Holy stones which can calm [[earthquake]]s. The word '[i]Kaname-ishi[/i]' is often translated as 'keystone.'

The folk tale about how the god of "[i]Kashima[/i] Shrine,":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashima_Shrine [i]Takemikazuchi[/i], used the stone to seal away the great [[catfish]] ([[namazu]]) and calm earthquakes is well known. "[i]Katori[/i] Shrine":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katori_Shrine has another folk tale about [i]Kaname-ishi[/i].
The stones are buried at shrines even today, but the part that is visible above ground is just the tip. The part of the stone that stretches below the ground is believed to press down on or even stab the head of a [[namazu]] or the body of a great [[dragon]]. In [i][[Ukiyo-e]][/i], the war god [i]Takemikazuchi[/i] is often shown wielding the stone as a [[sword]].

In [[Touhou]], [[Hinanawi Tenshi]] is associated with an atypically floating keystone which has [i][[shimenawa]][/i] (sacred ropes) tied around it.

For the similarly named [i][[Pokemon|Pokémon]][/i] item, see [[Mega Stone]].

h4.Typical tags 
[[rock]], [[shimenawa]], [[shide]], [[floating]]

h4.See also

* [[Namazu]]
* [[earthquake]]
要石