1200-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree in Glorious Gold

The Japanese find spirits in everything in sight: aged rocks, rusty cave, waterfalls, you name it. Above all, the Japanese adore the colossal - things that are beyond earthly concern.

Take, for instance, the Giant Ginkgo Tree of Takayama. This enormous plant, 37 meters in height, is over 1,200 years old and designated natural treasure. It has survived the ages in the ground of the Hida Kokubunji Temple built in 757.

The Giant Ginkgo is known for its size but perhaps better for a touching folklore that goes with it.

Once upon a time a seven-storied pagoda was to be built in the ground of the temple. A master carpenter was summoned to take charge of the project. He set out   to work with his apprentices, spend days to work on it. The pagoda was nearly ready to assemble, when he found to his disappointment all the pillars were slightly shorter. Heartbroken, the carpenter was depressed and turned utterly wordless at home. His daughter, Yaegiku, quizzed him why, and the carpenter told her all about the pillars.

Yaegiku suggested him to add a square framing to adjust the length of the pillars. The following morning the carpenter built a square framing to stand the pillars on. All turned out fine.

The beautiful seven-storied pagoda was highly acclaimed and the carpenter was praised for his craftsmanship. However, it occurred to him that Yaegaki might tell somebody about the square framing.

Obsessed, the carpenter on day killed Yaegaki and buried her near the pagoda and planted a seedling of ginkgo. The Giant Gingko Tree of the Hida Kokubunji Temple has a pair of bumps that look like the breasts of a woman. Mothers with poor breast milk will come touch the trunk of the Giant Gingko and pray.

Just take a look at the tree and think of Yaegiku and her hard luck.