On March 5th 2022, it was reported that the Sessho-seki, or the Killing Stone as it is known, was found split in half.
According to a popular Japanese Mythology, the Killing Stone got its name because anyone who came in close contact with it was killed immediately. It was rumoured to emit poisonous gas when touched.
The Killing Stone is said to contain an evil spirit and is at least 1000 years old.
It is said that during the Edo period (1603-1867), a beautiful woman called Tamamo-no-Mae, came to Japan and became a courtesan for Emperor Toba. Her intelligence and beauty were highly regarded and she became the emperor’s favourite.
Subsequent to her arrival, however, the Emperor mysteriously fell ill and his ailment could not be diagnosed or treated. An astrologer was called and he realized that the emperor’s illness was the work of an evil entity.
He immediately found out that Tamam-no-Mae was not who she claimed to be. She was exposed as a fox demon with nine tails who was working for a feudal lord that wanted to destroy the emperor. She escaped soon after.
With her true intentions revealed, the emperor sent two of his bravest warriors, Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke, who found her on the plains of Nasu. She was killed and the emperor was rumoured to have healed immediately.
But the fox demon could not be completely destroyed and sought refuge in a stone, embedding herself completely. The stone was called the Sessho-seki.
Now that the stone has split, it is believed that the demon has escaped. Should we be worried?
You needn’t be. Scientifically speaking, the rock is 1000 years old and was found to have begun cracking several years ago. It is believed that the rainwater got inside it to provide further damage to the rock.
In any case, the rock is neatly split into two and officials are wondering if the rock should perhaps just be put together again.
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