Looking at a stone monument, thinking about its meaning, looking at a smartphone, searching for the reason is the real thrill of history

When I go for a walk, there are things whose reasons or meanings I don't understand. Especially difficult are stone monuments like commemorative steles. Building a stone monument nowadays would likely cost a fair amount, yet they went to the trouble of spending that money to create it. Certainly, because it is a stone monument, it remains. Other methods are prone to wear over time, and once the characters fade, they become buried by history.

However, there are many stone monuments and commemorative steles whose meanings are unclear. If they are written in Chinese characters and in an old style, I am completely at a loss. Still, the stone monument I found this time caught my interest. It is clearly understood that it was for the construction of a new road named 'Babasaki'.

However, while I understand that, I don't know anything beyond that, such as where such a road might be. It is the minor history of the local area. It is not something you can understand just by thinking about it in your head.

But, we live in a good era now. I tried looking it up on my smartphone. It didn't come up easily, but I feel like I've started to see what kind of thing it is to some extent. It can be called the real thrill of solving a mystery. And when I understood something that felt like a conclusion, I felt a sense of accomplishment. But I don't know if it's really correct. All I can say is that it makes me feel good and makes my steps lighter on my walk.

Looking at a stone monument, thinking about its meaning, looking at a smartphone, searching for the reason is the real thrill of history
(Sekihi mite, imi o kangae, sumaho mite, riyu saguri wa, rekishi no daigomi)

I referred to today's article, 'Stone Monuments of Nishi-itamochi, Tondabayashi'.

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