If it weren't for Wei Yue's guidance, Duanmu Ci probably wouldn't have been able to find the Yinianwen Shrine even with a map, as the place was extremely remote. He also never imagined that in Shinjuku, where land is incredibly valuable, there would be an ancient shrine hidden behind winding cobblestone alleys.
Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue stood under the cherry wood torii gate, looking quite dignified.
A "torii" is a Japanese architectural structure similar to a Chinese archway, usually erected on the main road leading to a shrine or at the wooden fence surrounding the shrine. It is mainly used to distinguish the sacred realm from the secular world inhabited by humans, serving as a kind of boundary and representing the entrance to the sacred realm; it can be regarded as a "gate".
Wei Yue said, "Duanmu-kun, please compose yourself. It is impolite to enter a shrine with worldly airs. Beyond this torii gate lies the realm of the gods, isolated from the mortal world. Although Duanmu-kun does not worship our Japanese gods, please still maintain the most basic respect!"
Duanmu Ci asked, "You Japanese have many gods, do you know which one is enshrined in this shrine?"
“Chiba Shusaku Narimasa”.
"Oh, it was him." Duanmu Ci realized.
Chiba Shusaku Narimasa was a swordsman in the Edo period and the founder of the "Hokushin Itto-ryu". The sword dojo Genbukan, which he established in Nihonbashi, Edo, became one of the "Three Great Dojos of Edo" along with the "Kyoshin Meiji-ryu" school and the "Shinto Munen-ryu" training hall.
The Japanese have a long tradition of "transforming humans into gods." After Chiba Shusaku's death, he was naturally enshrined as a god by his disciples, and a shrine was built specifically for him, thus completing the transformation from "human to god."
“It seems that this Terashima Moriyoshi is a swordsman who practices the ‘Hokushin Itto-ryu’ style,” Duanmu Ci said. This was only natural, as someone who practiced the ‘Kyoshin Meiji-ryu’ style would never become the head priest of the Ichinenbun Shrine, which enshrines Chiba Shusaku Narimasa.
That's right. Although Terashima Moriyoshi is a swordsman, he is also the head of the Ichinenbun Shrine. Because this position is hereditary and has been passed down for hundreds of years, he has no choice but to accept it.
Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue passed through the "torii gate" and stepped onto the sacred path paved with bluestone bricks. After walking about thirty or fifty steps, they arrived at the "temizuya". The "temizuya" is a pool of water set up at the entrance of the shrine. People entering the shrine must first "purify" themselves here by scooping up a pool of clean water with a small ladle to wash their hands or rinse their mouths.
After the two went inside, they first picked up a long-handled wooden ladle from the wash basin, then filled it with water. They first used their right hand to hold the handle and wash their left hand, then used their left hand to hold the handle and wash their right hand. They then used their right hand to hold the handle and scoop water into their left hand, then used their left hand to bring the water to their mouths to rinse their mouths, then washed their left hand. Finally, they let the water flow down the handle to rinse the ladle handle, and then put the wooden ladle back in its original place.
The process was complicated but very ceremonial. Both Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue were people who valued etiquette highly, and they performed these procedures meticulously.
Today was probably not the weekend, so there were very few tourists and worshippers at the shrine. Some of the worshippers clearly had a foundation in martial arts. As Duanmu Ci washed his hands at the "Temple," he guessed the identities of those worshippers. He guessed they were all disciples of the "Hokushin Itto-ryu" school, here to pay homage to the founder of the school.
A perforated wooden plaque stands on the eaves of the main hall, covered with "ema" (votive plaques) from worshippers. "Ema" are prayer plaques inscribed with wishes; worshippers leave them at the shrine hoping their wishes will come true. Duanmu Ci also went over and wrote one, simply wishing for "happiness and well-being."
After Duanmu Ci finished writing, he turned to look at what Wei Yue had written and found that Wei Yue had written on the "ema" (votive plaque): "May the way of the sword prosper, may martial fortune last long, and may the world be at peace."
The signature reads "Chen Yuanweiyue".
As a descendant of the Minamoto clan, Wei Yue used the term "subject" to address Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, which is against etiquette, as Chiba Shusaku Narimasa was merely a commoner. However, Wei Yue still used this term, indicating that he regarded Chiba Shusaku Narimasa as a ruler in the world of swordsmanship.
Duanmu Ci then remembered that the sword style Wei Yue practiced was "Beishin Ittō-ryū".
Wei Yue placed her "ema" (votive plaque) in the corner of the wooden board. Duanmu Ci asked, "Aren't you afraid of being discovered by signing your name so blatantly?"
“No one will notice.” Wei Yue tied the ema to the wooden board. “The Minamoto family’s swordsmanship is generally ‘One-Sword Style,’ so they won’t come here to worship.”
Duanmu Ci hummed in agreement, without asking why Wei Yue hadn't followed the other members of the Yuan family in practicing "One-Sword Style," but instead practiced the more artistic "Northern Star One-Sword Style."
At this moment, a priest dressed in white robes walked out of the main hall, holding a tablet in his hand. He bowed slightly to Wei Yue, clearly aware of his identity, and then asked, "Does Young Master Yuan wish to perform a personal offering today?"
Wei Yue nodded, "Since we're already here, is this one more step too?" She gestured for Duanmu Ci to stay where he was, then turned and followed the priest to the offering hall to present a gift. It was unclear what they were offering, but when they returned, Duanmu Ci felt that Wei Yue seemed a little different. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the small folding fan with the inscription "Ya Song Zhai" was gone.
“Since you have already made offerings in the main hall, there is no need to go to the ancestral hall to pray. Please follow me.” The priest turned around and led the way.
Passing through the main hall, you reach the rear hall, where a wooden sign reads "No Visitors Allowed," indicating that this is not a place for tourists to visit or worship. Of course, for Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue, who were personally guided by a priest, this sign was completely irrelevant.
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