Japanese myths 1

Japanese myths
Kappa ("river child")
The Kappa are legendary sea creatures well known in Japanese folklore.

The Kappas are typically described with a humanoid form, and usually measures the size of a child, it looks like the scaly skin of a reptile and can be green or blue, yellow. The Kappas usually live in the lakes and rivers of Japan and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet like ducks. It is sometimes said that smells fishy, ​​and can certainly swim like them. Its most notable feature is the hole in the top of his head, which retain water, it is considered as the source of their power. This cavity is filled whenever a Kappa is away from water, if spilled, the Kappa will be unable to move. Although Kappas are dangerous, they are also very human politicians.

As water monsters the Kappas have been frequently accused of drowning, and is said to often try to lure people into the water and pull them with his great fighting ability. The funny thing is that even today, signs warning about kappa appear in areas of some towns and villages Japanese.
It was believed that if faced with a Kappa was only one means of escape: the Kappas, for one reason or another, are obsessed with being kind, so if you give a gesture of deep reverence (bowing Japanese style) chances Kappa is that it back. Thus, water is spilled on his head and the Kappa would become unable to leave the inclined until the container is filled with water from the river in the living position. If a man were to do this, it was believed that the Kappa will serve for all eternity.

They are very knowledgeable about the medicine, and legend says they taught the art of human bone configuration humanity. Due to these benevolent aspects, some shrines are dedicated to the worship of Kappa that were useful in their villages.
Yamata no Orochi ("eight snake heads")
Thousands of years ago, it was believed that Japan humans, gods and beast lived in harmony,
sharing the land. The gods helped with his powers and these men, in gratitude, offered
sacrifices; while the beasts bothered nor hindered. But this balance is broken when the
first king of the gods, called Izanagi, went to war against his wife Izanami, and nothing
would be the same.

Oni, who were as a result of this unholy war brought new evil beings born
used as soldiers, and dragons, which, according to legend, came from plants
absorbed the spilled blood of the gods. Also, the war was the cause of that evil crept into
within many of the gods.

Of all these evil beings, Yamata no Orochi, the dragon of the eight heads and eight tails, was the most
famous of all. This required them to the citizens of Izumo who would sacrifice every full moon Eight Maids or
otherwise, their land would be destroyed completely.

But in Izumo was born Kushinada the beautiful princess, who has reached the age of 16 when the people
delivered in the last sacrifice of maidens, including her sisters. The young princess would be
next victim if something was not done about it. And then made ​​its appearance Susanoo the god of thunder,
who fell in love with the princess and promised Alrey Izumo Orochi would destroy if I could take the
princess hand in marriage, to which elrey responded positively.

The night of the sacrifice of the princess Kushinada, Susanowo disguised servant and offered to
Orochi eight barrels of rice wine before the banquet. The evil dragon gladly accepted and drank
eight heads of the respective cups, which intoxicated him to the core. Soon, slept
deeply.

God took the opportunity to take off the costume and cut off the heads not only Orochi, but
also their tails. In one of them he found a powerful sword that his sword had not
been cut. This mystical weapon later became the protagonist in many later legends.
Also cut their guts, where he took the sacred medallion Magatama life and tears
emerged from the last head to die were transformed into a mirror.

These objects are known as "three sacred treasures of Japan
Shinigami ("Death God")
Death has different ways of seeing across the world, being one of the most representative of the grim reaper, with his black clothes and his scythe coming for the deceased.

But in Japan the concept and the legend is quite different. Among the Japanese the existence of shinigami, the personification of death, a concept that has lost the source, but that is attributed to the influence of China and Europe in the Sengoku era extends.

The term has some influence on the occiental reaper, and operates on the basis, in the same way.


The shinigami in their representation of gods of death could be seen on stage in the play Shinju Ten no Shinjūten not Amijima Amijima or written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in 1721, and has subsequently been used in other ways.

For example, the legends say the shinigami are not only the gods of death, but any kind of deity associated with it. Today the concept has been used primarily in the world of entertainment, animation and manga, heavily influenced by its appeal.

According to legend, there are two main deities in the history of Japan: Enma (or Yama), Buddhist and Hindu tradition, who judges the dead and reward them or forgive them to Jigoku (Japanese Hell) and Izanami-no -Mikoto, a goddess in Shinto was originally the goddess of creation, then the goddess of death.

Yūrei ("weak Spirit")
Yūrei (幽 霊) are figures in Japanese folklore, similar to legends of ghosts in the West. The name consists of two kanji, 幽 (YU), ie, "weak" and 霊 (REI), meaning "soul" or "spirit." Alternative names include 亡 霊 (Borei), meaning ruin or exited spirit, 死 霊 (Shiryo) meaning dead spirit, or the more encompassing 妖怪 (Yōkai) or お化け (Obake).

Like the Chinese and Westerners, believe Yurei are beings who have not had a peaceful death

According to traditional Japanese beliefs, all humans have a spirit or soul called 魂 霊 (reikon). When a person dies, the reikon leaves the body and enters a sort of purgatory, where it waits for the proper funeral and later to perform so that you can join their ancestors burial rites. If done correctly, the reikon is believed to be a protector of family life and to return next year in August during the Obon Festival to receive thanks.

* Appearance of a Yurei in Japan:

- Linen - Yurei usually wear white, which means the white burial kimono used in Edo period funeral rituals. In Shinto, white is a color of purity, traditionally reserved for priests and the dead. This kimono can be a Katabira (a plain, white, unlined kimono) or kyokatabira (a white Katabira inscribed with Buddhist sutras). They sometimes have a hitaikakushi (literally "front cover"), which is a small triangular piece of white cloth tied around his head.

- Black hair - the hair of a yūrei is often long, black, disheveled, some believe that this belief comes from Kabuki theater

- Hands and feet - hands of a yūrei hang lifeless dolls, usually lack legs and feet, floating in the air. These features originated in the Edo period, but were copied quickly to the kabuki theater. In kabuki, this lack of legs and feet is often represented by the use of a long kimono, or even boost the player in the air by a series of ropes and pulleys.

- Hitodama - are often represented with a pair of floating flames in mysterious colors like blue, green or purple. These ghostly flames are separate parts of the more independent spirits ghost.
Jorōgumo ("Maiden Spider")
Jorōgumo (新妇 络) is a type of Yōkai, a creature from Japanese folklore. According to some accounts, one Jorōgumo is a spider that can change its appearance into that of a seductive woman.

In Japanese Kanji, Jorōgumo written as "络 新妇" (which literally means "woman binding". Jorōgumo can also refer to some species of spiders, also in occasional use can refer to the Nephila and Argiope spiders.

The stories say that in the Edo period a beautiful woman attracts men in a hut and start playing a Biwa, or a type of Japanese lute. While the victim was distracted by the sound of the instrument, which binds its victim into spider silk threads in order to devour the unwary as their next meal.

According to legend, when a spider has 400 years old, earns magical powers. Jorōgumo stories can be found in the Edo period works as "Taihei-Hyakumonogatari" (太平 百 物语) and "Tonoigusa" (宿 直 草). In many of these stories, Jorōgumo changes its appearance into a beautiful woman to ask a samurai to marry her, or takes the form of a young woman with a baby.

A Jorōgumo also known as the owner of the Joren (浄蓮の滝) waterfall in Izu, Shizuoka. Legend has it that a man was lying at the foot of the waterfall when their feet were tied with a large number of gossamer. To free, cut the wires but in vain, he was tied to a tree, out of the land and dragged into the water.

After this incident in Joren waterfall, villagers, fearful of the spider, stopped going to the waterfall. However, one day, a woodcutter from out of town, unaware of the history of Jorōgumo Joren, began to cut timber in the area. When accidentally dropped his ax into the water, dived into the pool to find, and a beautiful woman appeared and returned the ax, telling him not to tell anyone about it. One day, while intoxicated, told his secret and fell into a deep sleep never wake up again.
Aoandaon.
The Aoandaon (Ao: Blue and Andon: Paper lamp) is a dangerous spirit in Japanese mythology it is thought may be invoked when 100 people gather to tell each horror stories. In the Edo period, was a popular custom. Each person should bring a candle, which was to be put on a blue paper andon to give a more terrifying touch to the environment. Each person must have a horror story or supernatural, and when it ends, you must turn off your andon. When the last andon left off, the Ao-Andon is presented. Is said to be equal to a man, but his skin is blue, has 2 horns and some sharp teeth. If it is invoked, the stories become reality.
Betobeto-san.

If you've ever gone for a walk at night and heard strange steps to turn terrify you because you find nothing there, is that you have followed the yōkai known as Nara prefecture betobeto-san. It is said that if you are next to the road and say, "betobeto-san, please, go ahead," the footsteps stop and you can continue to walk in peace.
The Doro-Ta-Bo.

He is a legend in the Japanese popular imagination. It is said, occurred somewhere in western Japan. The story tells of a poor farmer, but a hard worker, who managed to turn a neglected piece of land in a beautiful crop. One day, the poor farmer died, and his son, irresponsible, lazy and dishonest, was spent drinking and playing, and when money problems, sold the farm of his father, so that his soul could not rest. One night, the soul of the father emerged from the mud that was once his garden, and began to mourn for his devastated country. Since that night, listening to the dead farmer mourn his dead ground.
hitodama

It is a term of Japanese folklore that refers to the appearance of souls when they leave the body before going to another world. The souls of those who die are shaped just ghost shaped balls of fire, usually pale blue, sometimes green. These areas have long tails and are believed ghosts are scammers. The hitodamas, causes fluorescent gases that can sometimes be seen on human graves. The hitodamas usually found near graveyards and dark woods in summer time, which is said to live. They can also be seen around sick people die, hitodama can be seen as an apparition of the soul leaving the body before going to another world. Most hitodama fades or falls to the ground.
Yukionna (snow woman).

It is a young white skin, slim and very attractive. They appear to those who are exhausted from fighting a snowstorm, the calm and sleep until they lose consciousness and die. Some are reincarnated into a beautiful woman and marries a man she eventually kills.
Yamamba (the Woman of the Mountain).

It's an old demon in the form of an ugly old woman with white hair disheveled and lives at the bottom of the mountain. Ronda mountains and appears in many forms. Its name was formerly used for all female mountain spirits. Sometimes takes a scary look and eats humans is in the way, and sometimes does good things to whoever finds it all depends on who the person who is to appear.
Kuchisakeonna.

This female ghost has torn lips to the ears, is shown in dark parks with a mask that covers his mouth and ask the person that passes, do you think I'm cute? ... You should not answer anything, but if you answer, take off his mask and shows the torn lips and says, do I still am pretty? and tries to rip your lips too. So you do not do evil you have to repeat 3 times the word "Pomado, pomado, pomado" ... say this ghost does not like the smell of pomado.
Toire not Hanakosan.

This ghost does evil and is said to live in the school bathroom. Being out of the bathroom and say "let's play Hanakosan" and she will respond by hitting the door. Seem to care the bathroom, so teachers would often say to children if not kept clean the bathroom Hanakosan will be sad.
Nopperabo.

This is a faceless ghost, that he is walking down the dark street face down ... if you greet "konbanwa" (good evening), she turns around and you can see that the person has no eyes, mouth, or nose, so take care when walking alone on the street and find someone walking bass face, do not greet him.
The mischievous ghosts called "THE HENGE" which are animals that have supernatural powers, within the best known are the fox and raccoon ..
Kitsune (fox).

The Kitsune can possess people, when someone has a fox this person starts acting crazy and starts eating olives and fried soy pudding (the preferred food of the fox), when the person returns to normal no remember anything. But besides the crazy fox makes, it is also the guardian of the children lost in the mountains which provides protection until they find their home. Fox is also part of one of the "kami" (gods) of the most important Shinto called Inari, which has its own sanctuary.
Tanuki (Raccoon).

The Tanuki is much funnier and crazier than the fox, is addicted to liquor, food and parties. To go to parties to meet their desires changed her figure for a guest at the party, so eat and drink a lot of sake (which is what he likes). The Tanuki always describe him wearing a straw hat on the back, a large bottle of sake, a big belly and a big ... very big ... testicles.
Hyakki Gazu Yakō means "The Night Parade illustrated hundreds of demons." It is the first book by the famous Japanese artist Toriyama Sekien published in 1781.
These books are supernatural bestiaries, collections of ghosts, spirits, spooks and monsters, many of which Toriyama based on literature, folklore, and other illustrations. These works have had a profound influence on subsequent images of yōkai in Japan.
Toriyama Sekien (1712-1788) was an artist print genre of Japanese ukiyo-e painting, which specialized in yōkai. He was the teacher of Utamaro. Previously he was a painter Kano School. In 1780, Sekien undertook a careful study of the target was Hyakki japoneses.Su Yakō supernatural beings. The first volume appeared in 1781 under the title The Illustrated Night Parade of hundreds Gazu Hyakki Yakō demons. Three more volumes followed: The Illustrated hundred demons past and present Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, Supplement to the hundreds of demons from the past and present Konjaku Hyakki Shui and bag illustrated with hundreds of demons random Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure bukuro.



first Volume

Kodama: Comments Sekien: A spirit (kami) that usually appears in the trees hundreds of years.

Kodama means "echo" in Japanese (its literal meaning is "spirit tree"). However, as his name is written in katakana (Japanese syllabic phonetic script) and not in kanji (ideográmica writing), it can also mean "small ball" or "little spirit." In Japanese mythology, Kodamas are a type of spirit that lives in the forest.
 
The Kodamas are mythical spirits of Japan, inhabitants of the thick woods. They usually have a human appearance and each individual is unique in appearance and personality. It is said that can occur in non-human forms, and can appear beautiful or so terrible as they wish. Most cases appear to have an adorable look. Their bodies are semitransparent, pale green or whitish, very short.

The kodama are supposed spirits of trees in general, not necessarily to a particular tree. Some of them, however, are directly associated with a specific tree. It is believed that these spirits can move to another tree or reborn through his seed.

Most of these spirits dislike to those who have no respect for the environment. If a tree is cut irresponsibly, one or more Kodamas may seek revenge. Most of these spirits are very peaceful and serene, and like to share knowledge and wisdom with those who know how to communicate with them. They are also surprisingly strong and powerful, given their unusually long life and communication with the world and forces beyond the understanding of many other animals.