uma koma horse legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

uma 馬 koma 駒伝説　horse legends

. uma 馬 koma 駒　the horse in Japanese culture .
- Introduction -


Hachiman koma 八幡駒 Hachiman horse, Aomori

. koma 駒 Horse Toys and Amulets from Japan .


. hakuba 白馬と伝説 Legends about a white horse .

.......................................................................

ema　絵馬 votive tablets
Many legends tell of a painted horse that walks off to feed and cause trouble at night.
. painted by 狩野元信 Kano Motonobu .
. painted by 雪舟等楊 Sesshu Toyo .
at the temple 龍蔵寺 Ryuzo-Ji, Yamaguchi
. Shrine 桙衛神社 Hokutsuki Jinja . - Fukushima

.......................................................................

ryuuma 竜馬 dragon-horse
. carved by 左甚五郎 Hidari Jingoro .


. yabusame 流鏑馬 archery on horseback .


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

. Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain .
hakuba 白馬 riding on a white horse


. Komagatachoo 駒形町 Komagata district in Tokyo .
Komagata doo 駒形堂 Komagata Do Temple Hall



.................................................................. Akita 秋田県 ............................................................
鹿角市 Kakunodate

Obosuna san オボスナさん，O-Koma san オコマさん
kinma 木馬（きんま) "wooden horse"

火事があると、オボスナさんのオコマさん（白い木馬である）が働くという。耳が少しかけているのは、火事の時にあまりにも働いたせいであるという。



.................................................................. Ehime 愛媛県 ............................................................

. Mizu no kami 馬と水の神 Mizunokami Deity of Water .

川で首切り馬が出て人をとった。毎年旧盆１２日の夜にお念仏を唱えるとそういうことがなくなった。

山王様を祀っている祠の近くは昼なお暗く、おそろしく、ふすまという魔物が住んでいて、人に災いをなした。





.................................................................. Fukushima 福島県 ............................................................

The bones of a horse charred all black are good at lowering fever. They are eaten in case of paratyphus.

...........................................................
三春町 Miharu

. kinma 木馬（きんま) "wooden horse" .
the legend of their origin - 延鎮上人 Saint Enchin



. Miharu koma 三春駒 wooden horses from Miharu .

. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro 坂上田村麻呂 (758 - 811) .
conquering the Emishi (蝦夷征伐 Emishi Seibatsu) in Tohoku.





.................................................................. Kagawa 香川県 ............................................................

. 鬼がうすの山 / 鬼ヶ臼山 Onigausuyama .
and the footprints of a baby




.................................................................. Kochi 高知県 ............................................................
大正町

tanuki 狸 badger and kinma 木馬 "wooden horse"
炭焼きをしていると夜更けに木馬を挽く音やカスガイを打ち抜き炭木を落とすような音がする。朝になって見ると何事もない。狸のいたずらだという。




.................................................................. Kumamoto 熊本県 ............................................................
球磨郡 Kuma

yama no mono ヤマンモン "Man of the mountain" (Kappa)
and kawanhito, kawa n hito カワンヒト "Man of the river" (Kappa) 河童
kinma 木馬 "wooden horse"

The hunters of the forests in Kuma know that the "Man of the mountain" makes his wooden horses trample down with a loud noise to reach the river. So the hunters try to never built their huts in his way. For a new hut they first put a post on the place of a new hut and wait till next morning. If the post is still standing, nobody passed down that way.
Sometimes the Kappa (in his version of "Man of the mountain" comes out and challenges the hunters for a sumo wrestling bout.


Kappa along the 球磨川 Kuma river, watching the fish being grilled.

. Kappa Legends from Kyushu 　河童伝説　- 九州 .




.................................................................. Miyagi 宮城県 ............................................................
.......................................................................
大崎市 Osaki city 古川宮沢 Furukawamiyazawa

. The swamp 化女沼 Kejonuma .





.................................................................. Nagano 長野県 ............................................................
.......................................................................
小県郡 Chiisagata district 長和町 Nagawa

Komagata-iwa 駒形岩 Komagata Rock
Rock with the imprint of a horse



- reference source : Legend of the Iwa Komagata -
A young brother and sister came riding a horse along the mountain road of 滝の沢 Takinozawa. It was very thick fog and first the brother, then the sister fell down into the ravine. The villagers then saw something like a white horse

昔，滝の沢の山道を，まだ小さい兄妹が馬でやってきた。霧の深い日で一寸先も見えず，まず兄が，次いで妹が谷底に転落した。谷は高さ数十メートルもあり，落ちればまず助からない。しかし，しばらくして村の者が白い馬に抱かれるように気を失っている妹を見つけた。妹には怪我一つなかった。妹は駒形（馬の形）が岩に刻まれていたと聞き，信心深い兄が身代わりになって命を助けてくれたのだと言った。兄妹は名のある土豪だったが父が防人に召されている間に手代に家や土地を奪われ，父を探す旅をしていたのだという。丁度この時武人が通りがかり，騒ぎを知って女にあった。武人は父であった。父はその後村人と協力し村のために尽くした。村の発展は駒形岩のおかげだと，今も駒形神社で祭りが行われている。




.................................................................. Tokushima 徳島県 ............................................................
那賀郡 Naka district

. kubikire uma 首切れ馬 horse with the head cut off . *




.................................................................. Tokyo 東京 ............................................................
箱崎町 Hakozakicho

. the grave of 松五郎 Matsugoro .



::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

yokai database 妖怪データベース  - source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -
uma 馬 1275 entries (00)
koma 駒 87 entires (00)
05 kinma 木馬 (kiuma, ki-uma, kiba) (wooden horse) ()
07 駿馬 shunma (00)

..............................................................................................................................................

. hakuba 白馬と伝説 Legends about a white horse .


. Legends about Kobo Daishi Kukai - 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説 .

. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #umakoma #komauma #horselegends #horse #pferd -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Heike Ochudo Legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Heike Ochudo densetsu　平家落人伝説 legends about Heike Ochudo

. Heike densetsu　平家伝説 legends about the Heike clan .
- Introduction -

Heike no ochuudo 平家の落人 Ochudo, the defeated soldiers of the Heike
They are said to live in many parts of Japan, often in remote rural mountain regions.
They founded small communities, 平家の里 Heike no Sato.


source :　shurakumachinami.natsu.gs

A map of the spread of the Heike families. 平家落人行動図. Most of them have their own 落人伝説.



Even in my valley in the center of Okayama prefecture, this is a Ochudo community with many family names like
Akihira, Hiraoka, Hiranuma, Shigehira, Ujihira and so on.

..............................................................................................................................................

Heike Ochudo Matsuri - Yunishigawa - Samurai Festival

- reference : heike ochudo festival -

- reference : 平家落人　祭り -

日光市 - 平家大祭

平家落人伝説由来の地「椎葉村」 Shiiba village, Miyazaki, Kyushu


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

.................................................................. Ehime 愛媛県 ....................................................................
城辺町 Johen

A villager had hidden some Ochudo families, but was betrayed and officials came to check. In the following fight, the Ochudo were killed. Before they all died, one of them uttered
この家は庭に植物を絶やさねば食うに困らなくなる.
"If you plant fruit and vegetables in your garden, you will always have enough to eat!"
And so it happened.

At temple 海禅寺 Kaizen-Ji in Uwajima someone begun to dig at the roots of a tree sacred to the Heike,
a Shii oak tree 椎の木. His face became swollen and his extremities limp. This was a curse of the Ochudo.
愛媛県宇和島市蒋淵1679, Temple Kaizen-Ji


source :　yugami189/diary

. shii 椎 the Shii-oak, Pasania .
Often planted as a sacred 神木 shinboku in a shrine or temple.


平家屋敷跡　－ 方城町 Hojomachi Fukuoka, with a Shii tree.
- source : senri.warbirds.jp -




.................................................................. Gifu 岐阜県 .................................................................

. Heike Jizo at 上宝村 Kamitakaramura 双六 Sugoroku village .




.................................................................. Kagawa 香川県 ....................................................................
Takamatsu, 東植田町 Higashiueta

Along the upper region of the river 春日川 Kasukagawa in the hamlet 神村 Kamimura there is a small sanctuary of かまとこ地蔵 Kamatoko Jizo.


- source : sanukimesatobuttestyle -

The defeated soldiers of the Heike had fled to here and hidden in a kiln for charcoal that had not been fired yet. The Genji in hot pursuit found out about it and closed the kiln firmly with a lid of earth to kill them all.
Since then strange and mysterious demonic things happened in the village and to appease the souls of the Heike, the small sanctuary for Jizo was built.




.................................................................. Kochi .................................................................

. 小松玉姫 Princess Komatsu Tama .




.................................................................. Kumamoto　熊本県 .................................................................




. Kappa Legends from Kyushu .

It tells about the defeated soldiers of the Heike, coming here and becoming Kappa.
平家の落人の霊魂は河童となり.

Yatsushiro 八代市 - Goka no Sho, Gokanosho 五家荘 "Five Villages
southern Kumamoto Prefecture
八代市泉町
椎原 Shiibaru、仁田尾 Nitao、樅木 Momiki、葉木 Hagi、久連子 Kureko　

source :　shurakumachinami.natsu.gs


- quote -
Gokanosho - Secret Hiding Ground of the Heike
Johannes Schonherr
The roads leading up here are indeed very narrow, very steep and very curvy. The mountains reach up to 1700 meters and the roads lead over passes as high as 1100 meters. In the winter, the whole area is accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles and older locals will tell you about that one winter when Gokanosho depended for a whole month on helicopter supplies because the snow was too deep for any ground transport to reach the area.
The villages
are tiny and scattered over a wide area but most of them will have a minshuku (inn) where visitors can stay. In fact, in many cases, the inn will be the only large building in the village, usually also housing a small store and having a post box in front. Often the inn and the tool sheds attached to it are the village.
In the ancient times
before there were things like paved roads these steep mountains were impossible to conquer by any sizable army. This has made them an ideal hiding place - and in this case the final hiding place for a once very powerful clan closely associated to the royal court in Kyoto.
- snip -
Heike Legacy
In Japanese legends, Noh plays, songs, ghost stories and novels, however, the tragic fate of the Heike has left an enduring legacy. The best experience perhaps of this legacy in Gokanosho is the kagura at Heike no Sato (Heike Village), a performance space built in the design of a shrine.
Kagura
are traditionally raunchy farmers' dances re-enacting ancient tales of the Shinto gods. Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture, not far from Gokanosho, is most famous for this type of kagura.
At Heike no Sato,
however, the performances are of a rather somber type. The kagura is usually held in early to mid-November, the time when Gokanosho is in the midst of its intensely colorful autumn foliage. Burning torches light the nightly colors on the way to the open-air stage.
After the customary kagura dance designed to "clear the space for the gods," all further action is celebrating the sad fate of the Heike. Dances to songs bemoaning the Heike are performed by people from the village who may or may not be able to trace their ancestors right back to the old warriors of 800 years ago.
- - - - - Check out the photos and more links :
- source : japanvisitor.com -


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -
02 平家落人 (02)
25 平家の落人 (01)

- reference : Heike Ochudo -

.......................................................................


. minwa 民話　folktales / densetsu 伝説　Japanese Legends .
- Introduction -

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #heikeochudo #heikeclan #ochudoheike -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Heike legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Heike densetsu　平家伝説 legends about the Heike clan

- quote -
The Tale of the Heike (平家物語 Heike Monogatari)
is an epic account compiled long prior 1330 of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War (1180-1185). Heike (平家) refers to the Taira (平) clan; "hei" being an alternate reading of the first kanji (character) of Taira.
Note that in the title of the Genpei War, "hei" is in this combination read as "pei" and the "gen" (源) is the first kanji used in the Minamoto (also known as Genji) clan's name.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja 厳島神社) .
Miyajima 宮島 - Hiroshima
It was renovated to its present splendor by Taira no Kiyomori 平清盛 in 1168.

............................................................................................................................................


source : panteek.com/Chikanobu/pages...

Heroes and Heroines in The Tale of Heike, 1898
- - - Samurai Battles Oni Demon - - -
by Toyohara Chikanobu (Yoshu Chikanobu) 1838-1912

. Onipedia 日本の鬼 The Demons of Japan .


.............................................................................................................................................


. Taira clan 平 The Rise of the Taira .

. Taira no Atsumori 平敦盛 (1169 - 1184) .

. Taira no Kiyomori 平清盛 (1118 - 1181) .
- 10 legends to explore -

. Taira no Masakado 平将門 (? – 940) .
- 18 legends to explore -


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Heike Ochudo densetsu　平家落人伝説 legends about the Heike Ochudo .

Ochudo, the defeated soldiers of the Heike
They are said to live in many parts of Japan, often in remote rural mountain regions.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Fireflies, firefly (hotaru) - Introduction .



Heike-botaru, heikebotaru 平家蛍　- Luciola lateralis (right)
Genji-botaru, genjibotaru 源氏蛍 - Luciola cruciata

To understand the deep appreciation of the Japanese for fireflies, you need to know a bit about Japanese history and the conflict between the clans of the Heike and the Genji around 1180, which ended in the fall of the Heike clan.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Crabs (kani 蟹) - Introduction .

Heikegani 平家蟹 Heike crabs, Heikea japonicum



- quote -
Heikegani (平家蟹, ヘイケガニ) (Heikeopsis japonica)
is a species of crab native to Japan, with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face which many believed to be the face of an angry samurai hence the nickname Samurai Crab. It is locally believed that these crabs are reincarnations of the spirits of the Heike warriors defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-ura
as told in The Tale of the Heike.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


- quote -
The legend of Heikegani: the Samurai ghost crabs
Heikegani is a species of crab native to Japan, with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face. According to Japanese folklore, the Heikegani crabs contain the souls of the Heike samurai warriors who were slain at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185 AD, a war over the Japanese imperial throne. The story goes that the Heike samurai, reincarnated into the Heikegani (Heikeposis japonica) crab, were showing their allegiance to their clan by donning a fierce mask on their shells.



The battle of Dan-no-ura (Dannoura), immortalized in the Heike Monogatari (the Tale of Heike,) was a pivotal moment in Japan’s history, which established the first shogunate (military dictatorship) and resulted in the death of a child emperor.
- snip -
Carl Sagan’s Theory of Artificial Selection
During an episode of the PBS science show, ‘Cosmos: A Personal Voyage’, Carl Sagon expounded on a theory put forward by Julian Huxley in 1952, to explain the strange face-like characteristics of the Heikegani crab shell. Huxley theorized that the crab’s samurai faces are the result of artificial selection. He proposed the fishermen fishing Japan’s waters would throw back any crabs whose shells looked like a samurai’s face out of respect for the fallen heike. This preserved the DNA of the heikegani with samurai-like faces while thinning the genetic lines of those without.
- - - - - more
- source : ancient-origins.net/myths-legends -


送り火やどちへも向かぬ平家蟹
okuribi ya dochi e mo mukanu heike-gani

bonfires for the dead --
in every direction
Heike crabs

Kobayashi Issa　小林一茶
Tr. David Lanoue


月の夜やなすこともなき平家蟹
井上井月

鈴となつても怨霊の貌平家蟹
下村ひろし

長恨の丹のいろうすれ平家蟹
中原道夫

..............................................................................................................................................

. Akama Jingu 赤間神宮 Akama Shrine .
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
In honor of the young Emperor Antoku (安徳天皇 Antoku-tennō) (1178 – 1185, died at age 16)

- - - - - In Shimonoseki crabs are also called
onigani 鬼蟹 demon crabs
kimengani 鬼面蟹 crabs with demon faces

kamo 鳧 duck - gan 雁 geese - Heikegani 平家蟹
At the Kameyama Hachimangu in Yamaguchi, during the festival on March 14, 15 where live animals are let free as offerings, farmers oberved that about three or four days before and after the festival there were no ducks and geese flying and at Akama more Heikegani than usual would come up.

In some villages the back shell of a crab 蟹の甲羅, which looks like a human face, is hung at the entrance of the home to ward off evil influence and disaster.


.......................................................................
Kagawa 香川県, Takamatsu, Yashima 屋島

Heike no boorei 平家の亡霊 the souls of the dead Heike

The poet Iwata Ryoto 岩田凉菟 (1659 - 1717) lived in Yashima, famous for the fight of the Genpei. When he saw his first Heikegani crabs, he wrote the following haiku about the namako (sea cucumber) and the Heikegani:
(There are various versions given in Japanese sources.)

なまじひに海鼠にもならで平家蟹 / なまじかに海鼠にならで平家蟹

But at night he could not sleep and thought he was cursed by the Heike for it.
So he re-wrote his poem:

海鼠ともならでさすがに平家なり / なまことも ならでさすがに平家なり
海鼠にもならで流石は平家也 / / 海鼠ともならで果てけり平家蟹

After this, the curse was taken away from him.
Ryoto was a student of Matsuo Basho. He was a Shinto priest, living in Ise Yamada.


and Haiku poet

Ryooshoo 蓼松 Ryosho (1762-1832)
dreams about being a sea slug harassed by hundreds of crabs:

水底に平家滅びて海鼠かな

on the seabed
the heike dying out
sea slugs

- Tr. Robin D. Gill -

.......................................................................

In other parts of Japan these strange-looking crabs have different names and legends to go:

- - - - - In Settsu 摂州 (now part of Osaka and Hyogo)

. Takebungani 武文蟹 Takebun crabs .
onigani 鬼蟹 demon crabs // kimengani 鬼面蟹 crabs with demon faces

(attributed to 秦武文 Hata no Takebun, who was killed in Hyogo Bay 兵庫湊.
also called Shimamuragani 島村蟹 - named after 島村武文 Shimamura Takebun


- Hata no Takebun - Photos -


.......................................................................
- - - - - In Aichi 愛知県

Osadagani 長田蟹, Osadagai 長田貝 Osada shells
They wash up at the shores of Mihama in Aichi - also at the shores of Kaga 加賀国 and Etchu 越中国 provinces.

They are attributed to 長田父子 father and son Osada, who where killed in Mihama by 源頼朝 Minamoto no Yoritomo. Not only the crabs, but also the shells have taken over the curse of the killed.

. Osada Tadamune 長田忠致 (? - ?1190) .
and the death of Minamoto no Yoshitomo at 野間大坊 Noma Daibo


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

.................................................................. Kagawa 香川県 ....................................................................
Takamatsu, 東植田町 Higashiueta

Heike no ochuudo 平家の落人 Ochudo, the defeated soldiers of the Heike

. Heike Ochudo densetsu　平家落人伝説 legends about Heike Ochudo .


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

yokai database 妖怪データベース - reference
- source : Nichibun Yokai Database -
Heike 平家 63 entries (02)
Taira no Kiyomori 平清盛 10 entries
Heikegani (crabs) 平家蟹 12 to explore

.......................................................................


. minwa 民話　folktales / densetsu 伝説　Japanese Legends .
- Introduction -

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #heikelegends #heikeclan #heikemonogatari -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tengu legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-List .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin"

Tengu, a class of supernatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, art, theater, and literature.

. Tengu 天狗 "heavenly dog" .
- Introduction -
- - - - - Tengu Festival in Sakaide 坂出の天狗まつり
- - - - - Kidōmaru 鬼童丸 Kidomaru learning from Tengu
- - - - - pokkuri Tengu ぽっくり天狗 Tengu for a healthy long life and sudden death
- - - - - Tengu - The Shamanic and Esoteric Origins of the Japanese Martial Arts
Roald Knutsen



Torii Kiyomasu 　鳥居清倍


. Karasutengu, Karasu Tengu 烏天狗、からす天狗 / カラステング
Crow Tengu カラス天狗 legends
kotengu　小天狗 minor Tengu, crow-like goblin .
Aotengu 青天狗 Ao-Tengu "Green / Blue Tengu"

. Kaze no Kami 風神としての天狗 Tengu as God of the Wind .
- - - - - 風神伝説　Wind God Legends

Sarutahiko サルタヒコ is the ancestor of the Tengu.
. Sarutahiko densetsu 猿田彦伝説 Sarutahiko Legends .

. shibatengu, shiba tengu 柴天狗 / シバテン Shiba Tengu. Shibaten from Shikoku .


. Tarooboo 太郎坊 天狗伝説　Taro-Bo, Tarobo Tengu Legends .
太郎坊 Taro-Bo, Tarobo from 愛宕山 Atagoyama
二郎坊 Jiro-Bo, Jirobo from Hieizan 比叡山
僧正坊 Sojo-Bo, Sojobo from Kuramayama 鞍馬山 - Kurama Tengu

. Zenkibō 前鬼坊 Zenkibo, Zenki-Bo .
大峰山前鬼坊 Ominesan Zenki-Bo and his wife, Goki 後鬼


. guhin kuhin gubin 狗賓 / グヒン Guhin Tengu Yokai monster .
25 to explore

. expressions with "Tengu" and legends . *
Tengudaoshi, Tengu-daoshi 天狗だおし / 天狗倒し "Tengu knocking down trees"
Tengu ni naru 天狗になる to become a Tengu, to act like a Tengu
Tengu tsubute 天狗つぶて / 天狗礫 "Tengu throwing stones"
tengu no tobi-sokonai 天狗の飛び損い even a Tengu sometimes can not fly properly
Tengu no yusaburi 天狗の揺さぶり Tengu jolting (a mountain hut)
Tengutobi, Tengu-tobi 天狗跳び to jump like a Tengu
tsuri Tengu ni kikimimi nashi 釣り天狗に聞き耳なし fishing Tengu
. Tengubi, tengu no hi 天狗火 Tengu fire .

.......................................................................

. hinotama 天狗と火の玉伝説 Legends about Tengu and fire balls .

. inoshishi 猪 - 天狗 と伝説 Legends about wild boar and Tengu .

. kamikakushi, kami-kakushi 天狗と神かくし / カミカクシ "spirited away" .

. kawatengu, kawa-tengu, kawa tengu 川天狗 "river Tengu" .
mizutengu, mizu tengu 水天狗 "water Tengu"

. keyaki 欅と伝説 Legends about the Zelkova tree .
with a Tengu !

. men 天狗の面 mask of a Tengu - Legends .

. Ninnaji 仁和寺 Ninna-Ji and Tengu - Kyoto .

. saba 鯖と伝説 Legends about mackerel, Makrele .
and about the Tengu, who dislikes 生鯖 mackerels.
天狗は鯖が苦手　/ 天狗は鯖が嫌い

. sennin 天狗と仙人伝説 Legends about Tengu and Immortals .

. sugi 天狗と杉と伝説 Legends about Tengu and Cedar trees .
Tengusugi, Tengu-sugi　天狗杉 Tengu Cedar Tree / Tengu no koshikake sugi 腰掛杉


taki 滝　瀧 waterfall and Tengu - at least 52 to explore


. Yama no Kami, Yamanokami 山の神 God of the Mountain and Tengu legends .


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


家康の頃、力持ちの和尚のところに大敵と勝負をするので和尚の右腕を貸せという天狗がきた。切るには及ばず、ただ貸すといえというので、貸すというと、右腕の力のみを借りていった。7日後、天狗は力を返しに来て、お礼に天狗の爪をくれた。


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

............................................................................ . - - - Aichi 愛知県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Akita 秋田県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Chiba 千葉県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Ehime 愛媛県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Fukui 福井県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Fukuoka 福岡県 .


............................................................................ . - - - Fukushima 福島県 .


............................................................................ Gifu 岐阜県
益田郡 Masuta district 小坂町 Kosaka

. Jigokudani　地獄谷 ”Hell Valley" -- Jigoku no Tani 地獄の谷 .
at 御嶽山 Mount Ontakesan

. Tengu at 白山神社 Hakusan Shrine .

. - - - Gunma 群馬県 .

--- Hiroshima
--- Hokkaido
--- Hyogo
............................................................................ Ibaraki　茨城県
. Tengu at 長楽寺 the temple Choraku-Ji .

--- Ishikawa


............................................................................ Iwate 岩手県

二戸郡 Ninohe district 一戸町 Ichinohe

. hibuse 火防と伝説 Legends about fire prevention .

.......................................................................
東磐井郡 大東村

toraneko 虎猫 tabby
京津畑集落の尼寺で飼われていた虎猫は、可愛がられてアズキ飯で養われていた。この虎猫は葬式の度に、棺を担いで天狗岩山に持き食べてしまった。尼さんが「虎や虎や、南無虎や、アンズキ飯の御徳や」と言えば、空は晴れ棺も取られずに葬式が済んだという。

--- Kagawa - - . the Tengu from 讃岐山 Sanukiyama .
--- Kagoshima
--- Kanagawa
--- Kochi
--- Kumamoto
--- Kyoto
. Nichiren Shu 日蓮宗 Legends about the Nichiren Sect .

--- Mie
--- Miyagi
--- Miyazaki

--- Nagano
--- Nagasaki

............................................................................ Nara 奈良県
吉野郡 Yoshino district 野迫川村 Nosegawa vilage

At the pass 陣ヶ峰峠 Jingamine Toge there is the tea stall 天狗見茶屋 Tengumi Chaya with a room of 8 tatami mats, the 天狗の間 Tengu Room.
The son of this family, 仙太郎 Sentaro, was quite a Yakuza hanging around gambling. So the Tengu came to teach him a lesson and waited in front of the house.
But Sentaro did not listen to his sermon and instead invited him to come along gambling. The angry Tengu picked up the young man and threw him into the large Tengu Room. Sentaro was quite surprized, fell ill and soon died. That is how the room got its name.
- - - - -
.Tengu footprints at Kasagi 笠置 .


--- Niigata

--- Oita
--- Okayama 46
--- Okinawa

............................................................................ Osaka 大阪府
高槻市

taki 瀧 waterfall
天狗の滝に建てられた妙見堂には、病気平癒の祈願を込めて滝に打たれる人々が多く訪れる。御利益もまた顕著であるという。
天狗　瀧 06 to explore


--- Saga
--- Saitama
............................................................................ Shiga　滋賀県

. A Tengu at Risshakuji 立石寺 Temple Risshaku-Ji .




............................................................................ Shimane 島根県
. Tengu in heavy snow .




............................................................................ Shizuoka 静岡県 .
.......................................................................
磐田郡 Iwata district 二俣町 Futamata town

行基 Gyoki and Tengu
Mount 光明山 Komyosan often had fire aruond its top, so it was also called 大鏡山 Daikyozan.
When 行基菩薩 Gyoki Bosatsu climbed the mountain, he met an old man with white hair and beard.
His name was 笠鋒坊権現 Ryuho Bo Gongen and he protected the area from fire.
It was the Tengu 先明天狗笠鋒坊権 Ryuho Bo Gongen.
大鏡山 Sanbo-Ji 三寳寺 (三宝寺)

. Gyooki Bosatsu 行基菩薩 Gyoki Bosatsu .
(668 - 749) Gyōki, Gyōgi

.......................................................................
Shizuoka 水窪町 Misakubo town

. A Rengu brings sekiri 赤痢 bloody diarrhea .




............................................................................ Tochigi 栃木県

日光市 Nikko
. Urami no taki 裏見滝 waterfall at Nikko .

. Tengu at 成高寺 Joko-Ji in Utsunomiya .


--- Tokushima

............................................................................ --- Tokyo 東京 / Edo 江戸

. Legends from 中央区 Chuo ward .
. Legend from 神田鍋町 Kanda Nabecho district .
. Legend from 北区 Kita ward, river 赤羽川 Akabanegawa .
. Legend from 小河内村 Ogochi mura . - with Benten 弁天


--- Tottori


............................................................................ Toyama 富山県

. Tengosama テンゴサマ / Tengohan テンゴハン .
Tengu in the Toyama dialect.



............................................................................ Wakayama 和歌山県

sorakamisan Sora Kami San 空神さん Deity of the Sky
In January on 初寅の日 the first day of the Tiger people should not go to the mountains.
If they meet Sorakami San (another name for 天狗 Tengu), they will be kidnapped.


--- Yamagata
--- Yamaguchi

............................................................................. Yamanashi 山梨県

正月十四日頃山のどこかから鼓笛の音が響いてくる。人が近寄ろうとすると止み、別のところで鳴りだす。桶の底を叩くような音で、狸囃子と似ているため、人々は天狗の能囃子と呼んでいる。


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

yokai database 妖怪データベース
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -
tengu 天狗 1387 entries (000)
karasutengu 烏天狗 extra file


source : wikipedia

..............................................................................................................................................


. Legends about Kobo Daishi Kukai - 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説 .

. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-List .

. karasu　鴉 / 烏と伝説　legends about crow, raven .

. minwa 民話　folktales / densetsu 伝説　Japanese Legends .
- Introduction -

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #legendstengu ###tengulegends #tengulegendsabc #tenguabc ##tengu -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

tanuki badger legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

tanuki 狸 - mujina 狢 － racoon dog, badger legends

Next to the fox the Tanuki is seen as a crafty animal with magical powers,
but unlike the terrifying fox it is quite humorous in its tricks.

. Tanuki 狸　Badger, Racoon Dog .
- Introduction -
- including
the Tanuki Scrotum, kintama 金玉
Tanuki and Sake Legends 狸とお酒
Tanuki from temple Kodai-Ji (Koodaiji) 高台寺の狸 - Kyoto
Tanuki Osho たぬき和尚 Tanuki and priests
Eiyoo Gongen 栄誉権現 Venerable Guard Deity at Ueno, Toshogu
Hikoichi don from Kumamoto 熊本の彦一　
kachikachi yama, Kachi-Kachi Yama かちかち山, The Crackling Mountain Story
Kankuro Tanuki 権九郎狸 from Kochi
Kinchoo, Kinchō 金長狸 Kincho from Tokushima and the fight Awa Tanuki Gassen 阿波狸合戦 with Rokuemon 六右衛門狸 Rokuemon Tanuki
Kizaemon and Kojooro the Tanuki prostitute 喜左衛門と小女郎狸
Jooganji no Hage Tanuki - hagedanuki 浄願寺の禿狸 bald Tanuki from temple Jogan-Ji

a pun with
ta o nuku　他を抜く pull away from the crowd
"tanuki" can also be read "ta-nuki,"
or pulling away from the crowd, a symbol of victory.



yokai tanuki - www . suggestkeyword . com

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Dadaboo 八町のだだ坊 Hatcho no Dadabo Tanuki .
Fukushima

. Danzaburo 団三郎 from Sado Island .
(Dansaburo)



. Inoshishi 猪 and Tanuki legends .

. nakōdo 仲人 Nakodo, legends about Tanuki matchmakers for marriage .

. Hannya Shingyoo 般若心経 Hanya Shingyo Heart Sutra .
This Sutra is often recited if someone is bewitched or possessed by a fox or Tanuki.


. furudanuki, kori 古狸と伝説 Legends about an old monster Tanuki .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :


.................................................................. Aichi 愛知県....................................................................
.......................................................................
豊田市 Toyota city

About 60 years ago, there lived an old Tanuki. He was venerated in a small shrine. But the shrine went into decay and the Tanuki came out again to play his tricks on the farmers.
Once a woman gave birth and the Tanuki happened to see her bottom and then bewitched her. She became quite weak and all prayed for her and begun to recite the 心経を千巻 1000 sutras.
When they had come to about 30 sutras, the Tanuki promised: "When you have finished the 1000, I will not come out any more."
It took them three days to recite all the 1000 sutras.
So the Tanuki said: "Well, I will now go back home, but please keep worshipping me!"
And what do you know, the woman recovered in no time, after worshipping the Tanuki.

.......................................................................
山県郡 Yamagata district 美山町 Miyama town

. Aobōzu 青坊主 Aobozu, a "Blue Priest" Yokai as Tanuki .




.................................................................. Ehime 愛媛県....................................................................
......................................................................
Ehime 松山市 Matsuyama city

. O-Mitsu Tanuki おみつ狸 .
- at the Mitsu Kaido 三津街道 Mitsu Highway

.......................................................................
Ehime 南宇和郡 Minami-Uwa district 西海町 Saikai town

. Matsuya Tanuki 松屋狸 the Tanuki of Tonya Matsuya .

......................................................................
Ehime 温泉郡 Onsen district 重信町 Shigenobu town

. tateishidanuki 立石狸 Tateishi Tanuki .




.................................................................. Ibaraki 茨城県　　 ...........................................................

. bewitched at 日吉神社 Hiyoshi Shrine .

.......................................................................
行方市 Namegata city 百里 Hyakuri hamlet

. furudanuki old Tanuki from Hyakuri Kaido 百里街道 .




.................................................................. Kagawa 香川県....................................................................

. The Tanuki from 紫雲出山 Mount Shiudeyama .

. The Tanuki from temple 中蓮寺 Churen-Ji .
- and another from 詫間町 Takuma cho town

. Ashimagari, ashi-magari 足まがり Tanuki yokai .
- quote -
Ashi-Magari 足まがり)
is a ghostly phenomenon from the folklore of Kagawa Prefecture on Shikoku, Japan. It is a soft thing, like a kitten or a wad of cotton, which is felt wrapping itself around a person's leg at night, impeding the ability to walk.
On the island of Shikoku, strange ocurances are often attributed to the wiles of the raccoon dog, and this nocturnal phenomenon from Kagawa prefecture is no exception. Like the sune-kosuri, the ashi-magari is felt coiling around the legs of people walking at night, eventually becoming a hindrance and making it difficult or impossible to move. Those who bend down to touch it feel something soft like raw cotton, and if they squeeze it tightly, the ashi-magari is said to feel something like the tail of an animal.
While it is not generally visible,
it is often believed to be the trick of a tanuki.
- source : yokai.fandom.com/wiki... -
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




.................................................................. Kochi 高知県　　 ...........................................................

. The untimely 参勤交代 Sankin Kotai procession .
on the Noneyama Kaido 野根山街道 Noneyama Highway




.................................................................. Kyoto 京都府 ....................................................................

. a Tanuki named 八兵衛狸 Hachibei at temple 建仁寺 Kennin-Ji .
There are other Tanuki named Hachibei in Japan.
. . . CLICK here for 八兵衛狸 Photos !

- - - - -
. Ohaguro ba おはぐろ婆 Old Hag with Black Teeth .
At the temple 大徳寺 Daitoku-Ji

- - - - -
. Tanuki along the Nara Kaido 奈良街道 highway .

- - - - -
. Tanuki bewitching ushiguruma 牛車 an ox cart sound .

.......................................................................
天田郡 Amata district 三和町 Miwa cho

. The 岡部吉左衛門 Okabe Kichizaemon family .




.................................................................. Nagano 長野県　　 ...........................................................
宮川村 Miyagawa village

. The Mujina at the temple 安国寺 Ankoku-Ji. .

伊那市 Ina city
. The Mujina at the temple 慈眼寺 Jigen-Ji. .




.................................................................. Niigata 新潟県　　 ...........................................................
.......................................................................
小千谷市 Ojiya city

. Helping a Mujina to give birth .

.......................................................................
Niigata 佐渡市 Sado city

. mujina no tatari ムジナの祟り the curse of a Mujina .
and a pokkuri sudden death




.................................................................. Osaka 大阪府 ....................................................................

. The monster at 北御堂 Kitamido Hall .

Once during a 台風 typhoon the temple hall broke down and the Buddha statue was swept away by the floods. So the villagers strengthened the ground with concrete before re-building the hall, but suddenly four accidents happened, one after the other. One priest told the villagers that a Tanuki was buried under the concrete and he could not breathe any more.
So they made a hole in the ground and the accidents stopped.

.......................................................................
枚方市 Hirakata city

. Gentaroo 源太郎狸 Gentaro Tanuki .




.................................................................. Saitama 埼玉県 ....................................................................

. Tanuki and 牧厳和尚 Kind Priest Makigon .
at the temple 長慶寺 Chokei-Ji




.................................................................. Shizuoka 静岡県 ....................................................................

. Furudanuki 古狸 carrying a 塔婆 Sotoba grave marker .




.................................................................. Tokushima 徳島県 ....................................................................
. Tanuki posing as 三番叟 a Sanbaso dancer .

.......................................................................
佐古町 Sako town

. Shinpachi Tanuki 新八狸 Tanuki Shinpachi / 庚申新八狸 Koshin Shinpachi . - a 古狸




.................................................................. Tokyo 東京　Edo 江戸 ...........................................................

. Chiyoda ward Tanuki legends 千代田区 .

. haifuri tanuki 灰降狸 the ash-throwing Tanuki .

. Itabashi and Mujina legends 板橋 .

. Minato ward Tanuki legends 港区 .

. Shinjuku 市谷左内坂町 Ichigaya Sanaizaka legends .

. tanukibayashi 狸囃子 "Tanuki Orchestra" / 伝法院 the temple Denbo-In .



::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




- yokai database 妖怪データベース - reference -
tanuki 狸 more than 1000 entires - (000)
mujina ムジナ　454 entries (00)　
mujina 狢 225 entries (00)

.......................................................................

. minwa 民話　folktales / densetsu 伝説　Japanese Legends .
- Introduction -

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #tanukilegends #legendstanuki #ashimagari -
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

silk kinu legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

silk 絹 kinu - legends and tales
silkworm, kaiko 蚕, kuwago 桑子 "mulberry child"
kogai 蚕飼 / yoosan 養蚕, saisei 催青 rearing silkworms, sericulture, raising silkworms
mayu 繭 cocoon / mayudama 繭玉 "cocoon balls"
kaiko no ga 蚕の蛾 / sanga 蚕蛾 silkworm becoming a moth
shinginu 新絹 new silk from autumn
kuwa 桑 mulberry tree　

The practice of using silk began in Japan in the 3rd century, when ways to raise silk worms was introduced via China and Korea. C

. Silk (kinu 絹) history and many related words .
- Introduction -
- Kawamata Silk　川俣シルク　ー　Fukushima - Otehime 小手姫
- kuwahimesama kuwa himesama 桑姫さま deity to protect the mulberry trees and silk
- kaikogami, sanjin 蚕神 "Silkworm god", おしらさま O-Shirasama, 馬鳴菩薩 Memyo Bosatsu



source :　swanweb.co.jp


. 薬師猫神様 Yakushi Nekokamisama .
the Cat was an important "Deity" to help protect the silk worm farmers from the many mice

. Silk Road シルクロード　- Asian Highway アジアンハイウェイ .

himeko ひめこ, the princess child, who later became a silk worm

under construction
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :


.................................................................. Aichi 愛知県 ....................................................................
豊田市 Toyota

kitsune 狐 fox
If a fox has cursed a silk farmer family, the fox will sit in the basket when carrying the cocoons to the market, and make it feel very heavy.




.................................................................. Fukushima 福島県 ...........................................................

. O-Suga sama お菅さま "Lady Suga" .
She observed the silk worms munching mulberry leaves with joy and told them:
neesan kuu wa ねえさん食うわ. Since then the leaves were called "kuwa クワ".

.......................................................................
いわき市 Iwaki city

. Legends from 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine .




.................................................................. Gifu 岐阜県 ....................................................................
上宝町 Kamitakara

nezumi ishi 鼠石 stone with a mouse pattern



This is a stone with a special pattern thet looks like a mouse, of about 1 meter.
Once it was carried to the temple 桂峯寺 Keiho-Ji at 長倉 Nagakura in the hope, it would attract visitors and bring riches to the village. But then the silk worms near the hamlet of 双六 Sukeroku began to wither and die.
And all the mice at the temple began to become crazy and farmers nearby died suddenly.
So they brought the stone back to its former place.

. ne 子 / nezumi 鼠　 Rat, Mouse .




.................................................................. Gunma 群馬県 ....................................................................
嬬恋村 Tsumagoi

oni no medama 鬼の目玉 "the eyeballs of a demon"

On the last day of the first lunar month (now January 31) people make silk cocoons from wheat straw and millet powder and place them at the front gate as an offering for the deities. They are called "eyeballs of a demon" and protect the home from bad luck. When a demon comes along, he will see these large eyeballs and run away.

These "eyeballs of a demon" are also offered in other regions of Japan, made from other material, especially during the Setsubun rituals.

. Oni 鬼 and Setsubun 節分 rituals .




.................................................................. Nagano 長野県 ....................................................................


. silk worms and the smell of 天麩羅 . 天ぷら Tenpura, Tempura .

.......................................................................
Kappa 河童
and yamamayu 山繭 wild silkworm, giant mountain silkworm moth



A Kappa lived in the 馬の足窪 "Hollow of a horse foot". One of his best-liked food was the thread of mountain silkworms. Once a dead body was found in the river 鳥居川 Toriigawa. It was not wounded or harmed, but the silk threads of the seams of his robe were all missing.

.......................................................................
Nagano 飯島町 Iijima

kuda くだ Kuda (an animal)
Kuda, a green bamboo tube where cooked rice is kept. When people hit it, the KUDA comes out and the family where this happens will become rich and have a lot of silk worms.
A home with many KUDA is blessed, but if there are too much, they will eat too much and eventually the family will become poor and its members become ill.
So the family has to call for an exorcist 祈祷師, a Shinto priest, and have rituals performed.

.......................................................................
Nagano 滋野村 Shigeno

Inarigami 稲荷神
The greatest enemy of silkworms and cocoons are the mice. The deity Inaigami is believed to protect farmers from this damage.

There are other protector deities for the silk farmers :

保食神 Ukemochi no Kami / 蚕玉神 Kodama no Kami / 絹笠神 Kinugasa no Kami / 蚕霊尊 Korei-Son


source :　kokowa1.at.webry.info




.................................................................. Saitama 埼玉県 ....................................................................
Chichibu, 大滝村 Otaki

kitsune 狐 fox
If a family has cared for a fox, this animal will later bring silk cocoons to the farmer.

Oosaki ke オーサキ家 the Osaki family
During the high times of silk production, the Osaki family had a lot of silk cocoons. They carried them to other homes to help with the work, but the Family fas not well liked.
To appease the "Oosaki オーサキ" they built a small sanctuary in the garden.
（Oosaki might be a local word for a huge salamander.)




.................................................................. Tokyo　東京　 ...........................................................



.................................................................. Toyama 富山県 ....................................................................
婦負郡 Nei

daija 大蛇 the great serpent
The family of 田中正治 Tanaka Masaharu in the hamlet of 鎌倉 Kamakura was a rich silk farmer, the line of his servants carrying silkworms extended all over the slope シチベエ坂 Shichibeizaka. Once he found a large serpent in the rack of the silkworms. He killed it with a sickle and burend it. This was a very long serpent, called ツバサミヤライ.
After that, the family fortune declined slowly.


(This is a sample from a different place.)

Until now they venerate 大蛇の額 a large plate with the picture of a serpent in the home.




.................................................................. Yamagata 山形県 ....................................................................
南陽市 Nanyo City

. Iwakura sama no rei 岩倉さまの霊 the spirit of Mister Iwakura .
protecting the silk worms




.................................................................. Yamanashi 山梨県 ....................................................................

. Doosojinba 道祖神場 Place for the Dosojin .
to grill mayudama dango マユダマの団子 rice dumplings in the form of silk cocoons

.......................................................................
中巨摩郡 Nakakoma district

fukoo no kizashi 不幸の兆 an omen of bad fortune
One of the silk farmers found that about 10 of his silk worms had made a large piece of silk, almost as big as one tatami mat and as thick as a cotton cloth.
In this year, the grandfather of the family died, and then the child of the owner died too. The eldest son of his younger brother committed suicide. The good luck of the family was gone and soon they were in great financial trouble.
The strange behavior of the silkworms was the beginning of all this misfortune.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- source : yokai database 妖怪データベース -
kinu 絹 33 entries - collecting
kaiko 蚕 102 entries (00)
yoosan 養蚕 31 entries (01)
mayu 繭 13 entries (00)
kuwa 桑 184 entries (00) . . .

.......................................................................


. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

.......................................................................

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -




- quote -
Shinchuu, Shinchū 神虫 Shinchu, "The Divine Insect"
a deity depicted as a silkworm moth. It was known for miracles.
The painting measures 25.8 by 70 centimetres (10.2 by 27.6 in).
Extermination of Evil (辟邪絵 Hekija-E) is a set of five paintings depicting traditional Asian deities banishing evil. The other four are:
Tenkeisei (天刑星, literally meaning "the star [that metes out] heavenly punishment"),
Sendan Kendatsuba (栴檀乾闥婆)
Shōki (鍾馗)
Bishamonten (毘沙門天)
- source : wikipedia -


妖怪図鑑

It is a large insect with 8 legs and wings, often shown eating a Demon and leaving the ground in blood.
Its body is much bigger than that of the Demons it is supposed to fight and they fear it greatly.
It resides in the Buddhist continent of 瞻部州 Nanzenbushu [or Nansen bushu]. It has a great appetite for Oni demons, devouring 3000 in the morning and 300 in the evening.
- reference : tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives -

. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Joshoku kaiko tewaza-gusa 女織蚕手業草 Women Engaged in the Sericulture Industry
Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 (1753 - 1806)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #silkkinu #kinusilk #silklegends #shinchu #silkwormmoth-
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::