On the side of Mount Wakakusa, Nigatsu-do (“The Hall of the Second Month”) overlooks Nara and provides good views of its ancient structures for visitors.  Nigatsuo-do’s history is interesting: according to legend, the priest Jicchu saw the Buddhist deity Bosatsu practicing religious training in a waterfall’s cave in eastern Nara in approximately the year 750. Jicchu decided to build the original Nigatsu-do so that this training could be continued in the human world. Jicchu then performed a ceremony to which he invited 13,700 gods. One of the gods, Onyu-myojin, was late to the ceremony. To apologise, he offered scented water from the Onyu River, and the water suddenly sprung up from where the god stood. This event marks the origin of Omizutori, the “Water-Drawing” festival that has taken place annually since the year 752, and at Nigatsu-do since 772.  (This is what we mean when we say “We tell the stories.”)   Here’s an unused postcard from the mid-20th century.  Grade: 1