Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

Note on Asakusa
Translated from a native book called the "Yedo Hanjôki," or Guide to the
prosperous City of Yedo, and other sources.
Asakusa is the most bustling place in all Yedo. It is famous for the
Temple Sensôji, on the hill of Kinriu, or the Golden Dragon, which from
morning till night is thronged with visitors, rich and poor, old and
young, flocking in sleeve to sleeve. The origin of the temple was as follows:—In
the days of the Emperor Suiko, who reigned in the thirteenth
century A.D., a certain noble, named Hashi no Nakatomo, fell into disgrace
and left the Court; and having become a Rônin, or masterless man,
he took up his abode on the Golden Dragon Hill, with two retainers, being
brothers, named Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takénari.
These three men being reduced to great straits, and without means of
earning their living, became fishermen. Now it happened that on the 6th
day of the 3rd month of the 36th year of the reign of the Emperor Suiko
(A.D. 1241), they went down in the morning to the Asakusa River to ply
their trade; and having cast their nets took no fish, but at every throw
they pulled up a figure of the Buddhist god Kwannon, which they threw
into the river again. They sculled their boat away to another spot, but the
same luck followed them, and nothing came to their nets save the figure
of Kwannon. Struck by the miracle, they carried home the image, and,
after fervent prayer, built a temple on the Golden Dragon Hill, in which
they enshrined it. The temple thus founded was enriched by the benefactions
of wealthy and pious persons, whose care raised its buildings to the
dignity of the first temple in Yedo. Tradition says that the figure of
Kwannon which was fished up in the net was one inch and eight-tenths
in height.
The main hall of the temple is sixty feet square, and is adorned with
much curious workmanship of gilding and of silvering, so that no place
can be more excellently beautiful. There are two gates in front of it. The
first is called the Gate of the Spirits of the Wind and of the Thunder, and
is adorned with figures of those two gods. The Wind-god, whose likeness
is that of a devil, carries the wind-bag; and the Thunder-god, who is
also shaped like a devil, carries a drum and a drumstick. 46 The second
gate is called the Gate of the gods Niô, or the Two Princes, whose colossal
statues, painted red, and hideous to look upon, stand on either
side of it. Between the gates is an approach four hundred yards in length,
which is occupied by the stalls of hucksters, who sell toys and trifles for
46.This gate was destroyed by fire a few years since.
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