Nachi Black (Mie Prefecture) [Famous Stones of Japan]

NACHI GURO

Nachi black

This inscribed stone also appears in the "Kii Zoku Fudoki."
During the Heian period, it was highly valued as a high-quality stone.
This stone is found in Kumano City, where the Kumano Kodo World Heritage Site is located, and is famous for the indescribably beautiful, miraculous jet-black luster it develops the more it is polished.
The particles are 0.1 microns in size, making them very fine and pleasant to the touch.
The symbol of the shrine is the Yatagarasu, a bird with spiritual powers that lives within the sun and is revered as a god of guidance and traffic safety.

This precious stone appears in “Kiizoku Fudoki(Kii Topography)”
During the Heian Period (794-1192) it was prized as a high-class stone used as an ink stone. It is a stone of Kumano City where the World Heritage Kumano Kodo exist, and the more it is polished, the more beautiful it becomes, like a shiny jet black luster, which has touch of mysteriously beautiful spirits beyond description.
The Nachi Guro stone that have an unperceptive gloss was loved since ancient time by Japanese people.
The three-footed Crow (Yata Kazaru), which has the spirit to live in the sun, is symbolized as the god of guidance and the god of traffic safety.
Yata Karasu is a god beast that played an important role when the first Emperor marched to the East.
On Heian period this stone was really valuing highly like a precious stone