Quote 27 of 32

From Essays in Idleness, by Kenko (c. 1283-1352)

When they were levelling the ground for building the Kameyama palace,
there was a great mound where innumerable large snakes were clustered
together.  They made a report to the emperor, saying these were the
gods of this place.  His Majesty asked what ought to be done, and they
all said that as the snakes had occupied the ground since olden times,
it was out of the question to dig them up and throw them away.

This minister alone said: 'What evil can be worked by such creatures
in imperial ground, when an imperial palace is to be built!  The gods
are not malevolent.  They will not be offended.  All we have to do it
to dig them up and throw them all away.'

So they broke up the mound, and threw them into the Oi river, and
there was no evil consequence whatever.
		-- #207

Tags: creatures consequence emperor majesty snakes imperialpalace oldentimes oiriver