My Japanese story is a bit sweet

Chapter 86 Cutscene, Thoughts Traveling Through Time and Space
Taito Ward, Asakusa.

As a representative old urban area of ​​Tokyo, it still retains a strong atmosphere of the Edo period.

Not far from Asakusa Station, you can see the gate standing at the entrance of Sensoji Temple - Kaminarimon.In front of the gate is a commercial street about 250 meters long.

Both sides of the commercial street are full of traditional Japanese ancient buildings and European-style buildings full of the sense of the times, planted with quiet plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemums, and lined with characteristic cafes, Japanese teahouses, and various old and new shops.

Even though it is in a busy city, the place still stubbornly retains the old and elegant atmosphere. At night, people dressed as geisha can even be seen strolling in the alleys.

The black car stopped in front of the commercial street.

Xia Xilin got out of the car, turned around and gave instructions, and the car left with Sachiko Shiraishi.

Walk alone through the commercial street that has not yet officially opened, and walk into the main entrance of Sensoji Temple - Fengleijinmen.

This is the earliest temple in Tokyo. Sensoji Temple existed before Tokyo's predecessor, Edo, was formed.

Although there were repeated fires in the back, it was destroyed several times.In the early Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu rebuilt Sensoji Temple, turning it into a large temple and a recreational place for nearby Edo citizens.

It is morning, and there are not many tourists in the temple, and it is a little empty.

Xia Xilin was not interested in the profound meaning of Buddhism and Taoism in the temple, so he walked straight through the temple and walked northeast.

Pass through a small gate, walk on the long and narrow ramp covered with old gravel bricks, and walk through the vermilion torii, and the elegant Asakusa Shrine appears in front of you.

No one came in in the morning, and there was a sign standing alone at the door, with a picture of a pigeon on it, and the words [No feeding pigeons] were marked next to it.

Under the sign, an early pigeon stared blankly at the thing that looked like itself in the picture, and felt that it was a wrong payment after all.

There are several cherry blossom trees planted beside the courtyard wall, and the branches and under the trees are covered with pink cherry blossoms. Walking through them, the field of vision is covered with a layer of light pink filter, which is as beautiful as walking into a fantasy animation. Huan.

This is the time when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the rain of flowers is falling.In a few days, when the late-maturing cherry blossom trees have finished blooming, the annual "cherry blossom viewing season" will come to an end, and the colorful scene in the city will not be seen again until next year.

And behind the temple, there is a large ruined wall covered with weeds. It is said that it existed ten years ago, and no one has repaired it. Grandma didn't allow me to approach it.

I don't know what kind of past is buried in the ruins.

Xia Xilin walked through the quiet courtyard and walked into the inner room. Everything she saw with her naked eyes was very dilapidated and ancient, as if it would collapse at any time.

Asakusa Shrine is a very old shrine, no matter in terms of age, appearance, or thought.

As the oldest shrine in Tokyo, it will never let go of its own shelf and learn from its peers how to survive.

What about the rest of the temples and shrines?

Inheritance declines, breaks up, breaks down.
Of course, that was before, not now.

As early as a few years ago, Asakura, the director of Zhaoen Temple in Fukui Prefecture, saw that the temple was getting more and more depressed. He had studied music in Tokyo and worked as a DJ. He had an idea and thought of a clever plan.

In order to make young people feel that "chanting can be cool", he decided to combine electronic music with Buddhism and hold a unique ceremony of salvation.

The whole venue was full of technological sense of transcendence ceremony, in addition to holographic technology projection, colorful lighting, and even electronic music chanting.

Not only that, but the live broadcast of the entire conference on Niconico directly attracted 1.9 people to watch.

In the Setagaya district of Tokyo, monk Fujioka Yoshinobu opened a Bozhu bar.

Buddhist scripture music is played in the store, and bartenders in cassocks will also talk about Buddhist principles for customers when preparing drinks for customers.

Later, Zennobu Fujioka felt that the atmosphere was not exciting enough, and even added live performances by rock bands.

While playing discs, he was superseding, and while shaking his legs, he was chanting sutras.

That picture, tsk tsk
These practices attracted a lot of criticism at the beginning.

However, these controversies soon disappeared.

After all, after that, the number of monthly visitors to Zhaoen Temple directly increased by 30%, and Zennobu Fujioka bought a big yacht.

Who would go against the banknotes, really.

Young people's hearts and young people's money have all been robbed by you Buddhists, can this be repaid?

The major shrines of Shinto have carried out an operation reform one after another.

Clearly priced religious activities on Amazon, set up stalls at comic exhibitions, released games related to Onmyoji, published witch illustrations...

In this way, the dispute between Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism has gradually changed from traditional to modern, and from offline Mortal Kombat to online keyboard scolding.

But Asakusa Shrine is far away from all this, just like a dying old man, closing himself up and waiting for death alone.

To put it more intuitively, what can be called modern in the shrine, well, there are and only electric lights.

Xia Xilin changed into a traditional maiden costume in the inner room, a white top with a red hakama, short white socks on her feet, and a pair of clogs.

Then comb her black and beautiful hair into a Ji hairstyle, and tie a white headband.

When walking out the door, a middle-aged man in a simple priestly uniform also just walked in.

"Yo, good morning Xiao Lin."

Xia Xilin replied, "Hi, uncle Jiu."

Priest Jiuwo sighed inwardly, and said with a hearty smile, "I'm going to accompany a few guests today, please do your best."

"Ok."

Xia Xilin nodded and watched him enter the shrine before picking up the broom and cleaning the courtyard alone.

Most shrine maidens are usually busy with cleaning, guiding tourists, and assisting priests and abbots in various rituals such as exorcising spirits and praying for blessings.

A small number of high-strength ones will accept some commissions to eliminate spirits, and at the same time cooperate with Nine Divisions and other organizations to fulfill their mission as witches.

After cleaning up, I practiced archery alone in the courtyard for a while. When it was noon, more colleagues and tourists came to visit.

Xia Xilin came to the door, led the tourists in, cleaned his hands with a long-handled wooden spoon from the pool at the entrance, then walked to the shrine worship halls raised on both sides of the roof, and threw some into the charity box with wooden lattices. For small change, clap your hands a few times, and pray with your palms together.

There is also a hemp rope next to it. The praying person shakes it twice, and the wind chimes on the hemp rope make a sound, which is crisp and sweet.

When tourists want to take group photos, she will agree with them with a smile.

Facing the expectant eyes of visa-seeking tourists, she will try her best to choose words that people like.

When you meet a child who is separated, you will gently hand over a piece of chocolate, and then hold it to find the mother hiding in the crowd.

The pigeons that tourists are forbidden to feed will also circle her in the sunset, spinning and flying.

For the past five years, Xia Xilin has lived like this every day in the shrine.

Standing in the courtyard, looking at the dilapidated hall, I can vaguely see the scene of my mother in white clothes and red skirt living here 20 years ago, when I was not yet born.

mom, can you see

Xiao Lin now has black hair like silk and eyes like stars. She has the same appearance as yours, and also has your spiritual power. She is doing the same things as you, and even her heart has grown into your appearance.

Xia Xilin woke up in the spring breeze, took five extremely deep and long breaths, expelled all the last discomfort and soreness from her chest and abdomen, and bloomed an elegant smile in the sunshine.

After dark, a blessing ceremony will be held in the square in front of the temple.

The shrine maiden painted her lips vermilion and wore a headgear with complex lights on her head. She stood on a temporary high platform in front of the main hall, facing the tourists who came to visit.

Accompanied by the slightly strange ancient rhythm of the Yamato flute, white clothes and red dresses danced to the sound of the flute, bells were tied with gorgeous knots, Dangdang Qingming, dancing the dance that my mother used to dance, in the place where my mother used to live place, leaping out of the most beautiful dance.

The wind chimes swayed on the altar, the sound of singing fluttered in the night sky, the flickering bonfire was reflected in the eyes, and the thoughts that traveled through time and space were conveyed in the heart.

　Writing abusive essays affects my mood too much, so I decided to conceive a sweet campus love essay!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)