THE ROCKS THAT SING, WAIL & WALK

Rocks, whether worshipped as the dwelling place of gods, as mystical objects in their own right, or used as garden decoration, were highly valued in the old capital.

Kyōto has a surprising number of rocks that have a life of their own.

A good example of a 'living' rock is Yasaka-jinja's (八坂神社) 'Yonaki-ishi' (夜泣き石), the 'Rock that Cries at Night'.
Located by the Hiyoshi-sha (日吉社), it is said that the rock can often be heard crying like a baby, though the reason for this is unknown

#FolkloreThursday

'Crying Rocks' are fairly common throughout Japan. In a slight twist, there are also mysterious objects that stop infants crying (particularly at night)

In the grounds of Honryū-ji (本隆寺) is an old pine, 'Yonakitome-no-matsu' (夜泣き止めの松), long believed to calm babies.

For those wondering how the tree helped...
*Parents would gather bark or pine needles & place these beneath where their child slept.
*Crying babies would also be carried around the tree.

The tradition dates back to future abbot Nittai (日諦) caring for an abandoned baby in 1532.

Close to Honryū-ji stands Iwagami-jinja (岩神神社).
The small shrine's object of worship is a 1.7m tall, reddish-coloured rock, long revered as a god of child-rearing (子育て神) & breast-feeding (授乳神).
It is thought Iwagami-jinja was established by Emperor Kammu in 798ish.

The original shrine stood close to the palace's main gate. Each morning & night prayers were said to Susanoo-no-Mikoto (素戔嗚尊) & the 'gods of gateways' Kushiiwamado (櫛石窓神) & Toyoiwamado (豊石窓神).
Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇 786-842) later moved the shrine to Reizei-in.
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Fun fact about Reizei-in, villa of retired emperors Saga & Go-Reizei.
First known as Reizen-in (冷然院 Palace of Coolness), fires plagued the site. The character '然' was considered too close to '燃' (burn) & so the villa was renamed Reizei-in (冷泉院 Palace of the Cold Spring).

In 1055 Reizei-in was dismantled and moved, but Iwagami-jinja remained.
When Naidaijin Nakayama Tadachika (中山忠親 1131-95) constructed a house nearby, he incorporated the shrine and renamed it Nakayama Myōjin (中山明神).
*Nakayama was the neighbourhood's name*
#FolkloreThursday

After fire destroyed the residence & shrine, the rock -now exposed- became an object of desire for those wanting a prize for their gardens.
First moved to a site now known as Rokkaku Iwagami-dōri (岩上通六角), the rock changed hands many times before reaching Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Moved into the grounds of Hideyoshi's lavish Jurakudai palace as a 'miniature mountain', it was from this time that odd things began to happen.
At night the rock could be heard to howl mournfully.

Rumours spread of a strange monk loitering at the rock's original (ruined) home.

Side note
As ruler Hideyoshi seized whatever rocks & statues took his fancy from across the city.
Such was the anger directed at him that countless stories appear from this time of statues & rocks 'crying' to return home.

Great thread here
https://twitter.com/KyotoDailyPhoto/status/1181092923183493120?s=20
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