Shonai Yamagata Legends

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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Shōnai 山形 - 庄内　- 伝説 Shonai Yamagata Legends

map of the Shōnai 庄内 Shonai region, Shonai district



Yamagata consists of four regions: Murayama, Oitama, Shonai, and Mogami.
Main towns in Shonai are Tsuruoka, 酒田市 Sakata, 三川町 Mikawa and 庄内町 Shonai town.


. Tsuruoka mingei 鶴岡民芸 folk art from Tsuruoka .

Matsuo Basho, Oku no Hosomichi 奥の細道
. Station 31 - Sakata 酒田 - Tsurugaoka, Tsuru-ga-oka 鶴が岡 .

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庄内 伝説の池めぐり - 庄司秀春

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nana fushigi 七不思議 the seven wonders of Shonai

永泉寺の何不思議。開山源翁和尚が今も生きているように不思議の威徳をあらわすこと。
福徳稲荷大神が吉凶を告げること。
火盗がないこと。
慈覚大師天に祈った感応水は長命をまねくこと。
報恩の電燈が境内を照らすこと。
姿見池の蛇が声を出さないこと。
護摩壇の灰が悪虫の害を防ぐこと。

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庄内町 Shonai town

hiyakusan ヒヤクサン Hiyaku San

At the temple 延命寺 Enmei-Ji in Karigawa 東田川郡狩川村 there is a stone statue of Hiyaku San.
If you rub his cheeks, your toothache will be healed.


- Yakushi Nyorai and Jizo Bosatsu for your Toothache 歯痛止 -

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baku バク / 獏 legendary tapir

This legendary animal lives in the ceiling and watches over dreams.
If you have a bad dream, you should not tell anybody about it, but go out and pray to the sun (tentosama テントサマ（太陽）with the following words, three times to make the bad dreams stop.
ヨンベの夢は天のバクに進ぜます

I pass on the bad dream from last night to the Baku in the ceiling.


. baku makura 獏枕 tapir pillow and dreams - Introduction .

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buna 鮒

katame no buna 片目の鮒 crucian carp with one eye

In the village of 大広 Daiko, if there is 旱魃 a long drought and people need rain, they go to the pond at the 薬師社 Yakushi Shrine and clean it. During that time others perform rain rituals. Since the crucian carp, which lives in this pond, does not like it to be cleaned, he lets rain fall soon.


. buna 鮒 crucian carp .

. katame buna 片目鮒 crucian carp with one eye - Legends .

. Legends about Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 .


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hebi 蛇, daija 大蛇 all kinds of serpents

. daija, orochi 大蛇 the huge serpent, great snake legends .
- Introduction -
hakuja 白蛇 white serpent

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daija 大蛇 large serpent

akataki no Fudo sama 赤滝の不動様 Fudo from the Akataki waterfall

The Fudo statue at the "Red Waterfall" has special power to heal diseases of the eye.
He sometimes transforms into a huge serpent, but people who have seen the animal are cursed and do not dare to talk about it.

. Legends about Fudo Myo-O お不動さま .


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立川町 Tachikawa

Once upon a time there lived a senkan chooja 千貫長者 rich millionaire at river 狩川 Karigawa.
. 千貫長者 Senkan Choja, the rich millionaire .


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鶴岡市 鶴ヶ岡城 Tsurugaoka Castle

hakuja 白蛇 white serpent
After the defeat of the war, many ladies from the castle threw themselves into the pond and died. Until our day the water of the pond is muddy. The ladies turned into white serpents and continued to protect the treasures of the castle.
If someone sees a white serpent and talks about it, he/she is sure to die.


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Tsuruoka-kouen-no-sakura　鶴岡公園の桜 Cherry Trees in Tsuruoka Park
Tsuruoka Park lies within the grounds of the old Tsurugaoka Castle, in Tsuruoka, Yamagata prefecture. It is famous for its cherry trees.
The Sakai clan lived in this castle for about 250 years as the Shonai domain head. The park is dotted with the remains of the old stone walls along the moat. An old cedar tree, thousands of years old, reminds you of the castle and its past.
- - - Syounai-Hanko Chidokan　庄内藩校 致道館 The Chidokan Shonai Clan School
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

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At the home of 五十嵐与七 Igarashi Yoshichi in Tsuruoka there is a huge tree with a hollow where a white serpent with ears lives 耳のある白蛇. If anyone sees the animal, he/she will turn blind or die. If you come near or try to cut a tree, you will be punished in a less lif-threatening way.


耳のある白蛇 mimi no aru hakuja
- miminoarusirohebi.html / reference -

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ryootoo no hakuja 両頭の白蛇 white serpent with two heads
昔、赤川の洪水の時、川上からワラニオが２つ流れてきて、そのうちひとつが同家の宅地にとどまった。そのニオにはかぞえきれないほどたくさんの蛇がまつわりついていたが、その後、変事のある前には両頭の白蛇が姿を見せるようになったと言われている。


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kitsune 狐 fox

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鶴岡市 Tsuruoka

Once upon a time
a fox transformed into the wife of a man and tried to steal his purse, but in reverse got his duck stolen by the man. The fox got very angry and knocked at the door of the man for two or three nights, calling

kame yokose 鴨よこせ "Give me back my duck!"


. kitsune densetsu 狐　伝説 fox legends - Introduction .


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ryuu 龍 dragon

ryuu no hone 龍の骨 bones of a dragon

In Shonai town, in the Meiji period there was a 巨杉 huge cedar tree between the waterfall and the 不動堂 Fudo Hall, but during a strike of lightning it burned down. In its ashes there where almost two buckets full of white bones. The local gossip says these were the bones of a dragon who had lived below the tree.


. ryuu, ryū 龍　竜　伝説　Ryu - dragon legends .

. sugi 杉 伝説 Cryptomeria legends .


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sake 鮭 salmon

sake no oosuke 鮭の大助 the salmon called Osuke, the BIG ONE, the Salmon King



On the 15th day of the 11th lunar month people prepare mochi 餅をつく rice cakes, because Sake no Osuke descended the Mamurogawa river.
"If a human happened to hear the cry of the salmon masters, he would die on the spot. Therefore the people pounded rice, making much noise, and kept to the house, in order not to hear it".
Now it was a widespread custom in Japan for somebody to close his ears with two rice cakes when he heard of the death of a friend of a same age. Thus he pretended not to hear the bad news, and wanted to ward off possible ominous effects on himself."
Women had to stay in their homes and men were also forbidden to see the salmon.
source :　North_Western_Pacific.htm

. Oosuke, ōsuke, Daisuke 鮭の大助 / 鮭の大介 legends about the salmon king .
- Introduction about this special fish -


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Daikoku sama 大黒様

In the village of 大広 Daiko on the 9th day of the 12th lunar month, the deity Daikoku gets one year older, it is his birthday.

. Daikoku Ten 大黒天 - 大国 Okuninushi - Mahakala .
- Introduction -

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Gooki san ゴウキさん

gooki 豪鬼 The Yokai monster Goki

Sometimes when walking at night on a dark road, people have the feeling someone is following them, but beware - never turn round to see if there is anyone.
In 高知 Kochi (Shikoku island) this Yokai monster is called betobeto san ベトベトさん
and people stop and ask it to overtake them.
In the Shonai region people say
ゴウリキさん、先さこう - Goki San, please go ahead.
Then the moster stops following them from behind.


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Hachiman sama 八幡さま

日露戦争の時、牛の刻に戦場から帰ると、八幡神社の前で馬のいななく声が聞こえ、神様が鎧を脱ぐ音もした。

. Legends about Hachiman Shrines 八幡宮　/ 八幡神社 .
- Introduction -


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Ise sama 伊勢様

In the village of 大広 Daiko

12月15日は伊勢様のおとしやで、この日は、伊勢様は年をおとりになる。

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noomen 能面 Noh mask

utau noomen うたう能面 the singing Noh-Mask

村のある家にむかしから伝わる野生めには精がはいっていて、夜になると時々歌い出して、家人や村人を驚かせたという。


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o shooryoo sama お精霊様
In the village of 大広

8月6日はお精霊様がござるので、火をつけて川端へ迎えに行く。提燈に明りをつけていくこともある。そして、お精霊様は家の中にある御霊舎に招き入れる。
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8月16日はお精霊様が帰るので。松明をつけて飾り物や供え物と一緒に家の前の流れの早い川に流す。

shinin no tamashi 死人の魂
In the village of 大広 Daiko

8月23日は森山参りといって死人に会いたい人が清水にある森山に参拝する。ここには昔から死人の魂が集まるといわれている。


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酒田市 Sakata town

神軍 shingun，矢の根石 ya no ne ishi

出羽国庄内飽海にある大物忌を祀った社の境内では、一年に一度神軍ということがおきる。これは一時二時の間に暴風雨や雷があった後に、石で造ったような矢の根があちこちに落ちているという。人々はこれをお守りにするという。

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tengu 天狗 Tengu

永泉寺の境内に「天狗の石鼓」がある。

天狗スモウ取山では正月10日の未明に置賜と庄内と村山の天狗が集まって、鞍馬山の天狗を行事にスモウを取る。二ッ石山では昔、朝日権現と月山権現の天狗が法力比べの末、双方とも精根尽きて２つの天狗石と化したという。


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


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Zenpooji 善宝寺 Temple Zenpo-Ji

山形県鶴岡市にある曹洞宗の寺。山号は竜沢山。平安時代、妙達の開いた天台宗の竜華寺を、永享年間（1429～1441）太年浄椿が再興。竜神を祭り、航海・漁業の守護神として信仰される。曹洞宗三祈祷所の一

鶴岡の善宝寺の信仰圏は広く、東北から関東一円の漁村、四国の一部に伝播している。列島を南下すると航海神の種類も増え、三重県の青峯山正福寺や熊野、住吉、宗像、鵜戸などの神々が登場する。正福寺の本尊は十一面観音で高野山派真言宗で、海上安全の祈祷寺であったので、特に竜神との関係はない。


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reference - yokai database 妖怪データベース
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -

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

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

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

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- #shonailegends #shonaiyamagata -
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smallpox legends

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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hoosoo 疱瘡 伝説 Hoso - Legends about Smallpox
tennentoo　天然痘　/　toosoo 痘瘡 smallpox, variola

Hoosoogami, Hoosooshin 疱瘡神（ほうそうがみ、ほうそうしん)
Hosogami, the God of Smallpox



. Daruma, Smallpox and the color Red .
- Introduction -

hoosoo-e 疱瘡絵 prints to protect children from smallpox
red prints 赤絵 aka-e
. Smallpox prevention in the Edo period .

. hashika 麻疹 measles / suitoo　水痘　/ 水套 chicken pox .

. 疫病神 / 厄病神 Yakubyogami, Deity of Diseases .
eyami no kami えやみのかみ / gyooyakujin 行疫神 gyoyakujin / ekijin, yakujin 疫神

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

..................................................................................................... Aomori 青森県

The Smallpox Deity comes clad in a red hood and red robes and looks like a child, or looking like an Amazake hag with the voice of a child. She knocks at doors. If anyone answers her call, he gets ill. To keep her away, a cedar leaf is placed in the doorway.

. Amazake babaa 甘酒婆 Amazake hag .




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

Sasara Sanpachi 佐々良三八
a samurai in the clan of 名護屋山三郎 Nagoya Sansaburo
and the God of Smallpox 疱瘡神
Once he helped a weak dog who was surrounded by a strong crowd of other dogs. This dog was in fact the Deity of Smallpox. To show his gratitude, he said he would protect anyone who writes the following into the shell of an abalone with seven holes 7穴のあわび貝 and hangs it at the entrance of his home:
佐々良三八様御宿 - This is a dwelling of Sasara Sanpachi!




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

. Oni densetsu 鬼伝説　Regional Demon Legends .
Based on the legend of 源為朝 Minamoto no Tametomo driving out the demons of 鬼ケ島 Onigashima (Momotaro legend).
A ema 絵馬 votive tablet with Tametomo driving out the demons, depicted as 疱瘡神 Hosogami. This amulet was quite popular when an epidemy of smallpox occured, before the Meiji period.

. Minamoto no Tametomo 源為朝 (1139 – 1170) .

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Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo and the Smallpox Deity
（Chinzei Hachirotametomo Hosogami 鎮西八郎為朝　疱瘡神）
Hōsō-e, literally "smallpox pictures," were used as charms to ward off smallpox.
This picture shows the smallpox demon and papier-mâché toys given to sick children under the demon's control, together with the hero Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo, also known as Minamoto no Tametomo. Tametomo had vanquished the smallpox demon.
Hōsō-e, literally "smallpox pictures," were used as charms to ward off smallpox.
Smallpox caused more havoc in Japan than any other infectious disease, and almost everybody fell ill with the disease during childhood.
Some were left with pockmarks on the skin or vision impairments,
which led to the disease being known as "the illness that determines one's looks."
There were no effective therapies, so people turned to prayers and incantations to fight the disease.
One belief that existed in many places was that the demon of the smallpox disliked, or liked, the color red.
Among other things, people kept hōsō-e pictures colored in red close at hand,
and had their sick children play with toys painted red.
Hōsō-e were given as get-well presents to children afflicted with smallpox,
and would be burned and thrown into a river if the children recovered.
This picture shows the smallpox demon and papier-mâché toys given to sick children under the demon's control,
together with the hero Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo, also known as Minamoto no Tametomo.
Tametomo had been exiled to the island of Hachijō-jima after the Hōgen Rebellion,
and a legend arose that there was no smallpox outbreak on the island
because Tametomo had vanquished the smallpox demon.
This resulted in Tametomo being used as the subject matter for hōsō-e like this one.
. source - Tokyo Metropolitan Library .




..................................................................................................... Tokyo 東京都

. Kaminarimon 雷門 Kaminari Mon "Thunder Gate" .


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- source : reference yokai database 妖怪データベース -
痘瘡 / 天然痘 - ok
疱瘡神 25 legends to collect
疱瘡 69 entries to collect


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This kind of owl image and toy was used in the Edo period to ward off the smallpox.

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

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

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- #smallpoxlegends #hoosoo #tennento #toso -
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awabi abalone legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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awabi densetsu あわび　アワビ　鰒　鮑伝説　abalone legends



. awabi 鮑 (あわび, 鰒) 鰒魚　 abalone - Haliotis giganitea / Seeohr .
- Introduction -
sekiketsumei 石決明（せきけつめい）/ sekketsumei せっけつめい
The woman divers (ama) are famous for collecting awabi along the shores of Japan. It is a speciality on all beach restaurants.
awabi odoriyaki あわび踊り焼き "dancing abalone", grilled alive




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In ancient times, abalone was presented as a tribute to Japan’s imperial household and to Shinto shrines, as well as to nobles. The Engishiki, an early chronicle documenting ceremonies, rituals and other events at the imperial court of the Heian period (794-1185), relates that abalone was transported to Kyoto and processed in various ways to be used as tax payments in kind. The record mentions as many as forty different kinds of processed abalone; apparently these were either dried or preserved in salt when they were transported. In the Kamakura (1185-1333) and Muromachi (1333-1573) eras, abalone meat was dried and cut into strips (noshi-awabi). Noshi-awabi was considered a precious gift, which was exchanged among samurai families.
- source : kikkoman.com -



Awabi 鰒 is sometimes written with the same character as fugu 鰒 河豚鰒 / ふぐ puffer fish.
. fugu 河豚 / 鰒 / 鯸 / 魨 blowfish, puffer fish .


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awabitori　あわび取り　fishing for Abalone


CLICK for more photos !

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Abalone
Eaten since prehistoric times, abalone is favored in Japan as a luxury foodstuff. It also has religious significance. The numbers of abalone in the Japanese seas are decreasing, however, as are the number of female free divers who have traditionally fished for abalone.

Ancient History
Abalones are shellfish belonging to the family haliotidae, the name of which is derived from the Greek words halios, meaning "sea," and otos, meaning "ear." There are about 100 known species worldwide. In Japan, where abalone is called awabi, the major species include kuro awabi, megai awabi, and madaka awabi in the south and Ezo awabi in the north.

The Japanese have had a special fondness for abalone since ancient times, believing it to have been the elixir of life that Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (third century BC), sought for. During the Edo period (1603-1868) dried abalone, along with dried sea cucumber and shark fin, was one of the three marine exports from Japan that were especially prized in China.

Abalone has also been known in Japan to be good for the eyes. This is evidenced by the saying in Mie Prefecture, which has a thriving abalone fishing industry, that eating abalone during pregnancy will give the child beautiful eyes. The abalone of Mie, moreover, has had an important influence on Japanese celebratory traditions. It is customary to wrap formal gifts with paper called noshi gami and to place monetary gifts in envelopes called noshi bukuro. Both of these have their origins in noshi awabi, stretched and dried strips of abalone that are still made today in Mie Prefecture.
- MORE
- source : tokyofoundation.org - Shimamura Natsu -

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Nichiren, Saint Nichiren and the Awabi legend 日蓮聖人と鮑(あわび)の伝説
- source : akashi_myoueiji -

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ooawabi 大鰒 Oawabi, Big Abalone


Ingyoo Tennoo 允恭天皇 Ingyo Tenno
允恭天皇が淡路国で狩りを行ったが、1匹も捕れなかった。占わせると、明石の海底に真珠があるので島の神として祀れば獣を捕らせようという。そこで海人に潜らせると、大鰒があり、光が漏れていた。再び潜って大鰒を抱いてあがると海人は息絶えた。縄で海の深さを測ると60尋あった。鰒を裂いて真珠を取り出すと、大きさは桃の実ほどあった。これを祀った後に狩りをしたら、多くの獲物が得られた。


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surume スルメ common squid

If someone gets ill from eating abalone, it is best to boil surume squid and eat it.

. surume スルメ 伝説 Legends about the squid .


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sekketsumei 石決明 Sekketsumei - abalone for Chinese medicine
powdered abalone shell




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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

.................................................................. Chiba 千葉県 ....................................................................
夷隅郡 Isumi district

岸和田の海岸には大きな鰒魚が住んでいて、大傘を開いたほどの大きさであったという。誤ってその殻に触れると海が荒れると信じられている。ひとりの乙女が船人である恋人に会うために鰒魚を怒らせようとしたが、度を越してしまい、乙女の船は転覆し、これを助けにいった男も海の藻屑となった。
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海岸に住む大鰒に触れると海が荒れる。海が荒れている時に、美しい海女が男と会っていた。海が荒れていると男と会えると思った女は、鰒に石を投げ続けた。男の乗った船が心配であった女の船も沈没し、救助しようとした男も溺死した。



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

Sasara Sanpachi 佐々良三八
a samurai in the clan of 名護屋山三郎
and the God of Smallpox 疱瘡神
Once Sanpachi helped a weak dog who was surrounded by a strong crowd of other dogs. This dog was in fact the Deity of Smallpox. To show his gratitude, he said he would protect anyone who writes the following into the shell of an abalone with seven holes 7穴のあわび貝 and hangs it at the entrance of his home:
佐々良三八様御宿 - This is a dwelling of Sasara Sanpachi!


There is also a famous Kabuki play about Sanpachi:


source :　ukiyo-e.org

Toyohara Kunichika 佐々良三八 河原崎権十郎 - 愛妾藤浪 岩井紫若

Arashiu Rikaku II as Sasara Sanpachi in the play
Uwauwashiki no Ohizamoto - print by Hirosada
source :　kotobuki.de/art


. Hoosoogami, Hoosooshin 疱瘡神 Hosogami, the God of Smallpox .
- Introduction -



.................................................................. Ibaraki 茨城県 ....................................................................
高萩市 Takahagi

The Master of the River 川の主 is a male dragon or serpent.
The Master of the Sea at Isohara 磯原の海の主 is a female Awabi.
Once a year she comes up to enjoy some time with the Dragon / Serpent. Where they meet is the Aikodaki 逢いこ滝 waterfall.




.................................................................. Nagasaki 長崎県 ....................................................................
福江市 Fukue

Kappa legend ガッパ
Once upon a time
someone who was fishing for Awabi saw something sitting on the rock that looked like a human being. The Being told him never to tell anyone, but sure . . he told some of his friends. And then he died all of a sudden.




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


. Mida-gutsu 弥陀窟 Mida cave，Mida zoo 弥陀像 Statue of Amida .
Teishi, Minamiizu, Kamo District, Shizuoka / 伊豆手石の弥陀




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

More than 40 different types of awabi preparations were known already in the Mid-Heian period.
noshi awabi 熨斗鮑（のしあわび）




- MORE
- source : kabuki-za.com -


. Noshi 熨斗 (のし) abalone decoration for New Year .
long noshi, naganoshi 長熨斗（ながのし）
abalone noshi, noshi awabi 熨斗鮑（のしあわび) , 打熨斗（うちのし）、
thin abalone, usu awabi 薄鮑（うすあわび）

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CLICK for more awabi plates.

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yokai database 妖怪データベース
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -
アワビ 15
鮑　17
あわび -
鰒 -

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

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

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #abalone #awabi #fugu -
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Gozu Tenno Legends

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


. Gozu Tenno Legends 牛頭天王伝説 .
Updates are now here


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Gozu Tennō Densetsu　牛頭天王　伝説 Legends about Gozu Tenno

The Gion Festival 祇園祭
This festival originated as part of a purification ritual (goryo-e) to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods and earthquakes.
In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to the rampaging deity Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王).
Emperor Seiwa ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka Shrine　八坂神社, Susanoo-no-mikoto. Sixty-six stylized and decorated halberds, one for each province in old Japan, were prepared and erected at Shinsen-en, a garden, along with the portable shrines (mikoshi) from Yasaka Shrine.


Heavenly King with an Ox-Head,
Ox-Headed Deva King
gozu tenoo, gozu tenno 牛頭天王
The Japanese god of plague



With the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, Susa-no-O was identified with Gozu Tenno ("Bull-headed King of Heaven").

. Gion Festival (Gion matsuri 祇園祭り) .
- Introduction -



. Gozu Tenno Legends 牛頭天王伝説 .
Updates are now here



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Japanese legends and tales INFO

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



. Join us ! Japanese Legends of Facebook ! .

Whereas folktales (mukashibanashi　昔話) are usually pure phantasy and happen "once upon a time",
many legends (densetsu) have a bit of truth, explaining about a place name, a historical person, a local speciality or something of that kind. Legends with a similar theme but varying contents can be found in different regions of Japan.

Gabi Greve, Japan

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. animals and their legends 動物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. plants and their legends 　植物と伝説 - - ABC list .

. trees and their legends 　樹木, 木と伝説 - - ABC list .

. Persons, People, Personen and their legends - - ABC list .

. Natural Disasters 自然災害 shizen saigai - Legends - - ABC list .
- drought, earthquake, flooding, landslides, tsunami, typhoon, volcanic eruption -


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- - - - - - - - - - Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - -

- AAA - / - BBB - / - CCC - / - DDD - / - EEE -

- FFF - / - GGG - / - HHH - / - I I I - / - JJJ -

- KK KK - / - LLL - / - MMM - / - NNN - / - OOO -

- PPP - / - QQQ - / - RRR - / - SSS - / - TTT -

- UUU - / - VVV - / - WWW - / - XXX - / - YYY - / - ZZZ -


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. mukashibanashi 昔話 　Japanese Tales .
- Introduction -

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

. tsukimono 憑き物 bewitched .
Being bewitched by a fox, badger, a Yokai or other ill-meaning foe was pretty common in Japan,
there are many legends and tales about it.

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- #legendsandtales #densetsu #talesofjapan #legendsabc #legendsindex -
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nanafushigi seven wonders

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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Nanafushigi, nana fushigi 七不思議 "The Seven Wonders"

There are many places which boast "seven wonders" in Japan.



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

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



. Edo Nana Fushigi 江戸七不思議 Seven Wonders of Edo .




.................................................................. Ehime　愛媛県 ....................................................................
松山　Matsuyama

. 松山の七不思議 Seven Wonders of Matsuyama .




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

Chion-Ji - Seven Wonders at Chion-ji

Shimogamo - Seven Wonders at Shimogamo Shrine

. To-Ji Nana Fushigi 東寺七不思議 Seven Wonders of Temple To-Ji .

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Kyoto 綾部市 Ayabe town - 志賀郷 Shiga district

. 志賀郷の七不思議 Seven Wonders of Shiga .
ydb Kyoto - 230 to explore




.................................................................. Mie 三重県 ..........................................................
津市 Tsu city

. A bonsho 梵鐘 temple bell came out of the stomach of a dragon .




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

. Suwa Jinja 諏訪神社 Suwa Shrine seven wonders .




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

. The Seven Wonders of Shitenno-Ji - 四天王寺 七不思議 - .




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yokai database 妖怪データベース 230 to explore
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -

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. Legends about Kobo Daishi Kukai - 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説 .
. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #nanafushigi #sevenwonders -
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shiro castle legends

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .
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Shiro - Japanese Castle Legends　お城と伝説　

Many castles come with a legend at their beginning.
They are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone.




Fukuyama Castle

. The Japanese Castle (shiro, -jō 城) .
- Introduction -

- under construction -
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The basic information about every castle is now in the wikipedia.

Japanese castles (城 shiro)
- source : wikipedia -




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.................................................................. old castle 古城 ............................

07 to explore


.................................................................. castle ruins 城跡 ............................

23 to explore


.................................................................. castle where xxx resided 居城 ............................

05 to explore


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- - - - - ABC List of castle names :

. tenshukaku 天守閣 castle tower, castle keep - Legends .
Fukui Castle (福井城 Fukui-jō) / Maruoka Castle (丸岡城 Maruoka-jō) / Ōgaki Castle (大垣城 Ōgaki-jō) / Himeji Castle (姫路城 Himeji-jō) / Odawara Castle (小田原城 Odawara-jō) / Matsumoto Castle (松本城 Matsumoto-jō) / Osaka Castle (大坂城 or 大阪城, Ōsaka-jō)



.................................................................. Edo Castle 江戸城 Edo-Jo, Edo Jo, Edo-jō ............................

　Edo Castle 江戸城 Das Schloss von Edo - Legends



.................................................................. Hikaku no shiro 飛鶴の城 ............................
Miyagi 志田郡 Shida district

Castle of the flying crane
The hill where the castle is located is called 館山 Tateyama. It had been built by a Lord named 渋谷 Shibuya. Then came 伊達正宗 Date Masamune and raided the castle, with nothing to remain. On the night when the castle fell in the hands of Masamune, there was the sound of many birds wings heared before the castle vanished.
This all happened because someone had betrayed the castle owner. It had been built on a hill in the form of a crane 鶴. So Masamune's soldiers changed the form of the hill and the castle was lost.

The castle of Aizu Wakamatsu 会津若松城is called
鶴ヶ城 Tsurugajo, Tsuruga Castle, Castle of the Crane.
The castle looks like an elegantly flying crane.



.................................................................. Himeji Castle 姫路城 ............................


source :　himejijo-jpn.info
Shrine for Osakabe no Kami

A female deity called Osakabe no kami おさかべの神 is venerated in the top of the tenshukaku 天守閣 main castle tower.

Other sources quote Osakabe no Miko as a Yokai 妖怪 monster.
長壁姫、小刑部姫、刑部姫、小坂部姫 Osakabe hime, Osakabe-hime - Princess Osakabe
She comes out once a year and tells the fortune of the Castle owner.
The castle was built on a mountain called 姫山 Himeyama where the deity Osakabe 刑部（おさかべ）大神
刑部明神 Osakabe Myojin was venerated.
This deity and its shrine were re-located at the time Toyotomi Hideyoshi had the castle built anew.



- source : wikipedia -



.................................................................. Kumamoto Castle 熊本城 ............................

The soul of its founder, Kato Kiyomasa, is still alive in the castle. He protects the outer corridor from enemies, who try to enter the castle.

. Kato Kiyomasa 加藤清正 (1562 - 1611) .

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juukurei, juu kure i 銃くれ井 "well to give back the gun"

Once an armed soldier placed his gun at the side of the well and left. While he was gone, an officer came and took the gun away. Since his gun was lost, he jumped into the well to commit suicide. From that day on, when it rained, there was a voice heared from the depth of the well, calling "Give me back my gun!". 「銃を返してくれ」


source :　evening-eye.net



.................................................................. Maizuru no shiro 舞鶴の城 ............................
Fukuoka - 三池町 Miikemachi

Castle of the dancing crane
During the time of rivalry between the warlords 群雄割拠 this castle had a special power.
When looking down from the castle the formation and numbers of the enemy could be clearly seen. When the enemy approached, it looked rather low but when the enemy retreated it retained its former hight. When the enemy had reached the sixth juncture uphill to the castle, the castle began to look higher and higher and they could not advance.
But then the enemy built a well on the spot that was about the backbone of the crane and so the castle lost its magical power.


.................................................................. Matsue Castle 松江城 ............................

. Tengu no ma no yuurei 天狗の間の幽霊 The Ghost of the Tengu Room .



.................................................................. Matsumoto Castle 松本城 ............................

The Jōkyō Uprising of local farmers. Jookyoo soodoo 貞享騒動 1686
When Tada Kasuke and his followers (gimin 義民) were executed they cursed the castle. Due to their deep grudge, the castle began to slant to one side.

Tada Kasuke (多田加助)
(? - January 1,1687, or in the third year of the Jōkyō era)

was a Japanese farmer　who led a failed appeal for lowered taxes in Azumidaira,
..... He was caught and executed along with twenty-seven farmers without trial. The rebellion has been called the Jōkyō Uprising, Jokyo Sodo, or the Kasuke Uprising 加助騒動.
- Read the details here:
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Kappa 河童

Below the tower keep of Matsumoto castle there was a famous cherry tree called 八幡太郎駒繋ぎ桜, Hachimantaro koma tsunagi, where "Hachiman Taro bound his horse", - its stump is still there and now a new tree is blossoming.



This is one of the many trees related to Kappa legends and festivals about koma tsunagi no ki 駒繋ぎの木 "a tree to bind the horse".

. Kappa densetsu　河童伝説 Kappa Legends - Introduction .

. Minamoto no Yoshiie Hachimantaro 源八幡太郎義家 . (1039 - 1106)


.................................................................. Matsuyama Castle 松山城 ............................

There are various castles with this name, "Pine Mountain Castle" in Japan.

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天狗 Tengu - Ehime

A retainer of 蒲生家 Kamo clan of Matsuyama, 松本忠四郎 Matsumoto Chushiro, went to 久万山 Mount Kumasan and played the flute for a Tengu. When asked for a reward, he said he did not want anything, but the Tengu handed him a box for writing utensils 文箱. When the Lord Kamo opened the box there was a piece of paper with the words 蒲生家断絶 - The Kamo clan will be extinguished. And indeed, so it happened soon after.
.
katame no buna 片目の鮒 crucian carp with one eye
One of the seven wonders of Matsuyama castle are the crucian carps with one eye in the moat.
When 弘法大師 Kobo Daishi Kukai was on his pilgrimage in Shikoku, a villager had grilled crucian carp for dinner and gave half of it to Kukai. Kukai threw the carp into a well and it came back to life. But it had only one eye.

This is one of the seven wonders around Matsuyama castle.
松山の七不思議 Matsuyama no Nanafushigi! The others are :

. Matsuyama no nana fushigi 松山の七不思議 seven wonders of Matsuyama .




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Miyagi

. Isoragami 磯良神 - Azumi no Isora 阿曇磯良 .


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Shimane, 江津市 Gotsu

kubizuka 首塚 head mound
尼子と毛利が争った頃、松山城主は毛利に敗れて戦死した。落城の際、城主は姫に城の名宝を託して落ち延びさせた。土地の豪族がこれを知り、姫を殺し名宝を奪って死骸を川に投じた。村の首塚は落城の際の武士の死骸を祀ったものだが、今でもそこを通ると、剣戟の声と女の叫び声が聞こえるという。



also called 川上城 Kawakami Castle.
The castle had been built in 1303 by 川上孫二郎 Kawakami Magojiro.
It was a mountain castle (yamashiro), but is lost now.
- source : saigoku no yamajiro -


.................................................................. Nagoya Castle 名古屋城 ............................

Ise no Shiro 伊勢の四郎
Once Ise no Shiro 伊勢の四郎 captured some robbers in a deep mountain forest, but he saved the daughter of one in exchange for a pair of golden shachihoko 鯱.



They are still to be seen on the roof of Nagoya castle.
They were crafted not only to show off the power of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but also took a role of war funds in an emergency.
... However in 1726, 1827, and 1846, when the domain of Owari experiencing financial difficulties, the Owari government removed the shachihoko scales and recasted them.
In addition, the government covered the shachihokos with wire netting
in order to protect them from big water birds named 'kou' in Japanese (these wire nets made for a funny story later).
A legend said that the 'kou' brings a dead twig aflame. The 'kou' once made a nest and put the fin to good use.

- More photos and stories :
- source : kikuko-nagoya.com -

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kabashira 蚊柱 pillar of swarming mosquitos

Once at the moat near 名古屋城南門 the South Gate of the castle there was a pillar almost like smoke, of an amazing hight and length. It was made of millions of mosquitos.
People later learned that the lord of the castle had died that night.


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Kiyomasa no makuraishi (chinseki) 清正の枕石 pillow stone of Kato Kiyomasa

At the South-Western end of 篠島 Shinojima in Aichi there is a huge rock formation that would make many "pillow stones" for a castle wall. 加藤清正 Kato Kiyomasa, who was a famous castle builder, wanted to move them to Nagoya and had many workers undertake the job. But it was just not possible to move the rock and Kiyomasa had to give up and leave them behind.


- Ise island, Shinojima -
Although Shinojima is a small island, it has a history rich with stories.
- source : green shinto -



.................................................................. Osaka Castle 大阪城 ............................

19 to explore



.................................................................. Sendai Castle 仙台城 ............................

. Saint Mongaku 文覚上人 and the 太郎坊 Taro-Bo / 次郎坊 Jiro-Bo cedar trees .

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kame no miya 甕の宮 / 御瓶明神

昔、仙台元鍛冶丁の熊谷という侍屋敷に高さ三尺ほどの甕を祀った祠があり、甕の宮とも御瓶明神ともいった。熊谷氏の先祖が伊達郡梁川に伊達家の家臣としていたころ、邸内に降ってきたといい、素盞鳴尊が八岐の大蛇を退治した時の8つの酒甕のうち、6つは海中に沈み、2つ残ったうちの1つという。ある時、藩主が一見したいと仙台城へ運んだが、登城口の扇坂で何十人の力でも動かなくなり、殿が「天が熊谷に授けたものゆえ他所へは行かぬと見える、早々に返せ」といったら急に軽くなったという。


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Oogizaka 扇坂 Ogisaka slope

. 足長小僧 Ashinaga Kozo- Yokai .

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roosugi 姥杉 the old cedar tree

鉄道が敷かれたときに伐られた姥杉が、夜な夜な泣いた。＊他にも姥杉は多数あるが由来、伝承はない。以下に地名を記す。仙台市・川内仙台城本丸跡（今なし）、仙台市太白区長町茂ヶ崎旧大年寺楼門前、仙台市青葉区八幡五丁目山上清水姥神（今なし）、遠田郡涌谷町箆岳観音堂、栗原郡築館町双林寺。

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sara yashiki 皿屋敷

仙台城二之丸裏門通と中坂通の十字路西南角の屋敷。二代藩主忠宗のとき、家宝の皿10枚のうち1枚を割った女中が手討ちにあい、井戸に投げ込まれる。夜な夜な皿を数えて泣く声がし、侍の家に変事が起こって死に絶え、屋敷は荒れ果てる。大年寺二世の月耕禅師が四代綱村に願って隠居屋敷としてから、怪はやむ。

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yamaga myoojin 山家明神 -

山家清兵衛公頼は伊達家に信任され、長子秀宗の懐守役となり、元和元年（1615）秀宗が宇和島十万石の封に就くとき、付け家老として従う。公頼の忠誠は上下の信頼を集めたが、家老桜田監物がそねみ讒訴したので、秀宗は公頼の屋敷を襲って殺させる。時に元和5年（1619）6月晦、公頼は死すともこの冤を雪ぐといって死ぬ。その夜仙台城の政宗の前に血まみれの公頼の姿が現れ、冤を訴える。政宗は怒って秀宗を勘当、監物以下次々に変死する。宇和島に和霊明神を建てて祀り、仙台にも立町通東二番丁南角の山家氏邸内に山家明神を建て、毎年6月晦に祭りを行なう。公頼が蚊帳の釣り手を切り落として殺されたというので、昔この夜は蚊帳をつらなかった。


.................................................................. Yamashiro 山城 "Mountain Castle ............................

84 to explore
shachihoko to explore

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looking up
at the castle tower -
I am the ANT




. Gabi Greve at Fukuyama Castle .

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日本伝説拾遺会　－ 日本の伝説17　名城物語

- Reference in English -

yokai database 妖怪データベース - 800 (002)
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -

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. 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 -

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Tarobo Tengu Legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" - Introduction .
. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-List .
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Tarooboo 太郎坊 天狗伝説　Tarobo Tengu Legends
愛宕山 太郎坊 Taro-Bo Tengu from Atagoyama

He is also called
Nichiraboo 愛宕山 日羅坊 Nichira-Bo, Nichirabo from Mount Atago.
He is famous for his visitor, a Tengu from China:
. Zegai-bô 是害坊 Zegai-Bo, Zegaibo Tengu .


Taroobooguu 太郎坊宮 Shrine for the Tengu Tarobo / Taro-Bo

The Tengu 太郎坊 Taro-Bo venerated here is a symbol of victory.
He is the elder brother of
. Jirooboo, Jirōbō 次郎坊 / 二郎坊 Jirobo Tengu .
- 比良の次郎坊 Hira no Jirobo / 比良治郎坊

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Tengu masks 天狗面 and bells 天狗鈴 are great amulets at the Shrine..





- quote -
. . . Tarobo-gu (aka Taroubou-gu) goes practically unknown.
A striking setting; captivating legends; and over 1200 years of spiritual endeavour.
... The mountain, named Akagami, has a distinctive shape, rising out of the valley floor like a miniature Mt Fuji.
... From the outset Tendai has revered local kami, and for centuries the mountain hosted a Shinto-Buddhist complex. It also served as a centre for shugendo (mountain asceticism). The name of the shrine, Tarobo, refers to a tengu king. A mythical creature with shamanistic overtones, the tengu dwell in the mountains and are linked to mountain asceticism and martial arts.
The Tarobo tengu is supposedly the elder brother of the Kurama tengu, under which the twelfth-century hero Yoshitsune trained. The young boy was an apprentice at the Tendai temple near Kyoto, and when he escaped to join his brother Yoritomo he made for the Akagami complex. The rock where he rested is now a shrine to his memory.
... The main kami is a son of Amaterasu. His name is not widely known,unsurprisingly since it’s Masaka-Akatsukachi-Hayahiameno-Oshi-Homimi-no-Mikoto. In Japanese mythology he was a heavenly warrior offered the chance by his mother to ‘descend to earth’ but he demurred in favour of his son Ninigi. According to the shrine, he has the attributes of the sun, rising every morning without fail to conquer darkness. As such he’s a kami of victory, whether it be in business, exams, martial arts or any other field of life. Prayers should be directed to that end.
The shrine’s main feature is a massive ‘husband and wife’ rock that according to legend was cleaved in half by the sword of a mighty kami. ...
- source : John Dougill, Green Shinto -

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- source, more photos : biwako365.blog.fc2.com/ -




Amulets to win and many more on the HP of the temple :
- source : tarobo.sakura.ne.jp -


. Tengu 天狗 Mountain Goblins - Introduction .


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Click for more photos of Atagoyama Tarobo !

太郎坊 Taro-Bo, "Elder Brother" Tarobo from 愛宕山 Atagoyama
二郎坊 Jiro-Bo, Jirobo "Younger Brother" from Hieizan 比叡山 (sore sources place Jiro-Bo on Kuramayama)
僧正坊 Sojo-Bo, Sojobo from Kuramayama 鞍馬山 - Kurama Tengu


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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

.................................................................. Kyoto 京都府 ....................................................................
右京区 Ukyo ward

priest 真済 Shinzei
This priest studied Mikkyo Buddhism with Kobo Daishi. He often practised austerities at Takao 高雄の峯. Once he saw the honorable Lady 藤原明子 Fujiwara no Meishi (染殿后 Somedono no Kisaki) and felt love trouble in his heart. He died soon afterwards and became a blue demon. First he tormented Somedono and later he turned into an Ootengu 大天狗 Great Tengu.


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愛宕山奥の院 Atagoyama Oku no In

Tarobo from Atago was in fact a person called Shishido 宍戸三郎右衛門, who was a strong believer in the Atago deity. He is also responsible for the making the 猪 wild boar a messenger of the deity.
.
役小角の末裔といわれる天狗の本拠地、愛宕山奥の院で、藤原頼長の命を受けた修験者たちが太郎坊天狗の左右の目に釘を打ち込んで呪詛を行った。このため近衛天皇は眼病を患って崩御したとも伝えられている。
.
Kani Saizo was a strong believer in the Atago Deity. He even thought he was an incarnation of Tarobo the Tengu. But others thought he was just out of his mind.
In former times it was known that people who believe strongly in the Atago Deity will die on the special day dedicated to Atago 縁日の日, the 24th of each month. Legend says Saizo felt his death coming, made his preparations on the day before and then died in the evening of the Atago Day.
He died in the sixth lunar month on the 24th day 慶長18年6月24日 (1613).

. Mount Atago Yama 愛宕山 / 阿多古 Atagoyama .

. Kani Saizō 可児才蔵 Kani Saizo .
Kani Yoshinaga 可児吉長 - - (1554 - 1613)


.................................................................. Miyagi 宮城県 ....................................................................
気仙沼市 Kesennuma

羽田神社 Hada Jinja
In front of the shrine there are two huge cedar trees facing each other.
Their names are not related to the Tengu.
Taro is the name of the elder son and Jiro the younger son.



They are 太郎坊の杉 Tarobo-no-sugi and Jirobo-no-sugi 次郎坊の杉.
Tarobo-sugi has a diameter of almost 7 meters.

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志津川町 Shizugawa

Saint Mongaku 文覚上人 and Taro-Bo / Jiro-Bo cedar
At the 滝不動 Fudo Waterfall at 滝沢神社 Takizawa Jinja priest Mongaku had placed a Statue of Fudo, which he had made himself. There were also tow old cedar trees, Tarobo-sugi and Jirobo-sugi. In the year 1609 when large pillars were needed for the rebuilding of Sendai castle these two trees were felled and should be transported to Sendai. But the boat sank to the ground near Natorigawa and the two huge tree trunks were lost.
So now they are called "the sunken Taro and Jiro, 太郎礁 Tarone and 次郎礁 Jirone.


. sugi 杉 cedar, cryptomeria .

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yokai database 妖怪データベース
- source : www.nichibun.ac.jp -

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

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

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

. Kōbō Daishi Kūkai 弘法大師　空海 - 伝説　 Kobo Daishi Kukai Legends .

. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話 昔話 - Introduction .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #tarobotenbu #tengutarobo -
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