In ancient Japan, Nikko was a famous sacred training place fro the shugenja or “mountain worshippers.” Ieyasu Tokugawa wrote in his will that he should be buried after death in Nikko which is located directly north from Edo. The shrine Tosho-gu was built after his death ans his mausoleum, and was renovated by the third Shogun Iemitsu. There are about 5,000 colorful carvings on the buildings adn gates in Tosho-gu. Many of the carvings are in the same shape of imaginary Chinese holy animals such as dragons and kirin which, according to Chinese legends, are believed to appear only when a fitting king governs the country. Therefore, these carvings convey the message that the Tokugawa Shogun was the rigth ruler of Japan.