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The Hakurei Shrine existed long before the [[Hakurei Border|sealing of Gensokyo]] in 1885<ref>''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''—P.113.</ref>. The generations of Hakurei [[Shrine maiden]]s have lived here for centuries.
The Hakurei Shrine existed long before the [[Hakurei Border|sealing of Gensokyo]] in 1885<ref>''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''—P.113.</ref>. The generations of Hakurei [[Shrine maiden]]s have lived here for centuries.


The very existence of the both Reimu Hakurei and her shrine ensures the continued existence of Gensokyo by protecting and maintaining the Hakurei Border, thus making it one of the most important locations in the series.<ref>[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]: [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Reimu Hakurei|Reimu Hakurei]] &mdash; ''"The Hakurei shrine maidens control the Great Hakurei Boundary and protect Gensokyo. ... Gensokyo relies on the Hakurei Shrine and its shrine maidens to continue to exist as it does today.''"</ref> However, even with its high status, the shrine has been attacked and destroyed by youkai several times over the course of the games. It is able to serve its function as a shrine even when destroyed, but not as a place to live.<ref>[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] Reimu's ending &mdash; {{hidetext|"It still serves its purpose as a shrine, but not as a place to live."}}</ref>
The very existence of the both Reimu Hakurei and her shrine ensures the continued existence of Gensokyo by protecting and maintaining the Hakurei Border, thus making it one of the most important locations in the series.<ref>[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]: [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Reimu Hakurei|Reimu Hakurei]] &mdash; ''"The Hakurei shrine maidens control the Great Hakurei Boundary and protect Gensokyo. ... Gensokyo relies on the Hakurei Shrine and its shrine maidens to continue to exist as it does today.''"</ref> However, even with its high status, the shrine has been attacked and destroyed by youkai several times over the course of the games. It is able to serve its function as a shrine even when destroyed, but not as a place to live.<ref>[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] Reimu's ending &mdash; "It still serves its purpose as a shrine, but not as a place to live."</ref>


The theory of the Hakurei Border, Reimu Hakurei and the survival of Gensokyo that many of the residents like [[Hieda no Akyuu]] who explained this in [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]] believe may be rather sketchy. Aside from the destroyed shrine, when Reimu Hakurei didn't come back from the moon, [[Aya Shameimaru]] talks about finding a new miko for the Hakurei Shrine in a rather suspicious look. Although it is not strange for some of the older characters to know a lot about the Hakurei Shrine, Aya seemed to know something important that wasn't made clear in Akyuu's article. Regardless of whether this is true or not, the shrine and shrine maiden appear to have more secrets than what is presently known.
The theory of the Hakurei Border, Reimu Hakurei and the survival of Gensokyo that many of the residents like [[Hieda no Akyuu]] who explained this in [[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]] believe may be rather sketchy. Aside from the destroyed shrine, when Reimu Hakurei didn't come back from the moon, [[Aya Shameimaru]] talks about finding a new miko for the Hakurei Shrine in a rather suspicious look. Although it is not strange for some of the older characters to know a lot about the Hakurei Shrine, Aya seemed to know something important that wasn't made clear in Akyuu's article. Regardless of whether this is true or not, the shrine and shrine maiden appear to have more secrets than what is presently known.


Though the shrine has [[The Hakurei God|a patron god of its own]], not much is known about it other than it has been steadily losing faith, power and prestige due to the lack of worshipers<ref>[[Mountain of Faith]]: [[Mountain of Faith/Translation/Prologue|Prologue]] &mdash; ''"The seldom-visited Hakurei shrine god's power had steadily diminished, until its opinion was completely ignored in conference by its myriad colleagues.''"</ref> and that it is angry about this situation.<ref>[[Undefined Fantastic Object]] Reimu A ending &mdash; {{hidetext|[[Byakuren Hijiri]] knows just by visiting the shrine that it has very few followers because she can sense its god is angry.}}</ref>
Though the shrine has [[The Hakurei God|a patron god of its own]], not much is known about it other than it has been steadily losing faith, power and prestige due to the lack of worshipers<ref>[[Mountain of Faith]]: [[Mountain of Faith/Translation/Prologue|Prologue]] &mdash; ''"The seldom-visited Hakurei shrine god's power had steadily diminished, until its opinion was completely ignored in conference by its myriad colleagues.''"</ref> and that it is angry about this situation.<ref>[[Undefined Fantastic Object]] Reimu A ending &mdash; [[Byakuren Hijiri]] knows just by visiting the shrine that it has very few followers because she can sense its god is angry.</ref>


===Structure and premises===
===Structure and premises===
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There a large donations box for visitors to leave money in, but since visitors are scarce it is usually empty.<ref>[[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]: [[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil/Translation/Reimu's Scenario#Stage 4|Reimu's Scenario]] &mdash; ''"Reimu: My shrine rarely has any visitors during the year."''</ref> The [[Yin-Yang Orb]], a powerful weapon usable only by blood members of the Hakurei clan, is also kept here.
There a large donations box for visitors to leave money in, but since visitors are scarce it is usually empty.<ref>[[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil]]: [[Embodiment of Scarlet Devil/Translation/Reimu's Scenario#Stage 4|Reimu's Scenario]] &mdash; ''"Reimu: My shrine rarely has any visitors during the year."''</ref> The [[Yin-Yang Orb]], a powerful weapon usable only by blood members of the Hakurei clan, is also kept here.


Since the events of [[Mountain of Faith]], Reimu has constructed a small shrine (about the size of a birdhouse) to [[Kanako Yasaka]] and [[Suwako Moriya]] at the edge of the Hakurei Shrine's grounds in an attempt to gather more faith. Despite its extremely small size, it does get an occasional visitor from the [[Human Village]]. Its blessings include a plentiful harvest and luck in danmaku battle.<ref>[[Mountain of Faith]] Reimu C Ending. {{hidetext|The small bird-house shrine is confirmed to still exist at the Hakurei Shrine in Chapter 5 of [[Silent Sinner in Blue]], and it is mentioned it can be used to summon both Kanako and Suwako.}}</ref>
Since the events of [[Mountain of Faith]], Reimu has constructed a small shrine (about the size of a birdhouse) to [[Kanako Yasaka]] and [[Suwako Moriya]] at the edge of the Hakurei Shrine's grounds in an attempt to gather more faith. Despite its extremely small size, it does get an occasional visitor from the [[Human Village]]. Its blessings include a plentiful harvest and luck in danmaku battle.<ref>[[Mountain of Faith]] Reimu C Ending. The small bird-house shrine is confirmed to still exist at the Hakurei Shrine in Chapter 5 of [[Silent Sinner in Blue]], and it is mentioned it can be used to summon both Kanako and Suwako.</ref>


==Geography and people==
==Geography and people==

Revision as of 14:27, 7 March 2013

博麗神社 (はくれいじんじゃ)
Hakurei Shrine
The Hakurei Shrine
The Hakurei Shrine as seen in Immaterial and Missing Power and Scarlet Weather Rhapsody.
Location

East of Gensokyo, on the Hakurei Border between Gensokyo and the Outside World

Residents
Appearances
Other

The Hakurei Shrine (博麗神社 Hakurei Jinja) is a small, run-down Shinto shrine located on the Hakurei Border. It is a key location that has appeared in many of the official games' prologues, stages, in character endings and in other official literature by ZUN. It is the home of the series protagonist Reimu Hakurei.

The shrine has become a popular hangout for all sorts of youkai who Reimu and company defeat in the course of the Touhou games. However, because of this, very few (normal) humans come to the shrine, and even fewer (if any at all) leave donations.

The Hakurei Shrine was once the only shrine in Gensokyo, but the Moriya Shrine has since settled on Youkai Mountain. Also adding to religious competition is the Myouren Temple, a Buddhist temple led by Byakuren Hijiri set up shortly after the events of Undefined Fantastic Object.

From Wild and Horned Hermit chapter 8, it is known that there is money scattered around the shrine. Although the ones found by Reimu may have been planted there by the Unnamed Kuda-gitsune. It is later seen that like all shrine, the Hakurei Shrine offers omamori. Although with the Hakurei Shrine's god in question, it is unknown if the omamori would even provide anyone with divine power.

General information

The Hakurei Shrine existed long before the sealing of Gensokyo in 1885[1]. The generations of Hakurei Shrine maidens have lived here for centuries.

The very existence of the both Reimu Hakurei and her shrine ensures the continued existence of Gensokyo by protecting and maintaining the Hakurei Border, thus making it one of the most important locations in the series.[2] However, even with its high status, the shrine has been attacked and destroyed by youkai several times over the course of the games. It is able to serve its function as a shrine even when destroyed, but not as a place to live.[3]

The theory of the Hakurei Border, Reimu Hakurei and the survival of Gensokyo that many of the residents like Hieda no Akyuu who explained this in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense believe may be rather sketchy. Aside from the destroyed shrine, when Reimu Hakurei didn't come back from the moon, Aya Shameimaru talks about finding a new miko for the Hakurei Shrine in a rather suspicious look. Although it is not strange for some of the older characters to know a lot about the Hakurei Shrine, Aya seemed to know something important that wasn't made clear in Akyuu's article. Regardless of whether this is true or not, the shrine and shrine maiden appear to have more secrets than what is presently known.

Though the shrine has a patron god of its own, not much is known about it other than it has been steadily losing faith, power and prestige due to the lack of worshipers[4] and that it is angry about this situation.[5]

Structure and premises

Warehouse of Hakurei Shrine in Strange and Bright Nature Deity.

Structurally, the shrine is old-fashioned and offers poor protection from the cold.[6] The grove of cherry trees behind the shrine is a particularly popular spot for flower viewing in spring.

There a large donations box for visitors to leave money in, but since visitors are scarce it is usually empty.[7] The Yin-Yang Orb, a powerful weapon usable only by blood members of the Hakurei clan, is also kept here.

Since the events of Mountain of Faith, Reimu has constructed a small shrine (about the size of a birdhouse) to Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya at the edge of the Hakurei Shrine's grounds in an attempt to gather more faith. Despite its extremely small size, it does get an occasional visitor from the Human Village. Its blessings include a plentiful harvest and luck in danmaku battle.[8]

Geography and people

The shrine exists on the boundary between the outside world and Gensokyo, but is located in neither.[9] In fact, the shrine's only real purpose these days is to maintain the Great Boundary that separates both worlds.[10] It is simultaneously accessible from both sides, but some unknown circumstances must be met in order to travel from one side to the other. In addition, though the shrine exists on both sides of the border, the shrine reachable from the outside world is allegedly old and uninhabited,[11] as far as those in Gensokyo know.[12]

Physically, the shrine is located high in the mountains to the east from which all of Gensokyo is visible.[13] Its location in the outside world is unknown (besides being in Japan), but it is near a city.[14]

Because it is located on the Border, items from the outside world are known to sometimes appear near the shrine. Their use and purpose cannot usually be understood by the residents of Gensokyo, yet these items are still wondrous to both youkai and humans. Humans from beyond the border are also known to appear from time to time. As a result of these appearances, youkai and collectors keep a close eye on the shrine.[15]

The following characters are residents of the Hakurei Shrine:

The Hakurei Shrine's appearances

In the games

The Hakurei Shrine, as illustrated in Perfect Memento in Strict Sense.

The Hakurei Shrine has made an appearance or been mentioned in most of the official games. It is commonly referenced in game prologues as the starting point from which new incidents are observed, and it has even been featured as a stage in a few of them.

The following list outlines its roles in the games:

Highly Responsive to Prayers

In the prologue of Highly Responsive to Prayers the shrine was initially destroyed by the final boss of whichever route the player chose (either the Hell or Makai route). Stages 1 to 5 also take place in the shrine.

Story of Eastern Wonderland

In Story of Eastern Wonderland's prologue, Reimu returns from the mountains to find that the shrine is overrun by ghosts and youkai. Consequently, stage 1 also takes place here.

Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream

In Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream's prologue, the plot-centric Probability Space Hypervessel appears a short distance away from the shrine gateway.

Lotus Land Story

In Lotus Land Story's prologue, a group of ghosts come barging into the shrine after Reimu wishes out loud for something to do.

Embodiment of Scarlet Devil

In the Extra Story of Embodiment of Scarlet Devil, Reimu, Marisa Kirisame and Remilia Scarlet gather at the shrine.

Perfect Cherry Blossom

In the Extra Story of Perfect Cherry Blossom, Reimu, Marisa, Yuyuko Saigyouji, Sakuya Izayoi and Youmu Konpaku gather at the shrine. It is revealed that many ghosts from the Netherworld have been visiting the shrine as a sight-seeing attraction (without leaving donations) due to the weakened barrier.

Immaterial and Missing Power

All the feasts that occurred prior and after the events of Immaterial and Missing Power described in the prologue were held at the shrine. In addition, all character scenarios featured the shrine itself as a fighting stage.

Imperishable Night

In Imperishable Night's Extra Story, Kaguya Houraisan appears before Reimu, Marisa, Sakuya and Youmu to challenge them to a "trial of guts" (the Extra Stage).

Mountain of Faith

In Mountain of Faith's prologue, Reimu and Marisa discuss the mysterious visitor that showed up that morning to demand she shut down the shrine. The Extra Story has them once again discussing things at the shrine.

Scarlet Weather Rhapsody

During Reimu's Scenario in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody the shrine is destroyed twice — the first time by an earthquake caused by Tenshi Hinanawi, and the second by Yukari Yakumo. It was later rebuilt with the help of Sakuya, Alice Margatroid and Suika Ibuki.

Subterranean Animism

In Subterranean Animism's prologue a geyser spewing out Earth Spirits along with water appeared near the shrine grounds. During Reimu and Yukari's scenario, Yukari remains at the shrine sipping Reimu's tea.

Undefined Fantastic Object

In Undefined Fantastic Object's prologue, Reimu, Marisa and Sanae Kochiya gather at the shrine and discuss the appearence of the mysterious flying ship. The Extra Story once again gathers them to discuss things, this time the UFO-shaped objects.

Ten Desires

In Ten Desire's prologue, Reimu and Marisa are once again at the shrine attempting to enjoy the cherry blossoms, but the abundance of divine spirits bothers them and spurrs them to head out to investigate. The extra story once again places both at the shrine, where they are joined by Sanae Kochiya and Youmu Konpaku to discuss the recent news and the appearence of the so-called youkai trumpcard.

Other appearances

The Hakurei Shrine has been featured in other official works in Touhou, such as manga and music CDs.

In the manga

The Hakurei Shrine as seen in Wild and Horned Hermit chapter 2.
The shrine is common setting in the official manga. Strange and Bright Nature Deity and Oriental Sacred Place in particular often feature the shrine as a target of mischief by Three Fairies of Light. In Wild and Horned Hermit, the shrine is primarily a location for talk between characters, and Kasen Ibaraki frequently comes to pay Reimu a visit.

In the music CDs

The Hakurei Shrine is mentioned in the 11th track (Illusionary Eternal Festival) of ZUN's second official Touhou music CD, Ghostly Field Club. In the story, Renko Usami pulls out a photograph of what is presumably the shrine and proposes to Merry that they pay it a visit. It is assumed they found their way to the Hakurei Shrine of the outside world.

Related games

The shrine made an appearence as the setting of the extra stage in Shuusou Gyoku. However, due to the nature of the relationship between the series, the canonicity of this appearence is questionable.

Books and articles

References

  1. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense—P.113.
  2. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Reimu Hakurei"The Hakurei shrine maidens control the Great Hakurei Boundary and protect Gensokyo. ... Gensokyo relies on the Hakurei Shrine and its shrine maidens to continue to exist as it does today."
  3. Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Reimu's ending — "It still serves its purpose as a shrine, but not as a place to live."
  4. Mountain of Faith: Prologue"The seldom-visited Hakurei shrine god's power had steadily diminished, until its opinion was completely ignored in conference by its myriad colleagues."
  5. Undefined Fantastic Object Reimu A ending — Byakuren Hijiri knows just by visiting the shrine that it has very few followers because she can sense its god is angry.
  6. Perfect Cherry Blossom: Prologue"The shrine is old-fashioned, so it's easily penetrated by wind and other elements. It's as cold inside as it is outside."
  7. Embodiment of Scarlet Devil: Reimu's Scenario"Reimu: My shrine rarely has any visitors during the year."
  8. Mountain of Faith Reimu C Ending. The small bird-house shrine is confirmed to still exist at the Hakurei Shrine in Chapter 5 of Silent Sinner in Blue, and it is mentioned it can be used to summon both Kanako and Suwako.
  9. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Hakurei Shrine"This shrine exists on the border between the outer world and Gensokyo. To be accurate, the place where this shrine exists is not in Gensokyo."
  10. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Reimu Hakurei — "The Hakurei Shrine exists to watch over the Great Boundary which ensures Gensokyo's existence..."
  11. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Reimu Hakurei"Since the Hakurei Shrine stands on the boundary of Gensokyo from the outside world, one can go to the shrine from either world. But the two worlds can't be crossed between in this way. People from Gensokyo can go only to Gensokyo's Hakurei Shrine, and people from the outside world can go only to the outside world's Hakurei Shrine. It's said that the Hakurei Shrine seen from outside is a desolate, uninhabited shrine which no one visits."
  12. Curiosities of Lotus Asia: Chapter 11"...My eyes were becoming accustomed to the light. This archway here was something I recognized... Is this a shrine? And there are are great number of people here too..." Rinnosuke sees the outside world. Logically, he would still be near the border and this is thus the Hakurei Shrine, but this is unconfirmed, and the people there weren't speaking Japanese.
  13. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Hakurei Shrine"The only shrine on the eastern edge of Gensokyo. ... All of Gensokyo can be seen from this shrine, and it is famous for having the most beautiful cherry blossoms."
  14. Strange and Bright Nature Deity — Chapter 23 shows the shrine overlooking a city with cars driving by. It is implied to be the outside world.
  15. Perfect Memento in Strict Sense: Hakurei Shrine"It has other special traits, often such as items from the outside world appearing within the proximity of the shrine or people from the outside world being spotted. ... The goods of the outer world are wondrous and popular among humans and youkai alike. For this reason, many collectors surround the shrine."
  16. Meiji University talkshow "Dawn of Touhou"Q. Where's Genjii (the turtle in PC-98 series) now? A. Probably living in the lake at the back of the shrine... at least he's not consumed.
  17. Curiosities of Lotus Asia: Chapter 25"There really aren't many records left that say. Although we did get taken over by an evil spirit in the past..."

Official Sources

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