A Spiritual Journey胎内めぐり
The tainai meguri, or "journey through the womb," is a curious rite held in an underground passage beneath Zuigu-do Hall, on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Those who take part in the rite feel their way through the inky dark, guided only by a series of wall-mounted prayer beads, before arriving at a dimly glowing stone, which they rub their hands over.
Upon completing their journey, initiates are said to feel reborn in body and mind.
Word is, there's a rare prize at Zuigu-do Hall. A stone that gives off a gentle glow even in the black of night, or so they say. Sounds like it'll fetch a pretty price, if I can only get my hands on it!
The only problem is I can't see anything round here fitting that description.
...Hold on! What've we got here? An underground passageway? Heh, heh, the sneaky bastards... This is where they'll have stashed it, I bet ya!
随求堂にはとんでもねぇ宝が眠っているって話だ。 そいつは、聞くところによるとわずかに光っている 石らしい…。 さぞ値打ちのある宝石に違いねぇ。 盗み出して、金に換えてやるぜ！ …で、御堂の中に来てみたがそれらしいモンは 見当たんねぇな…。 …お！？ 地下につながる穴があるじゃねぇか！ この中にあるに違いねぇ！ 早速入ってみるとするか…。
It's so dark down here, I can't see a damned thing! Ugh, this place is giving me the creeps...
Huh!? Are these...prayer beads? But why? Who'd fix prayer beads to the wall? ...Unless they're meant to guide you! Heh, that must be it! Well, let's see where they lead!
Where the hell am I? I've followed the damned beads, but I've no idea where they've led me. It's pitch black, I can't see my hand in front of my face. It's like I've gone and wandered into the land of the dead...
But I've come too far to give up now. I have to find that treasure!
...Hang on! Is that a light? Yeah, there's definitely something glowing! Just a little further now...
I found it! Heh heh, turns out this ain't the land of the dead after all! In fact, I've never felt more alive!
...It's funny. I spent my life running round searching for this and that, but I never stopped and considered how lucky I am to be here at all. I mean, once you're dead, you're dead, right? There ain't no coming back.
I see it now... Maybe the time has come to mend my ways, to set right a life of wrong. From this moment on, I'm a changed man, I swear!
- Where
- Nio-mon Gate district
- Map
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Region
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Hand in to
- Lady Murasaki, Yasaka Shrine