“Have you heard of Kosshin nights? These nights are linked to early death. That is what some people believed long ago.” Here we stand before the Nekozane Kosshin Tower. It is a silent witness to centuries of faith and local history.
The Nekozane Kosshin Tower is located in Urayasu. Its alternate name is Nekozane no Koushintou. The tower dates back to 1715. It was built by Koshin believers in Nekozane Village. This makes the tower the oldest Kosshin tower in the city.
But what exactly is a Kosshin tower? To understand the story of this tower we must delve into the ancient beliefs surrounding Kosshin. Kosshin is a folk religion. It centers around the idea that every sixty days, on Kosshin nights, three worms leave the human body. These worms report the person’s sins to a heavenly deity. Upon hearing these sins the deity shortens the person’s life.
To prevent this believers would stay awake all night talking and feasting. The worms could not escape if they were awake. This would prevent the deity from shortening their lives. Every month on the 25th a ritual is still performed here. People pray for recovery from illness on this day.
The Nekozane Kosshin Tower features an image of Blue-Faced Kongo Bosatsu. The statue shows demons being suppressed. It also depicts the three monkeys representing “see no evil hear no evil speak no evil.”
The Nekozane Kosshin Tower shows how important this religion once was. This tower is a reminder of the community’s past and the beliefs of its people. The tower is a symbol of a unique cultural practice. It links us to the traditions of Urayasu.