'an was quite disdainful, "It's strange for you Japan. In China, men communicate with gods, such as Buddhist monks, Taoist priests, and even Western religions. Priests are responsible for communicating with gods. Communication, why is it that in your Japanese society where patriarchy is so serious, the native religion Shinto communicates with gods and is actually a woman?"

Hanyu Wenxin glanced at him and said, "Because the gods in Shintoism are symbols of patriarchy, the ones who serve the gods are women."

"To this day, there are a large number of shrines in Japan that enshrine male genitalia. The purity of shrine maidens...maybe another form of filth."

Hanyu Wenxin seemed to have thought of something, and stopped talking.

The two found a hotel in Onioshi County, put down their luggage, and the weather had already been forgotten. They decided to go to the Asakusa Shrine in ghost mountain early tomorrow morning.

At this time, Qin Wenyu, who was supposed to be recuperating in the hospital but only came to Qunma County on the last day, suddenly called.

"Go to Gunma County tomorrow morning, see you later."