Crane Lands - Benten Seidō

[Vutall]

Benten Seidō
Shrines to the Seven Great Fortunes are scattered throughout the Empire, and the largest and most impressive shrine to Benten rests in the domain of the Crane Clan. The first of Benten’s shrines ever erected, it marks the border between the northern lands and the Crane’s rustic southern provinces. Wayward lovers go there from across the Empire to seek Benten’s guidance, and the road to Benten Seidō is paved with as many tragic stories as happy ones.

History
If the Fortune who embodies a virtue that samurai are expected to disregard has an unusual relationship with the people of Rokugan, then so too does her magnificent shrine. It was erected to appease the offended Fortune when a stone-hearted Crane Champion forced his daughter to choose between her lover and her life. She chose death, leaping off a cliff overlooking a sweeping river. But legends say a massive gust of wind erupted off the river, carrying her back up to the peak and into the arms of her lover. Taking this as the judgment of Benten, the embarrassed champion arranged for their marriage and erected this shrine to thank the Fortune for her intervention. Ever since, the shrine has served as a frequent stop for enamored pilgrims and muse-seeking artisans

Approaching the Shrine
To reach Benten Seidō, pilgrims must travel through the narrow Cold Wind Pass and up the easternmost of the Seikitsu Mountains. Despite the shrine’s frequent visitors, the approach is poorly maintained, uneven and littered with stones and tangled weeds. The shrine’s priests leave the road in this sorry state on purpose: the path to true love is not easily traversed, after all

The climb is a day’s travel up the mountain. One hundred and eight torii arches form a tunnel around steep steps built on the slopes toward the end. Confession papers litter the stairs, along with pink blossoms and discarded love poetry. The top of the climb reveals a glistening lake surrounded by cherry and maple trees. The wind carries incense and the sound of bush warblers across the lake’s warm waters. A crested wooden bridge with no guardrails leads to the small island where the shrine complex awaits.

Benten Seidō resembles a resort more than a true shrine, due in part to the hot springs that feed the lake. The frequency of visitors has necessitated the expansion of the guest hall, which is now a hotel in all but name. Proceeds from this inn directly benefit the shrine, as does the wealth of wishing coins glittering in the water. The shrine rests on irregular ground, so the staggered worship hall and adjoining buildings are connected by rope bridges and suspended flights of stairs. The honden is actually a cave with a cold stream winding through it, originating from melting ice at the Seikitsu’s highest peak. The mingling of hot and cold water creates a steamy fog that gently radiates out of the cave.

The assistant priest of Benten Seidō is Kawana, an ancient man completely devoted to Benten’s teachings. He is openly displeased with the increasingly commercial nature of the shrine, complaining to any who will listen that the commerce of running a hotel and hot springs taints the site’s sacred nature. He frequently can be found playing the biwa and reciting mantras outside the cloistered guest-hall gardens, so as to remind guests of why they are supposedly there.

The head priest is Tsubaki, an orphan girl who was inexplicably elevated to the position at the instruction of her predecessor. Although she has only received shrine keeper training, she has proven extremely effective at managing the shrine since assuming her post. Perpetually joyful and patient, she refers to Kawana as “grandfather” and regards his displeasure at the shrine’s commerce with open amusement.

Whispered Rumors
One of the enshrined relics in the sacred cave is the biwa Kakita crafted from a piece of driftwood, there-by “bringing the dead to life” and attracting the love of Doji herself. It is kept wrapped in cloth and almost never removed.

The priest Kawana was once a Kakita family noble and a flagrant playboy. He left a trail of shattered hearts until something made him realize his cruelty. Ashamed of how he abused Benten’s blessings, he now lives a life of atonement at her shrine.

One of the shrine keepers is actually Benten in disguise, but no one is sure which one