/5
廿三夜塔（一基） 庚申塔（三基） 道しるべ（一基）
| Cultural property name | Nijusanyato (the Night of the Twenty-Third Tower) (One) Koshinto (Day of koshin Tower) (Three) Signpost (One) |
|---|---|
| Commentary | A folk religion that became a fad during the Edo period involved groups (kochu) that gathered on the night of the twenty-third to wait for the moonrise. Called nijusanyako (the night of the twenty-third event), this moonrise waiting event was already being held during the Muromachi period. Participants would erect a nijusanyato (the night of the twenty-third tower) to commemorate the events. This nijusanyato (second from the right) is characterized by the words “This group was formed to worship the moon on the night of the twenty-third” and the Seishi Bosatsu that have been carved into it. People held koshinko (day of koshin events) as well. On the day of koshin, which arrived every sixty days, people gathered to chant Buddhist prayers all night without sleeping. To remember these events koshinto (day of koshin towers) were built. Carved onto the surfaces of this koshinto are such designs as shomenkongo (demon god), amanojaku (a demon-like creature), the sun and moon, and the three wise monkeys. These events (ko) eventually became a recreational activity, and people stayed up until the morning eating and drinking. Because this signpost (michishirube) (second from left), made of stone, is severely damaged, although the characters “Left: Meguro Road” can be read, the middle characters of the other set of characters are damaged and missing, and only “Right:,” the first character, and “Road,” the last character, are legible. Thus, the name of the other road is unknown. These stone creations were moved from the area around Sarugaku due to construction work to widen streets and development of residential areas. They will be relocated to Sarugaku Kodai Jukyoato Park (Sarugaku Ancient Dwelling Sites Park). |