Lake Bishimu

Lake Bishimu 秘心湖
The lake as viewed from --- Shrine, --- Island.
Location	Kunho Province, Esonice
Type	Ancient lake, freshwater
Primary inflows	203 rivers
Primary outflows	Perfume River
Basin countries	Esonice
Max. depth	183 m (600 ft)
Islands	26
Settlements	Hasakyo, Kusama, Kadota

Lake Bishimu (Esonian: 秘心湖, Bishimu-ho) also known as the Sacred Lake (Esonian: 神聖湖, Shinsyō-ho) or Thousand Temple Lake (Esonian: 千寺湖, Senguran-ho), is a large freshwater lake located at the heart of Kunho from which the region of Kunho was named after. It's both the largest lake and freshwater lake, including being the deepest lake in Esonice. Lake Bishimu is also an ancient lake and the oldest lake in the country, being over 5.3 million years old.

The lake holds a tremendous significance in Esonian culture due to its importance within Esonice’s indigenous Shinshi faith and its creation myth, with it being the most sacred place in the faith. Due to its role and sanctity, the lake is considered what is known as a “muba” (Esonian: 御場), sacred places inhabited by spirits and ancestors and where they’re venerated. However the lake is considered an unusual example of a muba due to its size and containing various other muba within it, earning it the unique name of “dai-muba” (Esonian:大御場) roughly meaning a big sacred place in Anglish. The muba in question within Lake Bishimu are the several islands scattered across it’s waters known as the Sacred Islands, in Esonian called the “Muba Islands” (Esonian:御場島々, muba shimajima). Several of the islands have Shinshi shrines, Phosattist temples and monasteries built on them and are inhabited by priests and monks.

Alongside the lake's importance in religion, Lake Bishimu also holds significance in other parts of Esonian culture such as art and literature both due to its importance and proximity to historic culture’s centres such as Esonice’s former capital of Hasakyo on the Nagaoka Peninsula and current capital of Maimedo from which the Perfume River flows through and flows out into the Maimedo Lagoon, including the lake’s vital regional role in transportation and trade. The lake was very frequently depicted in various pieces of artwork from several art periods, including often being referenced in poetry and historical accounts such as battles. Over the years Lake Bishimu also became a popular tourist site, also considered to be a natural wonder.

Names

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Area and use

A turtle-shaped pleasure boat docked by a pier at the port of Kusama

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Geography

The lake as viewed north of Hasakyo on the Nagaoka peninsula

Map of Lake Bishimu

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Natural history

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Fauna

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Environmental legislation

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Archeology

Old Esonian coins from the 17th century recovered from lake at Hasakyo's Museum of Esonian History

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Cultural and religious significance

Evening at Lake Bishimu (July 1886) by Iverican impressionist Solomon Simeon

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Sacred Islands

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Shinshist

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Image	Name		Deity	Founded	Island		Description
	Grand Shrine of ---	---	Tsukomichibiku, Bimotarasu	7th century B.C.E	--- Island	---島	--- is one of the oldest religious sites not only in Kunho but all of Esonice, considered to be one of the most sacred shrines dedicated to the worship of Bimotarasu and Tsukomichibiku, the San and Mun spirits.
	---	---	---	---	Maifu Island	舞波島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	---	---	--- Island	---島	---

Phosattist

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Image	Name			Deity	School	Founded	Island		Description
	Huan-ji	虎安寺	"Temple of the Tiger at Peace"	Amida Phosattus	---	10th century C.E	Taiiso Island	苔石島	---
	Ryakohu-ji	蓮閣寺	"Temple of the Lotus Pavilion"	---	---	15th century C.E	Windsong Island	風歌島	---
	Syōtyaku-ji	正徳寺	"Temple of Honest Virtue"	Amida Phosattus	---	16th century C.E	--- Island	---島	---
	---	---	"---"	---	---	13th century C.E	--- Island	---島	---
	Tsutyaku-guran	多徳寺	"Temple of Many Virtues"	---	---	13th century C.E	--- Island	---島	---
	Nagizan-ji	凪山寺	"Temple of the Calm Mountain"	---	---	12th century C.E	--- Island	---島	---

Other

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Gallery

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  Kadota Castle in the lakeside castle town of Kadota on the Nagaoka Peninsula

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  Sampan boats docked in a small port in Kadota