There is a very close relationship between the position of the ancient Imperial Palace (平安宮, Heian-kyū), the layout of Kyoto, and some religious precepts. This is particularly true in relation to the presence of the Four Sacred Beasts; mythological creatures with immense powers and protectors of the city.
The Imperial Palace of Kyoto was definitively destroyed in 1227 and was never rebuilt. The southeast corner of the Imperial complex was located in the middle of the current Nijō Castle. But despite the palace no longer being there, the Four Fantastic Creatures have not stopped dwelling in Kyoto.
On the current Senbon street, a gray plaque with an inscription indicates the position where the Suzakumon was located; the entrance portal to the Imperial Palace. From that portal, the Suzaku Ooji (the road of Suzaku) departed and once went from the Imperial Palace straight to Lake Ogurake, passing through the city’s entrance portal, the Rajomon.
Lake Ogurake has been reclaimed and transformed into agricultural land, a work completed in 1941. The surface of the lake was 8 square kilometers with a circumference of 16 km and an average depth of 90 cm. Inside the Kyoto Racecourse survives a small portion of the original Ogurake and according to the myth, the powerful Suzaku, the red bird that protects the South and governs the summer, would dwell there.
But other places in Kyoto are equally important. Like the Kamogawa river, where Seiryu slithers; the blue dragon that protects the east and governs the spring.
Or Sanindo street, where you can spot Byakko; the white tiger that protects the West and governs the autumn.
Finally, Genbu, the black turtle with a snake tail, which protects the North and lives hidden in some crevice on Funaokayama hill.
In short, these Sacred Beasts protected what was once the Imperial Palace and continue today to preserve the four cardinal points of Kyoto from the presence of evil.
However, there is another direction and it is the Northeast direction. The inauspicious direction. The place from which, according to legend, the destruction of the city could come, the mysterious and invisible Kimon (read: demon portal). “At night, in Kyoto, we turn off all the lights so the Oni can’t find us” so some elders speak, about the proximity of the Kimon, the portal of the Oni. It is said to be slightly oval. But no one has ever survived to tell about it. However, fortunately, the city is protected by the magic of the Four Sacred Beasts and no one, not even the Oni, will ever be able to break that spell.
Most of the information contained in this post is in the book: Secret Kyoto, by Sasori, a very good Italian writer who lives in Kyoto. I don’t know him personally, alas. But it seemed right to show him a little appreciation and gratitude.
