Heian Period Japan

2016-04-02

Misaki Seven Legends

source : toei-anim.co.jp/tv/kitaro
ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 Gegege no Kitaro

shichinin misaki 七人ミサキ / 7人ミサキ / 七人みさき / シチニンミサキ
"Misaki of seven people"
(nananin misaki)
a group of persons who died in an accident or in unnatural circumstances, for example in a fire or at sea.
A Misaki curse for seven people.

There are also groups of seven cursed people who will develop a high fever and die.

They are a kind of 集団亡霊 group of dead spirits, group of dead souls, unable to go to heaven.

source : japangod.dip.jp
Fox, Raven and Seven Human Shadows

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- quote -
The Shichinin misaki (七人ミサキ or 七人みさき), which means "7-person misaki," are a group of ghosts first known in Kochi Prefecture, told about in the Shikoku and Chūgoku regions.

They are dead souls 死霊 shiryō of humans who die from calamities and accidents, especially drowning at sea. As according to its name, they normally, together as a group of 7, appear mainly near water, like seas and rivers.

Humans who encounter the shichinin misaki experience a high fever, and die.
By possessing and killing one person, one of the spirits of the shichinin misaki are able to go to peace, and in its place, the one who was possessed and killed becomes one of the shichinin misaki.
For this reason, the shichinin misaki are always a group of seven, never increasing nor decreasing.

There are several accompanying legends about the progenitor of this spirit, but among the most well-known is the ballad of the vengeful spirit of the Sengoku military commander of Tosa Province (now Kochi Prefecture), 吉良親実 Kira Chikazane, told about in classics like the "Rooho Kidan" (老圃奇談) and the "Shin'i Kaii Kidan" (神威怪異奇談).
- - - - - At 吉良神社 Kira Jinja
During the Azuchi–Momoyama period, after the death of the 長宗我部元親 Chōsokabe Nobuchika, the eldest son of Kira Chikazane's uncle Chōsokabe Motochika, since he opposed Motochika in supporting Chōsokabe Morichika as the successor, he was ordered to commit seppuku. At that time, several vassals also followed suicide (and thus 7 people in total), but afterwards, various strange events started happening at their graves, and the vengeful spirits of Chikazane and the rest were feared as the shichinin misaki. Motochika, who heard of this, held a memorial for them, but there was no effect, and in order to pacify the vengeful spirits, Kizuka Myojin (木塚明神) was deified at the gravesite of 西分村 Nishibun Village, 益井 Masui (now Kōchi). This is the currently existing Kira Shrine.
Also, according to the "Doyooiken Kidan" (土陽陰見奇談) and the 神威怪異奇談 "Shin'i Kaii Kidan," 比江山親興 Hieyama Chikaoki, who also opposed Motochika along with Chikazane, was also made to commit seppuku, and all 6 of his wife and children were also given the death penalty, and it is said that the total of 7 people became the 比江村七人ミサキ Hie Village shichinin misaki.

Also, in 広島県三原市 Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture, there was a mound called "Kyoozuka" (経塚, "sutra mound" or 狂塚, "insanity mound"), where there were once 7 brutal mountain priests, and when the people they tormented worked together to kill them, their vengeful spirits became the shichinin misaki, and it is said that this mound was made in order to pacify that curse.

source : kowabana.jp/specters

It is also said that these spirits are the fleeing defeated Taira clan soldiers who fell and died in a boar trap,
7 female pilgrims who were thrown into the ocean, the soldiers who lost their lives in Tenshō 16 (1588) from the Chōsokabe Motochika inheritance controversy, the spies of 伊予宇都宮氏 Iyo Utsunomiya who died in the Eiroku period, and so on.

. Chōsokabe Motochika 長宗我部元親 Motochika and the Chosokabe clan .

In 山口県徳山市（現 :周南市） Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture (now Shūnan),
it is said that shichinin misaki appearing as monks, while ringing bells, would walk down paths at high speed, and kidnap female children. For that reason, girls were warned not go outside after it has gotten dark, but in times when it was necessary to go outside,
it is said that it is possible to flee from the shichinin misaki by going about while hiding one's thumb in one's hand.
People built a Hall for 地蔵 Jizo Bosatsu and recite the sutras to appease their souls.

The shibuya shichinin misaki (渋谷七人ミサキ)
is an urban legend told about in the later half of the 1990s.
In the Shibuya area in Tokyo, seven female high school students met death one after another. It is said it is because these students who performed compensated dating got pregnant and aborted their children, and the children's vengeful spirits became the shichinin misaki (or, the vengeful spirits of the children resurrected the shichinin misaki of the above legend), and were taking their revenge on their mothers, who were the female high school students.

source : twitter.com/urei_150

七人ミサキ（しちにんミサキ）または七人みさき（しちにんみさき）は、
高知県を初めとする四国地方や中国地方に伝わる集団亡霊.
広島県三原市 / 山口県徳山市 / 渋谷七人ミサキ（しぶやしちにんミサキ）
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

shichininzuka 七人塚 mound for seven people
kyoozuka 経塚 "sutra mound" or spelled with a different Kanji,
kyoozuka 狂塚 "insanity mound" for a Misaki group

source : satoden.at.webry.info

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

........................................................... Aichi 愛知県 .............................................................
北設楽郡 Kitashitara district

There are various mounds named Shichininzuka 七人塚, or 七人落ち Shichinin ochi.
The deity here 狩人の神 is venerated by the hunters. Once seven hunters went deep into the mountains after their dog and never came back.
Other mounds were erected for seven Samurai who lost in a battle, some for seven priests.

........................................................... Ehime 愛媛県　 .............................................................
今治市 Imabara town

Mostly seven people who drowned or were killed together. If they drown on a certain day, there will often be another accident in the next month, prolonging the curse.
By possessing and killing one person, one of the spirits of the shichinin misaki are able to go to peace, and in its place, the one who was possessed and killed becomes one of the shichinin misaki.

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喜多郡 Kita district 内子町 Uchiko

Once upon a time, the whole family of seven of the village elder was killed and then strange things begun to happen. A priest advised to use a boulder in the river as a Misaki stone for their souls. Now every year during the O-Bon rituals for the ancestors, people come here to perform ritual dances and say 念仏 Nenbutsu prayers.
If they forget to do that one year, there will surely be a curse.

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南宇和郡 Minamiuwa district 御荘町 Misho

At the hamlet of 節崎 Fussaki there is a large 用水池 irrigation pond with, where Shichinin Misaki have a sanctuary. Every year a person drownes in this pond, so that one of the souls can go to heaven. This is a place where the bones of people, probably samurai were found burried. Children who nearly drowned in this pond tell about a woman at the other side, trying to invite them to come over.

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南宇和郡 Minamiuwa district 一本松村 Ipponmatsu

Seven people are venerated at the Misaki in 一本松村小山 Ipponmatsu Koyama.
They are seven people who have been killed by a young Lord with the figure of a serpent, or so they say.

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南宇和郡 Minamiuwa district 城辺町 Johen

Near the beach of 大浜 Ohama there is an evil Misaki, which often invites living people. If someone dies there, a great dragon might be seen. Sometimes a body of someone who drowned is washed ashore here. Anyway, there are now seven people dead.

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西宇和郡 Nishiuwa district 伊方町 Ikata

The Shichinin Misaki come out in the evening and lure people who walk here, to get near the cliffs and drown.
Sometimes if a dog barks, the person comes to his senses and is saved.

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越智郡 Ochi district 上島町 Kamijima

大正年間、七人が乗った船が遭難したが、島の人は危険であるため助けなかった。その30年後、夜船の番をしていた青年が水死した。その後も同様のことが起ったので、それは七人ミサキの祟りであると言われるようになった。

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温泉郡 Onsen district 中島町 Nakajima

海難事故等で死んだ人の霊をミサキと言い、人を一人殺すと成仏するといって恐れられた。ミサキに行きあって災いを受けるのをイキアイと呼び恐れた。ミサキには天ミサキ、海ミサキ、七人ミサキがある。

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温泉郡 Onsen district 重信町 Shigenobu town

Once a family of seven went hunting for hawks, (which was forbidden), and even ate the hawk. They were executed by chopping off their heads. Later if people walk by that ground, they will soon encounter some misfortune. The souls of the seven are now venerated at a small Hokora sanctuary as
七社権現 Shichisha Gongen - The Gongen Deities from Seven Shrines .

The same legend is told in 東温市 Toon town 西岡 Nishioka.

七社権現とは - The official Seven Gongen are
伊豆権現 Izu Gongen、箱根権現 Hakone Gongen、日光権現 Nikko Gongen、蔵王権現 Zao Gongen
白山権現 Hakusan Gongen、熊野権現 Kumano Gongen and 山王権現 Sanno Gongen.

賑岡町岩殿160 - Nigioka village, Iwadono, Otsuki, Yamanashi
- source : otsuki-kanko.info -

. Gongen Deities of Japan 権現 - Introduction .

. takagari 鷹狩り hunting ground of the Lords .

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越智郡 Ochi district 関前村 Sekizen

水死人を見たら、七人ミサキといって、七人取りあげなければならない。見捨てると祟られ、よくないことが起こる。

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越智郡 Ochi district 魚島村 Uoshima

Once a fishing boat with seven people on board was in great danger during a storm. But it was to difficult for the other fishermen to get out and help them, so all seven died.
30 years later a young fisherman of just 18 years died at sea. And after him one more and one more. This was the curse of the Seven Misaki.

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西条市 Saijo town 木曳野 Kibikino

otachikisan, otachiki san オタチキサン Otachiki San
This is the local word for 七人ミサキ Shichinin Misaki, especially for seven people who died in the war or at sea.
Long long ago 戦国 in the period of the warring states, 石川源田悠人 (石川源太夫, 石川備中守通昌) Ishikawa and six of his followers were killed here. He was known as
おたちきさん（大太刀君） Otachiki san "Master of the Big Sword".
Later when villagers passed by this spot, they heard seven invisible people talking and then built a sanctuary in their honor.

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西予市 Seiyo town, 野村町 Nomura

During a severe drought (旱魃 / 干ばつ), the farmers begun fighting for water and seven of them got killed, bringing a curse to the village.

........................................................... Hiroshima 広島県 .............................................................

At the Western end of the island 鶴島Tsurushima near 箱崎 Hakozaki, the Seven Misaki are venerated as
Toobyoosan トウビョウサン Tobyo San, "the Bewitcher",
being possessed by an evil spirit
When a fishing boat hits the watch tower at the rock of the cape, there will be a bad catch.
The same holds for 亀島のエビス岩 the Ebisu Rock at 亀島 Kamejima Island .
If this happens at the Eastern end of Tsurushima and cape 伊勢ヶ鼻 of 弓削島 Yugeshima Island, then people will get a stomach ache.

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三原市 Mihara town

kyoozuka 経塚 "sutra mound" or spelled with a different Kanji,
狂塚 "insanity mound" for a Misaki group
- see above

........................................................... Hyogo 兵庫県 .............................................................
豊岡市 Toyooka town

Near the river people get a high fever for unknown reasons, said to be haunted by Seven Misaki.
Others suddenly begin to tremble during the rice planting season, they are said to be
神様のユキアタリ cursed by the deity.

........................................................... Kochi 高知県 .............................................................
former Tosa 土佐

The Seven Misaki bring sudden chills, fever or other illness.
ガンドー gandoo, numanetsu 沼熱 /ヌマネツ fever or ショーキ shooki.

If a fishing boat is bewitched by the Seven Misaki, it will not be able to move any more and seven crew members will die.
Someone getting lost in the mountains is ユキアイ "meeting a deity", the malicious Doorokujin 道碌神 Doroku-Jin.. When they come back, they must stand at the entrance and be fanned by a willow and paste an amulet at the entrance.

. 道祖神 Dosojin, 道六神. 道陸神 Doroku-Jin, the Wayside Deities .
They are usually protector deities, but can turn malignant.

If someone has died in a river or mountain forest, people come together for the funeral and eat a meal together 産火（サンビ） sanbi "fire of life" and 死火（シニビ）shinibi "fire of death".
Some get a sudden fever from it or a severe stomach ache.

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吉良神社 Kira Jinja
安土桃山時代の７人ミサキ Azuchi Momoyama Misaki of Seven People
高知県高知市山ノ端町 / Kōchi-shi, Harunochō Nishibun, 3521
- see the story told above -

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吾川郡 Agawa district いの町 Inomachi village

They never call it "Seven people Misaki", but simply みさき Misaki.
On August 16, the day after the O-Bon rituals, the seven often come to roam the rivers, rice fields and sweet potatoe fields. Often they also come after strong rain.
Some Misaki are for children who die during the rainy season.
There are also sanctuaries for
sannin misaki 三人みさき / サンニンミサキ three Misaki people.
or シチリコツバイ shichirikotsubai.

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安芸郡 Aki district 北川村 Kitagawa

Once seven young woodsmen went to the mountains and stayed over night in a hut. While they were making jokes in the evening, one got killed by a hatchet by accident. So the others commited Harakiri, cut their stomachs and died too. Now they are appeased with a special Mound.
Sometimes people get a sudden chill for no reason and feel their presence.

The legend of seven Shikoku Henro pilgrims turning into Misaki is also told here.

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幡多郡 Hata district 大月町 Otsuki

At the hamlet 尾浦集落 Oura three used to be some miko ミコ shrine maiden, who performed oracles and divination. They also used to perform rituals for the Seven Misaki.
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Once an old woman suffered from severe pain in the shoulder. From an oracle she learned that her grandfather was one of the "Seven Misaki", which could not find peace in heaven. He had first tried to bewitch his own son, but he did not pay attention to it. So Grandfather begun to bewitch the woman, his granddaughter.
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Another old woman got ill and collapsed in the toilet, her illness got worse and worse.
From an oracle she learned that this was a curse of the Seven Misaki. So she prepared seven dumplings and burned incense in a ritual to appease their souls. Her seven ancestors had perished at sea and cursed the world. So now she had to perform regular rituals to get her health back and diminish the curse.
.
.
When the eldest son of 長宗我部元親 Chōsokabe Nobuchika was killed in the war against the Shimazu clan 島津征伐, his second and third son begun to fight for the right to the family head (which was usually the eldest son). The second son and seven of his followers got killed. These seven could not go to heaven and became a storm, later to be venerated as Seven Misaki.
.
hi no tama 火の玉 ball of fire
Sometimes a strange ball of fire was seen on the horizon above the sea, sometimes a sound like an earthquake was heard from the mountain. Anyone who experienced this got ill and had to undergo exorcism rituals. Sometimes the spirit healer had to drink seven cups of tea to make the Seven Misaki souls go away.

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幡多郡 Hata district 西土佐村 Nishi-Tosa

At a dangerous place called Takiyama six people had died. The villagers called a diviner and learned that this was a curse of the Seven Misaki. So they built a small temple for Jizo Bosatsu and prayed there carefully every year to prevent them from killing another person.
Other areas are especially haunted in Summer. People built small five-story stone pagodas to appease the wandering ghosts.
If someone gets ill, he has to stand at the entrance of the home, facing outside and the family members fan him with a 箕 winnow to make the illness go away.
This healing is also performed at 香南市 Konan town, 香美市 Kami town and 南国市 Nankoku town.

One reason for the Seven Misaki in the Tosa region is said to be the Shikoku Henro pilgrims, seven women of them died here. They sometimes come back as balls of fire at the bottom of a cliff and curse the village.

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室戸市岬町 Muroto Misaki

People come in contact with the Seven Misaki while on boats, near rivers, mountain roads, crossroads or along the coast, on days of bad weather in summer. They can not see them but feel the heat. If they hit one straight on, they will have to die, to make one of the seven go to heaven and take his place with the cursed souls to keep the number of SEVEN.
The curse of their souls haunts the region.
Priests or special healers perform exorcism rituals when this seems to turn into an epidemy.

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宿毛市　Sukumo town

In the area of 宇須々木 Usuki, the legend of Seven Misaki dates back to the Eiroku period (1558 - 1570).
Spies tried to enter the land of Lord 土佐一條 (土佐一条) Tosa Ichijo and were killed. These seven spies from 大州宇都宮 Utsunomiya are appeased here.

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須崎市 Susaki town

If someone gets ill suddenly, they he kazefuke カゼフケ "met the bad wind", the Seven Misaki, the local ガンドー gandoo.
He has to stand at the entrance of the home, facing outside and the family members fan him with a 箕 winnow to make the illness go away.

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高岡郡 Taoaoka district

The 四万十町 village of Shimanto has a special
misaki doo ミサキ堂 Hall for the Seven Misaki.

There is a road crossing 越知町 in the town of Ochi where people often get a sudden chill and die. They are haunted by the Seven Misaki.

........................................................... Niigata 新潟県 .............................................................

. shichinin Misaki 七人塚 mound for seven people - 上越市 Joetsu .

........................................................... Oita　大分県 .............................................................

Heike Shichininzuka 平家七人塚 Mound for Seven People of the Heike clan
宇佐にいた平家一門が駅館川の支流の院内川を遡って大門に辿り着いた。
大門の地は、平安時代に宇佐神宮に参籠した僧の行基菩薩が開山したと伝えられる龍岩寺周辺に仏典を書き写して、経筒に納め埋納した経塚がある。
信仰厚い平家落人が住むには安全な地だった。
門脇中納言平教盛公の子孫らは矜持を保ち塚を築いた。
- source : sence-net.com/heike/tsuka -

........................................................... Okayama 岡山県　 .............................................................

Okayama prefecture has a lot of legends about Misaki.

荒神とミサキ ― 岡山県の民間信仰
Kōjin to misaki : Okayama-ken no minkan shinkō
book by 三浦秀宥　 Miura Shūyū

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At the hamlet 大石 Oishi the Seven Misaki are venerated.
Once a bewitched grandfather had suddenly complained of being cold on the hottest day of summer. He got his heating table (kotatsu 炬燵) and warm blankets to hide and then when all had gone he hang himself. Then more suicides of hanging begun to happen in the hamlet and the local priest had to perform exorcism to appease the souls of the dead and stop the suicides.

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Okayama 上房郡 Jobo district 北房町 Hokubo town
. Misaki at 阿弥陀堂 the Amida Do Hall .

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上房郡 Jobo district 有漢町 Ukan

tooboo トウビョウ Tobyo "The bewitching Snake"
The トウビョウ Tobyo snakes come down the Southern slope to the village maybe once every 30 years and bewitches seven people, who become crazy and die.
There is no medicine or exorcism ritual to help these people.

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真庭郡 Maniwa district 勝山町 Katsuyama

At the hamlet 荒田 Arata, they venerate the
jinushi sama 地主様 "The Deity of the Land"
Once upon a time
the villagers killed seven travelers and got cursed by them instead. So they build a sanctuary and perform rituals to appease their souls.

........................................................... Shizuoka 静岡県 .............................................................
磐田郡 Iwata district 龍山村 Tatsuyama

shichininzuka 七人塚 mound for seven people
Once seven hunters went into the mountain forest to hunt but never came back. So the villagers built a mount for them ミサキ塚.
Even now sometimes in the mountain forest the call of a rooster can be heared. Anyone who hears this will be dead within three days.
Therefore people are afraid to go deep into the mountain.

........................................................... Yamaguchi 山口県 .............................................................
徳山市 Tokuyama town - see above

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七人ミサキも恋をする
by 丸山英人 (著), かれい (イラスト)

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source : qublic-goods.stores.jp/items

- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

- reference : 七人ミサキ -

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話　昔話 - Introduction .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

. Koojin sama, Aragamisama 荒神様 Kojin Hearth Deity .
- Introduction -

. goryoo, onryoo 御霊、怨霊 vengeful spirit .
- In the Heian period (AD 794–1185) Goryo were generally considered to be spirits of nobility who had died as a result of political intrigue and who, because of their ill will for the living, brought about natural disasters, diseases, and wars.

. hokora, hokura, shi 祠（叢祠　神庫） small Shrine .

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #misakisevenlegends #shichininmisaki -
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[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

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2016-03-30

Misaki deity legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話昔話 - Introduction .
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Misaki ミサキ / 御先 / 御前 / 御崎 Legends about the Misaki deity
Misakigami ミサキ神 Misaki Kami Deity
Misaki Daimyoojin 御先大明神 / ミサキ大明神 Misaki Daimyojin
Misaki sama ミサキ様 / ミサキサマ, Osaki オサキ

A deity that can bring misfortune or curses (tatari-gami 祟り神).
This can be the vengeful spirit of a person who died with many regrets in this world and can not leave yet to go to heaven.
saki 先 refers to a harbinger of something, even Misaki as a cape or promontory of land,

Misaki is often simply spelled in Katakana ミサキ.
Misaki is also a small Shinto sanctuary (hokora　祠) at a place where someone died under unnatural circumstances.
haka misaki 墓ミサキ tomb Misaki.
Sometimes a tree is planted in his/ her memory - - - kimisaki　木ミサキ. ,

Natural phenomenon, where people are objected to hardship, can also be the subject of Misaki:
hi no misaki, hinomisaki ヒノミサキ Misaki of fire
mizu misaki ミズミサキ Misaki of Water - for fishermen
yama no misaki マミサキ / 山のみさき Misaki of a Mountain
- for forest workers and hunters

- - - - - The most dreadful is the group of
. shichinin misaki, nananin misaki 七人ミサキ / 7人ミサキ / 七人みさき
"Misaki of seven people" .
who died in an accident or in unnatural circumstances.
They have a page of their own!
With legends from Aichi, Ehime, Hiroshima, Kochi, Oita, Okayama and Shizuoka.

The name MISAKI is also used for the messenger of a deity,
for example the Inari キツネ Kitsune fox or the カラス Karasu raven from Kumano.

source : japangod.dip.jp
Fox, Raven and Seven Human Shadows

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東北地方 Tohoku region

Misaki is a Bird Messenger, Kimisaki キミサキ /　木ミサキ
with rituals at the New Year.

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

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愛媛県 Ehime

. shirami シラミ and baka 馬鹿 / バカ .

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鹿児島 Kagoshima

misakidon matsuri ミサキドン祭 Misaki Don Festival
for the Bird messenger

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高知県 Kochi
幡多郡大月町

同じ場所で何人も死んだり、仏になれずに迷っている死者が固まっていたりしているときなどを、「ミサキがびっくりして漁ができない」という。
.
とま莚（トマムシロ）を家の戸口にかけておくと、ミサキ除けになる。トマは十魔に通じるので。

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幡多郡大正町

Umanosuke 馬之助という子供が山奥へ捨てられ死んだ。それ以降親や親族が次々死に、ミサキ様として祀ると鎮まった。ところが大正の頃、子供や人が死んでは生き返るという事件が起こった。馬之助が祈願を求めているということになり、馬之助大明神として祀った。

............................................................................................................................................. Miyazaki 宮崎県
延岡市 Nobeoka city

. Ritual at 金剛院 the Temple Kongo-In .

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岡山県 Okayama

. Okayama no Misaki Densetsu　岡山のミサキ伝説 Misaki Legends from Okayama .
tsurugi misaki ツルギミサキ Sword Misaki and tsuna misaki ツナミサキ Rope Misaki
and many more

荒神とミサキ ― 岡山県の民間信仰
Kōjin to misaki : Okayama-ken no minkan shinkō
book by 三浦秀宥　 Miura Shūyū

Okayama 真庭郡 Maniwa district 落合町 Ochiai town
At 落合町栗原不動寺 the hamlet of Kurihara in Ochiai is the temple Fudo-Ji.
. Misaki happenings at the temple 不動寺 Fudo-Ji .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -
212 to explore
ミサキ荒神 3 to explore

- reference : ミサキ神 -

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. Ushirogami ウシロ神 / 後神 / 後ろ髪 Yokai .
"the Deity coming from Behind"

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. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話　昔話 - Introduction .

- Yookai 妖怪 Yokai Monsters of Japan -
- Introduction -

. Koojin sama, Aragamisama 荒神様 Kojin Hearth Deity .
- Introduction -

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. Join the friends on Facebook ! .

- #misakilegends #misakikojin -
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Okayama dialect and deities

荒神とミサキ ― 岡山県の民間信仰
Kōjin to misaki : Okayama-ken no minkan shinkō
book by 三浦秀宥　 Miura Shūyū

. Misaki ミサキ Legends about the Misaki deity .
Misaki Daimyoojin 御先大明神 / ミサキ大明神 Misaki Daimyojin

- quote -
Misaki is the deity that brings a curse. It's hard to explain because it appears so many varieties of forms,
such as a small mound, tombstone, piled up many pebbles, etc.
usages:
misaki of seven beings, misaki of tombstone, misaki of water, misaki of fire.
- source : elle-fs.com/hohgen -

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Okayama dialect blog

Saru
A monkey (saru) is deified as a guardian deity of cattle and horse. So, the figure of monkey is set in the farming hut.

Sanma
Usually, it is a name of a certain fish, but in this case it means graveyard.

Shime / sime
It indicates a god's territory on earth. The sime-nawa (rope) is used to establish the sacrid territory.

Toobyo / Toubyo
Toubyo is believed to be a little snake with yellowish white ring-like mark around the neck and bring many fortunes to believers. There was a couple of shrine dedicated to Toubyo in Okayama area.

Toko
The place to deify old ancestors in a house.

Namera
It is the place where had been sacred in the old days, then turned to the horrible and/or eveil place with going out of faith. It is also called namame, masudi, mamiti, tukinowa. By now, it means especially the track where demons pass to and fro through. Perhaps, it may have the old meaning for snake.

Hebi and Ryuu
Hebi (snake) and ryuu (dragon) is a diety for water. For example, they control safe voyage at sea; also control rainfall probability in mountains. If a drought would happened, people would perform a ceremony to pray for rain. In Okayama, there are many mountains which part of their name contains Ryuu( dragon).

Furo
The woods that had become the target of the faith. So, even if a tree was cut, it was often said that it brought the evils. And many stories in relation to that kinds were left.

- source : elle-fs.com/hohgen/ok_minzoku_eu.html -

Okayama dialect
- source : elle-fs.com/hohgen/index_en.html -

岡山弁の特徴
岡山弁一覧
岡山の民俗
昭和三十年代の遊び
- source : elle-fs.com/hohgen -

イナリ
古来は、春の耕作の頃、山の神を迎えて田の神として祭り、秋の収穫が終わると、山に送り返すという信仰があった。人里に現れる狐は、その神の使者と見なされた。全国にイナリがあるのは、平安初期以来、伏見イナリが東寺と結託して勢力を広めたことに一因がある。

オオカミ
山の神の使者神。

オハケ
神を迎え降ろす神聖な標識。

オモリ
フロとも関係するが、オモリサマといって森を信仰の対象として、このように呼ぶ。

カキ
神聖な場所を囲う物。カキの内部に祠がある場合も多い。

クダン
頭は人、体は牛という。生まれて数日で死ぬが、その間に云ったことは、間違いが無いとされる。

クド
普通は釜や鍋をかけて炊事をする場所の事。これが、イシクドとなると、左右上の三方に石を積んでクドの形を作り、信仰の対象とする。

クロ
ミサキとほぼ同じような意味で使う。祟り神が居る場所。

コウジン
近畿地方でコウジンと云えば、クドの神、つまり火の神であるが、当地ではそれとは異なった神の事。といっても、どのような神なのか、正確には表現できない。つまりあらゆる形をとっているから。場所は、山頂から山の裾まで、平野部、島にかけて存在し、男神であったり女神であったりする。御神体としては御幣や石が多いが中には像もある。

サイ
村と村を結ぶ峠道にいる。サイの神。小石を積んだだけのものもあるし、また、六地蔵のごとく地蔵であったりする。

サル
牛馬の守り神としてサルを厩に祭る。

サンマ
普通は墓地のこと。両墓制では、死体を埋める方の墓のこと。

シメ
神の縄張りを示す。例えば、シメナワとは神の縄張りを示すための縄の意。

トウビョウ
頚に黄白色の輪形のある小さな蛇のこと。そういった蛇に対する信仰。これを飼い、さらには蛇を使うという法者があったようである。

トコ
家の中で神を祭る場所。

ナメラ
昔は神聖であった場所が、その信仰が廃れてくるととともに、恐ろしい所、祟る所に変化する。そのような場所を示す言葉。ナマメ、マスヂ、マミチ、ツキノワ等とも云われる。ナメラは現在では魔物の通る道という意味になっている。ナメラとは古来は蛇のことらしい。

ヘビ・リュウ
水に関わる神。海に関わる地方では、航海安全の神。一方、内陸部では、渇水期などに山頂などで、雨乞いの儀式を行う。リュウの名前が付く山が多いのは、その名残かも。

フロ
信仰の対象となる森のこと。そのため、その森の木を切ると、祟られると云われていることが多い。

ミコガミ
美作地方の憑神信仰のひとつ。巫女神が示すように女性だけに憑くとされる。甘酒で祭る。憑神から道祖神へと変化したミコ神もあるようだ。

ミサキ misaki
祟り神の事をそのように呼ぶ。実に多種の形態のミサキがあるので、一言では表現しがたい。例えば、自然石を積み上げた物とか、塚、墓等。
【用例】七人ミサキ、墓ミサキ、ミズミサキ、ヒノミサキ
- source : elle-fs.com/hohgen/ok_minzoku.html -

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岡山の怪談 Okayama no Kaidan - 佐藤米司
including
●玉落谷
●キシオジンスジ●魔すじ●ナメラ筋●ドンドン渕のゴンゴ●チューコ●首据岩●舎利坂の生首●ホボラ火●杓島●三穂太郎●中山神社の猿●吉備津の釜●円城狸

. O-Hana Kannon お花観音の由来 .
. 玉落谷 "Valley were the Balls had fallen down" .
furudanuki 古狸 the old badger

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. Misaki ミサキ Legends about the Misaki deity .
Misaki Daimyoojin 御先大明神 / ミサキ大明神 Misaki Daimyojin

. 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 ! .

- #okayamadialect #misakiokayama #ohanakannon -
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2016-03-28

Otoragitsune fox legends

- BACK to the Daruma Museum -
. Japanese legends and tales 伝説　民話昔話 - Introduction .
Yamazumisama - see below
O-Inu sama, Oinusama - see below
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Otoragitsune, O-Tora-Gitsune お寅狐 / オトラギツネ Legends about the Fox named Tora (Tiger)
おとら狐 / オトラギツネ

. kitsune densetsu 狐　伝説 fox legends .
- Introduction -

source : anaguma.moo.jp/blog

Otoragitsune no hanashi お寅狐の話
Tōkyō : Genbunsha, Taishō 9 [1920]), by 早川孝太郎　Hayagawa Kōtarō

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This is a fox Yokai from 愛知県 Aichi prefecture.

The fox was the messenger of the Inari Fox Shrine at the Nagashino Castle, 長篠城の稲荷社. The fox had lost his "home" at the shrine and was now wandering around, causing trouble.
Otoragitsune bewitches people and causes a lot of trouble and harm. The first to have been bewitched was a young woman called "O-Tora", hence the name.
People often loose their eyesight on one eye or begin to limp on the left food. This is because the fox was hurt by bullets during the Battle of Nagashino. When he lay down to rest after his eye was hurt, another soldier came close and shot him in the left leg.
Many bewitched people can also suddenly tell stories about this battle.
Another shrine has later been built in the compound of temple 大通寺 Daitsu-Ji in 新城市 Shinshiro, Aichi.

source : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/hemulen_civa

Nagashino Inari Shrine 長篠稲荷 at Daitsu-Ji

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- quote -
The Battle of Nagashino (長篠の戦い Nagashino no Tatakai) took place in 1575 near Nagashino Castle on the plain of Shitaragahara in the Mikawa province of Japan (now Aichi).
Forces under Takeda Katsuyori had besieged the castle since the 17 June; Okudaira Sadamasa, a Tokugawa vassal, commanded the defending force. The Takeda forces attacked the castle because it threatened Takeda's supply lines.
Both Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga sent troops to assist Okudaira Sadamasa and break the siege, and their combined forces defeated Takeda Katsuyori. Nobunaga's skillful use of firearms to defeat Takeda's cavalry tactics is often cited as a turning point in Japanese warfare; many cite it as the first 'modern' Japanese battle. In fact, the cavalry charge had been introduced only a generation earlier by Katsuyori's father, Takeda Shingen. Furthermore, firearms had already been used in other battles. Oda Nobunaga's innovation was the wooden stockades and rotating volleys of fire which led to a decisive victory at Nagashino.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- LINK to many ema 絵馬 votive tablets with O-Toragitsune:
- source : youkaiodaie.blog.fc2.com -

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

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

There are many reports of people being bewitched by this fox.

A young person got bewitched by this fox. After about two years he came back to his normal safe. Then he went to Ise and became a boatsman.
- - -
An old man got bewitched. He had no teeth but he begun to eat raw fish, putting the fish head into his mouth and biting as fast as he could.
- - -
A granddaughter went to the mountain to get firewood. When she came back, O-Toragitsune followed her. He had bewitched her grandmother.
- - -
Another grandmother was bewitched. Every night a dog 牡犬 came to her home, but she was afraid of it. One day before she died, although she had been bedridden for about one year, she suddenly got up and dances like wild the whole night - and then died in peace.
- - -
One day in the morning the rooster was attacked by a fox. It was in fact the grandmother of the family, who had been bewitched by this fox.
- - -
A woman was recovering from an operation, but then got bewitched by this fox and tried to eat her faeces. A mountain priest was called to perform an exorcism for her, but it did have no effect. She died a short while later.

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東加茂郡 Higashikamo district 下山村

This fox オトラ狐 had lost one eye by a stray bullet in the battle.
A person with bad eyesight is said to have been cursed by オトラサン "Otora San", "the honorable Tora fox".
The curse stays in some families for a long time.

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

In this area, there are many stories about people being bewitched by special fox, the
Toragitsune.
When he heard the sound of guns during the Battle of Sekigahara, he run away and became lame on one leg. People who are bewitched by this fox become lame, but also begin to talk about war strategy.

. The Battle of Sekigahara 関ヶ原の戦い .

This seems a mix-up with the name of the battle of Nagashino,
Nagashino Shitaragahara　長篠設楽原　(ながしのしたらがはら).
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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -
オトラギツネ / 山住様

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Yamazumisama 山住様 /ヤマズミサマ "Deity living in the mountains"

If someone is bewitched by Otoragitsune, people call for an 陰陽師 Onmyo-Shi Yin-Yang Master or a 修験者 Shugendo priest to perform exorcism rituals.
If this does not help, they have to go deep into the mountains of 秋葉山 Akibasan and call Yamazumisama for help. He has a helper, the sacred 山犬 Mountain Wolf and is also called
Oinusama 御犬様 O-Inusama, "Honorable Wolf Deity".

Yamazumi Jinja 山住神社 in Hamamatsu

- - - - - Deities in residence
大山積命 Oyamatsumi no Mikoto - オオヤマツミ（大山積神、大山津見神、大山祇神）
- Deity of the Mountains
事解男命 Kotosakao no Mikoto
伊邪冊命 Izanami no Mikoto
速玉男命 Hayatamao no Mikoto

- quote -
Yamazumi Shrine is a shrine with a long history of Wolf Worship.
It is said that the shrine was founded in 709, when Oyamazu no Kami, or generally called Yamazumi Daigongen, was invited here from Iyo province (present-day Matsuyama Pref.). Enshrined together are Kotosakao no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto and Hayatamao no Mikoto.
Yamazumi Shrine is famous for its wolf cult. When Tokugawa Ieyasu took refuge in a mountain to escape from the attack of the Takeda clan, the mountain suddenly began to quake and he heard great roaring of a wolf, which drove away the enemy. Because of this, it is said, Ieyasu paid great respect for this shrine.
Around 1700, Yamazumi Daizennosuke, the chief priest of this shrine, planted 360,000 cedar and zelkova trees in as long as 40 years to improve the rough mountain. Now Mt. Yamazumi is full of fine trees. In the precinct are two sacred cedar trees, which are over 1,200 years old.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

静岡県浜松市天竜区水窪町山住230番地
Yamazumi, Mizukubo-cho, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
- reference : wikipedia -

. ookami 狼, yamainu 山犬 Okami, wolf legends .
yamainu 豺 "mountain dog" Wolf

........................................................... Nagano 長野県 .............................................................
飯田市 Handa town

クダショ Kudasho Fox
A person bewitched by Kudasho begins to sigh and moan in a loud voice day and night. He might also not be able to get up any more and tremble all over.
In a lighter case a simple exorcism might be helpful. In a difficult case, they have to call Yamazumisama to do the rituals. He brings a special shinsatsu 神札 "talisman of God" and calls on Oinusama to help. When the Wolf appears, the fox has to run away fast and the person is healed.

........................................................... Shizuoka 静岡県 .............................................................
磐田郡 Iwata district

クダショー Kudashoo Fox and Oinusama お犬様
When people get a high fever, stomach ache and begin to mumble in fever, they are bewitched by this fox. They need some exorcism to get healed. Yamazumisama changes his form into the wolf お犬様 Oinusama for the exorcism. But people who take part in this ritual are not allowed to look back at him.
Some say Kudasho is like a weasel (イタチ itachi) wit white hair.
If a family gets a bride from a family with Kudasho experience, this new family home will prosper soon.

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押出（おしで））押出の山住神社分社
a small sub-shrine in the village of Oshide
- reference : mis.janis.or.jp/~takao424

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kudashoo クダショー, kudasho クダショ "Pipe Fox"

- quote -
Mythology and Folklore - Kudakitsune:
In the area is also known as kudasho and it seems that some people saw a cat capture it.
It had black fur and they say it looked like a marmot.
- source : mugetsu.silverblood.net

. kudagitsune, kudakitsune クダ狐 / 管狐 "Pipe-Fox" .
- Introduction -

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Oinusama 御犬様 O-Inusama, "Honorable Wolf Deity"

. Tokyo - Legend .
25 お犬様
03 オイヌ様 / 03 オイヌさま // 06 御犬様 - to explore

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. kitsune densetsu 狐　伝説 fox 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 ! .

- #otoragitsune #foxlegends #yamazumisama #oinusama -
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2016-03-22

Korai Korean Connection

source :　mossamossary.blog.fc2.com
御霊（上御霊）神社

Many have been erected before the Kamakura period. The origin of the Chinese character 兕（じ） is not quite clear though. Maybe it was a 水牛 water buffalo, or a Rhino with one horn.

koma-inu with one horn
角を持つという狛犬の由来についてはさまざまな説があり...
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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In the year 天平宝字7年 763 in August ambassadors were send to Korai. On the day they wanted to come back, the sea was wild and dangerous. So they prayed for safety.
With the help of Funadama, the Guardian Deity of a Boat, they made it back safely to Japan.

. Funadama 船霊 Goddess of the ocean .

. Korean Ambassadors to Japan in the Edo Period .
Choosen Tsuushin Shi 朝鮮通信使 Chosen Tsushin Shi

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. The Korean heritage 韓国　Kankoku 　朝鮮 Chosen .

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures :

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

. karabito-dako "Korean person Kite", Kazusa karabitodako 唐人凧 .
This kite has the form of the hairstyle of Koreans 高麗人の弁髪に形どった.

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

komajishi 高麗獅子 Korean Shishi Lion
In 宮津市 Miyazu, 籠神社, there is a 高麗獅子 stone statue of a Korean Shishi Lion with a life of its own, so it could fly high in the sky and do what it wanted. It would cause great harm to the farmers. One day a masterless Ronin Samurai cut off its legs as it devastated a field, and it fell down. But soon it got up again and run away.
Next morning the legs of the stone statue were cut off too and blood was coming out of the wound.

中国獅子 Chinese Shishi Lion

........................................................... Okayama 愛知県 .............................................................

. Koorai inu 高麗犬 Korai Korean Dog .

........................................................... Osaka　大阪　 .............................................................

Kōraibashi, Kooraibashi 高麗橋 - Koraibashi Bridge

source : bittercup.web.fc2.com/04osaka/yagurayasiki
楼屋敷（やぐらやしき） Yagura Yashiki

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Kōraibashi
is a bridge located in Chūō-ku in the city of Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It crosses over the Higashi Yokobori River and shares its name with the surrounding area.
The area received the name of "Kōrai" during the Asuka or Nara period, when ancient Japan was in close contact with kingdoms on the Korean Peninsula.
The envoy to Korea was called naniwa komanomuratsumi難波高麗館（なにわのこまのむろつみ） (高麗館 Koraikan) and when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was dividing up the areas within Osaka, he chose those same kanji.
- source : wikipedia -

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

. Koma Jinja 高麗神社 Koma Shrine .
The shrine was founded in 716 by an emissary from Goguryeo, 高麗王若光 Koma no Koshiki Jakko, as the head shrine to guard the Koma district (present-day Hidaka City).
天下大将軍 / 地下女将軍 Two deities from Korea
高麗聖雲 Koma Shoun was a priest of the Nara period.

. Shooden-In 聖天院 Shoden-In - (Shoten-In) .
高麗山 Komasan 聖天院　- Shoorakuji 勝楽寺 Shoraku-Ji
Very close to it is the shrine 高麗神社　Koma Jinja.

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. ダイダラボッチャ Daidarabotcha / Daidarabotchi ダイダラボッチ .
was a Yokai, a huge man living in the Chichibu region.
The legend about the size of Mount Fujisan and Tsukubasan is quite famous.
Similar legends from 日和田山 Mount Hiwadasan, the lower mountain, and 多峰主山（とうのすやま） Tonosuyama. When Daidarabochi sat down on Hiwada san to wash his feet, there was the river 高麗川 Komagawa.
Another placename is 高麗の新井.

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Koma Kyuuryoo 高麗丘陵 Koma Kyuryo Hill and Tengu 天狗
This hill region is located between the rivers 入間川 Irumagawa and 高麗川 Komagawa.
A weak man from 日和田山 Hiwadasan went to the Shrine 金比羅神社 Konpira Jinja every dy to pray to the Tengu for more strength. On the ninth day of his prayers the Tengu tried to surprize and frighten him various times, but the man kept his vigil over night. Next morning the man had become very strong indeed.

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

tsue 杖 and the 高麗桜 Korai Sakura Cherry Tree
Deep in the mountains of 熊野 Kumano, near the river 請川 Ukegawa and 日足村 Hitari village there lived a man who had been to Korea during the invasion by Toyotomi Hideyoshi 朝鮮征伐. He had brought back a walking stick, which he planted into the ground near his home.
And within due time, the stick turned into a beautiful cherry tree . . .

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

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白高麗焼　- 立達磨像 - Standing Daruma
White Korai ware pottery

. Nyoi 如意 Priest's Szepter .

- reference : White Korai pottery -

. Korean Art - Introduction .
Koryo Museum of Art 高麗美術館

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. koorai ninjin 高麗人参 Korean ginseng .
Panax ginseng

. 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 ! .

- #koraikoreanlegends #koorai -
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2016-03-16

Komuso legends

Isoda Koryūsai　磯田湖竜斎　 (1735–1790)
Komuso and Beauties

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The komusō (虚無僧 komusō, hiragana: こむそう; also romanized komusou or komuso)
"monks of nothingness"
were a group of Japanese mendicant monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism who flourished during the Edo period of 1600-1868. Komusō were characterized by a straw bascinet (a sedge or reed hood named a tengai or tengui) worn on the head, manifesting the absence of specific ego.
They were also known for playing solo pieces on the shakuhachi (a type of Japanese bamboo flute). These pieces, called honkyoku ("original pieces"), were played during a meditative practice called suizen, for alms, as a method of attaining enlightenment, and as a healing modality. The Japanese government introduced reforms after the Edo period, abolishing the Fuke sect. Records of the musical repertoire survived, and are being revived in the 21st century.

They wore a straw basket (tengai　天蓋) that covered their head as they played. Because some of these komuso were in fact spies for the government,
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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. どんころ独楽 Donkoro spinning top for gambling .
with a Komuso image on one side

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Komuso Dolls - click for more !

mamako no utae 継子の訴え complaint of a stepchild
While the father had to go on a trip, his two children were killed by the stepmother. A Komuso buried the two children, made a Shakuhachi from the bamboo near the grave and blew it. The sound reached the ears of the father and he returned as fast as he could. He recovered the bodies from the grave and put the stepmother to trial and punishment.
This is the origin of the Shakuhachi melody called
「継子と笛」「継子と鳥」.
- reference : blogs.yahoo.co.jp/therinmeis1979 -

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shakuhachihebi 尺八蛇 Shakuhachi Serpent
tsuchi no hebi 槌の蛇 "hammer snake"

source : nazo108.sblo.jp/article

. nozuchi 野槌 tsuchinoko ツチノコ / 槌の子 "hammerspawn" snake .
- Introduction -

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source and more komuso monsters : togetter.com/li

お猪口が變化した小さな虚無僧のような姿をした妖怪
little Toad monster wearing a 猪口 Sake cup as Komuso hat.

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- - - - - ABC List of the prefectures - Komuso and Shakuhachi legends:

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

yumemi 夢見 seeing a dream
Once a man was on the pilgrimage to Konpira san in Shikoku 金毘羅参り. On the way he saw a bamboo shoot coming out and growing big right in front of his eyes. So he cut the bamboo and made a Shakuhachi out of it. When he blew it, the melody sounded like:

笛も太鼓もいらんぞ、ととさま恋しや
I need no flute or drum, I long for my daddy!

When the man returned home - - - you know the tragic end from the story above.
Therefore in Kagawa it is a bad omen to see a large bamboo shoot in a dream.

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source : geocities.jp/shaku8tm/komusou

虚無僧人形 hand-made bamboo dolls - click for more !

........................................................... Kochi 高知県 .............................................................
安芸郡和食村 Aki district / Tosa 土佐

warai onna 笑い女 the laughing woman
In the hamlet of Wajiki there lived a man deep in the mountains and blew his Shakuhachi every night in front of his hut. One day a beautiful woman came up and asked him to play the Shakuhachi for her. She said her name was "Laughing Woman".
The man smiled and told her he would play a tune to make her laugh.
Her laugh became louder and louder as he blew his Shakuhachi and was heard all over the mountain.
Now the man became angry and trew his ax and hammer at her, but the woman just picked them up and ate them with good appetite.
When the man did not know what to do any more now, suddenly the sound of a rooster came up from the valley and the "Laughing Woman" disappeared.
But the voice of the rooster did not come from an animal, but from an amulet that was hanging at the breast of the man to protect him.
This is a dangerous Yokai, because if you begin to laugh with her, you will be eaten by her.

. warai onna 笑い女 the laughing woman .
and more about 土佐の妖怪 Yokai Monsters from Tosa

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

kani no hi 蟹の火 the light of a crab
Once a Komuso walked in the mountains, when a green-whitish light came nearer. The Komuso questioned it and found out it was a malicious crab. So he hit the crab with his Shakuhachi and killed it.
This is why the local crabs (gazami ガザミ) in the Amakusa region 天草地方 to our day have a scar on the back of their shell.

source : amakoma.sakura.ne.jp/diary

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The sad story of the stepchildren is also told. In this version, the father was visiting Kyoto.
The stepmother killed the children by boiling them in a huge chauldron.

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Komuso Kappa 虚無僧河童

- at yahoo auctions -

. 河童 / かっぱ / カッパ - Kappa, the Water Goblin of Japan! .

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

kosha 瞽者 a blind person
A blind man named Joomatsu 城松 Jomatsu had very keen ears and was quite skillful in playing the Shakuhachi. When he played toward a waterfall, the sound of the waterfall was not heard any more. One day in the early Edo period, in the morning suddenly there was a stange sound of wind and waves when he played.
And that evening, a strong earthquake hit the region.

........................................................... Osaka 大阪 .............................................................

yookai 妖怪 monster
In the year 1774 in October every day there walked a Samurai from Osaka in the area of Mount Sanadayama 真田山. Many could hear him but not see him. Once a Komuso and a villager walked together and the villager realized that the Komuso was in fact a Yokai monster. So he decided to kill him but could not see him any more. He must have fled in fear.

........................................................... Tochigi 栃木県 .............................................................
宇都宮市 Utsunomiya

daija 大蛇 large serpent
In the beginning of the Meiji period there lived a craftsman who made Chinese lutes (gekkin 月琴). He used the skin of serpents to cover the body.
One evening he was sitting in front of his shop, playing the Shakuhachi. He saw a large serpent coming down the hill and winding itself around his flute. The man soon killed the serpent, but he became ill and died soon afterwards.

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

somabito 杣人 forest worker
When the forest workers go to the mountain forest for work, they take along a person skilled in 尺八 Shakuhachi playing. They start after he has performed one melody.
This is because the 天狗 Tengu, who is the 山の神 "Deity of the Mountain", liked to hear Shakuhachi.

source : fuwaiin.com/kenendou/hougaku - 正和会

尺八合同競演会(天狗会)

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース - 虚無僧
11 尺八 (01)

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source : jxkura007.exblog.jp - 尺八　よもやま話

kooun ryuusui 行雲流水 "wandering monk", Unsui
"To drift like clouds and flow like water"

. unsui 雲水と伝説 Legends about itinerant monks .

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虚無僧の二人つれだつ雲の峰
komusoo no futaritsuredatsu kumo no mine

two Komuso
wandering along -
billowing clouds

Izumi Kyooka 泉鏡花 Izumi Kyoka

. kumo no mine 雲の峰 billowing clouds .
kigo for summer

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. 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 ! .

- #komusolegends #komuso #unsui -
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