Shizou Temple

Shizou Temple
Manga
Type	Temple/Shrine
Country	China
Religion	Four Beast Gods

Shizou Temple (Shizou Den) is a sacred site in the Real World. Located in rural China, it houses the original scroll of The Universe of the Four Gods. In Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden, Einosuke Okuda travels here to transcribe what is written on the artifact.

Background

The temple is a treasured national historical site in China. It is dedicated to the Four Beast Gods and is tasked with preserving the Universe of the Four Gods scroll. Devout monks reside here and perform a mock-ceremony where they welcome the Priestess of legend, who was historically a young maiden.

The scroll itself is openly displayed on an alter but visitors are rarely permitted to view it. Some monks hold onto the superstition that the scroll is still powerful, even in the twentieth century. Others are assured in their belief that it has lost its power and that a young woman can approach the scroll without fear.

Story

Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden

Outskirts of the temple

In the first chapter of Genbu Kaiden, Japanese writer, Einosuke Okuda, arrives at Shizou Temple with a guide. He bears witness to the Priestess' welcoming ceremony and is granted permission to read from the ancient scroll. Carefully, he transcribes the scriptures written inside.

After months of research and a year traveling around China, Einosuke has sought out the scroll of legend, believing that its fabled wish-granting powers could be used to cure his wife's progressing illness of tuberculosis.

After their visitors depart, a monk wonders aloud if they should have shown an outsider the scroll. Another monk reassures him that, by now, the artifact should pose no danger and that a real welcoming ceremony will never occur again.