Are you the Iron Rat?

The smell of summer nights is somehow unique, isn't it?I will be continuing to write articles on the Yokai Channel from August onwards.This is Kamiyo. This was my first job as a web writer, so I feel like my work has been recognized and I'm very happy. I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Speaking of which, I heard that there is a yokai-related event being held at a place called Miidera in Shiga Prefecture from the end of July to early August. It is an event sponsored by the temple, where costumed demons and monsters appear at night at Miidera and hold a parade. The event is co-sponsored by a local art university, so you can expect the quality of the costumes to be good.

Now, the reason why I started talking about the event is because the venue for this event isMiidera Templeis actually a place that has a connection with a certain yokai.

That is the monster I'm going to introduce today.Iron Rat"is.

This monster is a monster rat with rocky skin and iron teeth, and is said to have originally been a human named Raigou, a monk at Miidera Temple. He was a famous monk, and his abilities were so great that even the emperor of the time would request his services.

One day, he was asked to pray for the birth of an heir to the throne of the emperor. After the birth of the heir, Raigō requested that Miidera Temple build a Buddhist altar as a reward. However, due to the fierce opposition of Enryakuji Temple, which was in conflict with him at the time, the promise was broken.

I wonder if they broke their promise because they had not signed a contract. When the compensation system is so vague, the monks have to work hard to make a living.Illegal businessIf I had to resort to this, the morals of the temple would be ruined. If I were to do this now, I would have insisted on not being paid.Enryakuji Temple's Twitter account is on fireBut there was nothing like that at the time.(The Enryakuji Temple actually went up in flames afterwards.)So Raigou had to give in and give in to his fate...

It would have been better if that had happened, but Raigo was still pretty good.Someone weirdEnraged by the actions of the Emperor and especially Enryaku-ji Temple, Raigō cursed and killed the heir who was born as a result of his own prayers, first taking revenge on the Emperor.

Not content with that, he transforms into the yokai Iron Rat and before he knows it, he has made some mouse friends.84,000 animalsHe also eats the Buddhist statues and sutras of Enryakuji Temple. He has avenged all the people involved, he's a real avenger.

Having learned their lesson, the Enryaku-ji Temple built a shrine called "Nezumi no Miya" (Mouse Shrine) near Miidera to appease the soul of Raigou. Raigou did not want to become a mouse, but rather transformed into a mouse for the sake of revenge, so I thought the name "Nezumi no Miya" (Mouse Shrine) was a bit of an offensive choice.(Wouldn't it have been better to have it at Raigou's palace...?)I guess Raigo was convinced that the story ended here.Was that okay?Because of these anecdotes, the Tetsunezumi yokai is also called Miidera Nezumi or Raigonezumi.

Is revenge right or wrong? It may be a well-worn debate, but writing stories like this makes me rethink this question. Personally, I support revenge. In situations where people have to continue to suffer from their lives ruined by an assailant, I think revenge should be affirmed as a solution.

However, if someone were to kill me, I would never want my family or friends to take revenge. I think there are a lot of people who feel that way.

(Image: Zuga Hyakki Yakou)