Temple of Listening Ghosts

The Temple of Listening Ghosts is situated less than a day away from the ancestral home of the Kitsu family in the lands of the first kitsu race. The temple stands to atone for the massacre of the kitsu. All Kitsu family members are expected to make a pilgrimage at least once in their lives, and only members of the Kitsu family may enter this monastery. Outsiders who wish to visit must ask the Kitsu daimyo for permission.

Appearance
The temple lies between two mountain peaks in the lush valleys that were formerly kitsu territory. A series of staircases leads to it from the mountain village far below. The temple has the faces of the kitsu looking in all four cardinal directions to guard the lands. The front is protected like any Lion holding, but the back is open to the mountainside so that the kitsu may enter as they like.

Observances
Along with praying, fasting, and meditating, there are many unique observances to appease the kitsu spirits. Shugenja are asked to not cast spells anywhere in the area. All monks are expected to shave their hair and burn it in offering. Upon taking their oaths, they must find the valley that was the first home of the kitsu and spend a day and night communing with the spirits there. If the spirits do not lead the monk to the valley, they are not accepted by the temple. Three times per day, the monks gather to beg the kitsu to return. Some of them bear scars that look like the marks of giant cat claws. Some members leave occasionally on journeys at the requests of the kitsu spirits. These include such tasks as fetching a specific plant seed to be planted on the mountains or stopping a war between clans. Other monks journey into the spirit realms to converse with the creatures.

Studies
Along with the greatest repository of information on the kitsu, there is a great store of naga lore as well. While the naga were awake, the monks asked them for any and all information they had on the cat-spirits. In gratitude, they stored information on the naga and some of their artifacts. Many of the monks speak the naga language.

Masters of Magic pp. 142-143