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2020.6.1
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Kanawa-no-I, a magical world of men and women in Kyoto that makes your spine stiff

Even though there are many ghosts in Kyoto, not many stories are as frightening as this one.

Also known for the Noh play "KannawaThe Iron Well..The story is about a woman who, with an iron ring (a three-legged weapon on which a pot or a medicine can is hung) on her head, lit a fire, put vermilion on her face, and put a torch in her mouth, became a demon and visited Kibune as an Ox for seven days to avenge her husband's death.is a legend. legendary, though,The well actually exists and is enshrined.This is why it sends a shiver down my spine.

The well is located at the end of an alley on the right hand side, a few meters after opening the door with the nameplate. The well blends into the residential area so well that I overlooked it once and had to turn around to find the entrance. Upon closer inspection, I found a sign on the door saying "Kannawa Well Entrance" and a sacred rope attached to the door.


(Left) There is a sliding door facing the street, (Right) At the end of the alley, on the right, is the Iron Well.

After proceeding down an alley lined with private homes, one comes to a vermilion-colored torii (gateway to the shrine),The well of Kannawa is on the right, and next to it is Meibu Inari Daimyojin as the god of conjugal harmony and happiness.is enshrined. When the Meibu Inari was rebuilt in 1935,As the legend goes, the Iron Ring monument was dug up, confirming the legend.


ironclad well

A long time ago, there was a couple living in this area. The husband grew tired of his wife's jealousy, so he divorced her and took a second wife. The ex-wife was so jealous that she decided to become a demon in order to curse and kill the husband and the ex-wife. Plagued by nightmares and fearing for his life, the husband, in desperation, sought help from a certain person. It was Abe no Seimei, a rare yin-yang master who was trusted by the emperor of the time and Fujiwara no Michinaga. On the day that his ex-wife's curse was to be fulfilled in one more night, Seimei made a life-size doll and prayed, and subdued his ex-wife, a demoness, who appeared before him. The demoness received Seimei's curse back and died by the well.

However, this did not bring "happily ever after". Thereafter, a series of ominous events occurred around the well. Troubled by the situation, the neighbors consulted with each other and decided to bury the iron ring the woman was wearing and build a mound to appease the resentment of her ex-wife. Finally, the ominous events subsided. Later, thisIf you make the person you want to break up with drink water from a well, you can break off any kind of relationship.It is said,A spot to seal off affairs and break up relationships.It became secretly known as the

But does it mean that just cutting off the ties is not so good for the image?God of marriage next dooris now enshrined.Nowadays, it is a power spot with the blessing of cutting off bad marriages and bringing good marriages together.As,Kyoto's backstage attractions for those in the knowThis is the case with the well in Kannawa. It is said that the water in the well in Kannawa dried up during the subway construction, but some people bring their own plastic bottles and other items to pray at the well and bring them back to the temple in order to cut off bad karma.

The story of the Kannawa well seems to have its roots in the legend of Hashi-hime of Uji. It is interesting to note that such anecdotes have been casually blended into the city of Kyoto and have lived on in the city for a long time.


On the left is the Great Goddess of Life and on the left is the well of Kannawa.

 

What is Kyoto Mystery Exploration?

Tradition that exists everywhere in the city of Kyoto. It is not just a picture, it is secretly alive in this modern age and continues to coexist with people. The two of Office TO, who previously wrote a series of articles "Kyoto's Demon World Exploration" in the monthly magazine Leaf, explore the mysterious "different" world of Kyoto, which was created over 1200 years. I will unravel the story while actually visiting the place. .

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