In March 2022, the infamous sessho-seki (killing stone) in Japan's Nasu region cracked in two. According to legend, it contains the petrified body of Tamamo-no-Mae, a nine-tailed fox spirit who advised an emperor in 12th-century Kyoto. The stone sits in a sulfuric hot spring field where toxic gases naturally vent; animals have been found dead nearby from fumes. Geologists blamed rainwater and frost. Shinto priests performed a purification ritual after the split. The stone is legally protected as a cultural asset. Similar fox legends exist in Chinese (Daji) and Korean (kumiho) traditions.
Japanese killing stone splits open in 2022
Site mentioned
📍 Nasu volcanic zone
Key facts
- In early March 2022, the infamous sessho-seki (killing stone) in Japan's Nasu volcanic zone split in two
- A Shimenawa ritualistic thick rope that once sealed its circumference now lay on the ground
- The stone sits in a sulfuric hot spring field where toxic gases naturally vent from the earth
- Animals have been found dead near the stone from fumes
- According to legend, the sessho-seki is the petrified body of Tamamo-no-Mae, a Kitsune (nine-tailed fox spirit) who was an adviser to the Emperor in 12th century Kyoto
- The stone cracked open in 2022; geologists blamed rainwater and frost
- Shinto priests performed Chinkon Sai, a purification ritual after the split
- The stone is legally protected as a cultural asset and cannot be altered without national approval
- The fox legend appears in China (Daji), Korea (Kumiho), and Japan across centuries
Sources
Sessho-seki - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Sessho-seki (殺生石, Sesshōseki), or "Killing Stone", is a stone in the volcanic mountains of Nasu, an area of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Mystical Japanese boulder that imprisoned demon for ... - Indy100indy100.com
According to Japanese mythology, the boulder contains the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae a nine-tailed fox who assumed the facade of a beautiful woman ...
Japan's “killing stone” splits - Sharon A. Hillsharonahill.com
The infamous Sessho-seki, a protected boulder in the volcanic area of Mount Nesu in Japan, has split. The break occurred around March 5, 2022.
The Killing Stone: Sessho Seki (Ep. 96) - Uncanny Japan Podcastuncannyjapan.com
Japan's Infamous Killing Stone that was housing a chaotic, disaster-inducing nine-tailed fox spirit, broke in half on March 5th. Is the fox spirit free?
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