Benten Seidō

Benten Seidō was the first shrine devoted to Benten, the Fortune of Arts and Romantic Love.

Location
To reach Benten Seidō, pilgrims must travel through the narrow Cold Wind Pass and up the easternmost of the Seikitsu Mountains. The shrine marked the border between the northern lands and the Crane Clan 's rustic southern provinces. Wayward lovers went there from across the Empire to seek Benten's guidance, and the road to Benten Seidō was paved with as many tragic stories as happy ones. The approach was poorly maintained, uneven and littered with stones and tangled weeds: the path to true love was not easily traversed, after all.

Appearance
The climb was a day's travel up the mountain. One hundred and eight torii arches formed a tunnel around steep steps built on the slopes toward the end. Confession papers littered the stairs, along with pink blossoms and discarded love poetry. The top of the climb revealed a glistening lake surrounded by cherry and maple trees, with hot springs that fed the lake. A crested wooden bridge with no guardrails led to the small island where the shrine complex awaited. The shrine rested on irregular ground, so the staggered worship hall and adjoining buildings were connected by rope bridges and suspended flights of stairs. The honden was a cave with a cold stream winding through it, originating from melting ice at the Seikitsu's highest peak. The mingling of hot and cold water created a steamy fog that radiated out of the cave.

Creation
Benten Seidō was erected to appease the offended Fortune when a stone-hearted Crane Champion forced his daughter to choose between her lover and her life. She chose death, leaping off a cliff overlooking a sweeping river. But legends said a massive gust of wind erupted off the river, carrying her back up to the peak and into the arms of her lover. Taking this as the judgment of Benten, the embarrassed champion arranged for their marriage and erected this shrine to thank the Fortune for her intervention. Ever since, the shrine had served as a frequent stop for enamored pilgrims and muse-seeking artisans.