Gracious Guest Temple Description

The path to Gracious Guest Temple could be considered a long one even though it is not far away. This is due to the fact that it is farther up the valley than most other places, by the time people get there they are understandably tired after their uphill trek. The path is well laid out, beginning at the crossroads of the Ghost Lantern it ascends past twelve holy gates, one for each realm and another for lost or forgotten realms. Once all the gates have been passed the final landmark is a huge boulder where there are no other such stones in sight. The stone is clean at all times unless it had just recently snowed, and adorn with a prayer rope. Next to the stone is a sign that reads: Myonan, He enjoyed his final meal. Then next to that sign is another, newer sign: Do not sit on the stone.

The Temple itself is a three level affair that tiers itself against the mountain horizontally, like three houses that sit half way on top of each other. Inside there are great red and gold pillars and cold marble floors, the air always smells of incense. The main room houses statues of gold, silver and jade depicting the fortunes of Rokugan. The second largest room on the floor is the Shinsei room, where a life size steel statue of Shinsei sits and copies of his teaching can be found. There are side meditation rooms and other shrines people can use to worship ancestors as well, the largest one of these is devoted to Agasha and the words on the statue state: Holder of nature's elemental keys.

The second level, if one ventures up there, seems to be totally devoted to the study of nature. There are paintings of apes and monkeys, deer and rams, vast jungles and sweeping mountainsides. There are shrines and statues to Lady Kitsune, Yuki no Onna, Lord Goku, Lord Kitsu, spirits of the North, South, East and West and other great animal kami and forces of nature. Outside of this level there are natural hot springs that are a part of this temple, but they are not for use by people. A tribe of apes use the hot spring all winter long, soaking themselves through the winter in it's warm waters. People are forbidden from bathing with the apes, because they are dangerous and guard their spring with force.

The third level has the monk's sleeping area, cooking area and all other rooms for taking care of the temple.