Mystic Ground

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, Hidden Emperor 2

Card Type: Region
Keywords: Singular
Card Text: You must bow your target Monk or Shugenja to bring this Region into play.
Reaction: Before this Province is destroyed, destroy this Region to negate the Province's destruction.
Legality: Hidden Emperor (Jade), Rain of Blood (Diamond)
Deck: Dynasty

Printings

Rarity: Common
Flavor Text: "The monks of Osano-Wo are a strange lot. They fight like demons and scars themselves as a sign of rank. However, they keep to themselves, and that makes them welcome neighbors." - Usagi Ozaki
Artist: Tony Moseley
Card Number: 212
Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group

Rarity: Common
Flavor Text: "The tortured land around the ruins of Isawa palace shakes and burns, as if the earth itself is weeping." - Agasha Tamori
Artist: Thomas Gianni
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

Erratum: Reads, "Mystic Ground Singular. You must bow one of your Monks or Shugenja as an additional cost of playing Mystic Ground. Reaction: Before this Province is destroyed, destroy Mystic Ground to negate the Province's destruction." [MRP, Diamond Edition, 27 October 2003] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 137
Reactions are actions. Its reaction cannot be used during Deadly Ground or, possibly, Night Battle. You are not forced to bow someone and play this Region as soon as it appears. You can choose not to pay the cost and leave it in your Province. [7/30/99] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 43

Q: Just remembered a question that came up this weekend. Is destroying the province considered a cost? It would seem so but lacks the "do ________ to ________" template. Assuming it is a cost, this then prevents use with Mystic Ground right? (since using the MG would effectively prevent you from paying the cost).
A: It seems like it should be, but it's not. It's just another effect of the card. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for November 15th", 15 Nov 2000
Q: My opponent say that he doesn't have to pay the requirement of bowing a monk or a shugenja for bringing (Mystic Ground)into play when he searched it from his deck with the event "regions of rokuagn".
A: Your opponent is incorrect. The event does not waive costs. Zen Faulkes, "Mystic ground and regions of rokugan", 31 Mar 2005
Q: 4. If I have Mystic Ground but no shujenga, can it stay in that province till the next events phase in which I have a shujenga or does it get discarded immediately?
A: If you reveal the Region during your Events Phase, and it can't come into play due to being illegal or you not paying a cost to do so, it is discarded as per the Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 76.
[MARTY'S NOTE: Editted to correct my incorrect reply. I confused revealing a Region outside of the Events phase with doing so during the Events phase but not paying the cost.] Martin Lund, "some questions", 21 Mar 2005