The Secret of Sarugatsuji: A guardian deity who had too much fun!?
The Secret of Sarugatsuji: A guardian deity who played too much?
Hello, this is Wabisuke.
Today, we will introduce Sarugatsuji, a place located northeast of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where a slightly mysterious and cute legend remains.
Huh? Sarugatsuji means an intersection where monkeys live?
...No, actually, the story of a certain monkey who was placed here to protect the Kyoto Imperial Palace lies dormant here.
He's a guardian deity, but he's having too much fun!
Long ago, a monkey statue was installed to protect the northeast (demon's gate) of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
This monkey isn't just a video. On a particularly dark night, he sneaks out and wanders off to play around the city of Kyoto!
"Maybe I should just go see the moon over Kamogawa River."
"I want to see the maiko dance again today..."
Apparently, he sneaked out every night like this.
It was so much fun that it ended up being fenced off with a wire fence.
"Don't come out now!" It's like locking up a mischievous child.
An imaginary image of monkeys dancing in the moonlight
Just imagine.
A monkey dancing gracefully under the moonlight.
With her kimono sleeves fluttering, she dances enthusiastically, looking like a little dancing princess.
Maybe this monkey didn't just want to play,
Perhaps he was patrolling the city at night to protect the beauty of Kyoto...
Summary: Is playfulness a protective attitude?
The legend of Sarugatsuji is not just a prank story.
There's actually a fine line between playfulness and protectiveness.
Perhaps the monkeys were walking around the city at night to protect the beauty of Kyoto.