Japanese myths 8

shikigami

 

Spirits are summoned by a sorcerer onmyoji or Japanese. The shikigami are used to protect and serve his master, like the Western concept of family spirit of a magician. There are many types of shikigami described in legends, the most common type of enchanted clipping the role it can produce the illusion of another object in real life.

It is said that during shikigami are invisible most of the time, but can be made ​​visible by linking small paper dolls. They can also appear as animals, especially birds.

The shikigami must be conjured by a complex ceremony and power is connected to the spiritual power of his master. If the caller has sufficient control and experience their shikigami can possess animals and even people and manipulate them in this manner; but if the caller is neglected, the shikigami could escape their control and gain own will and consciousness, and attack the onmyoji in revenge for having invoked. Usually, shikigami are invoked to perform too risky for their masters, as spy, steal enemies and track tasks.


Seon Nye ua Kun Na Mut - The Fairy and the Woodcutter

There was once a good and honest woodcutter who lived in a house in the woods with his widowed mother. One day I was cutting wood in the forest, when he ran a frightened and shaking the bushes deer. "Woodman, help me, please. I pursued a hunter who wants to kill me. "Moved with pity, the woodcutter hid behind a very thick tree trunk. Soon, there appeared a rough-looking hunter was holding a bow and arrow. "Have not seen a deer come through here?" He asked. The Woodsman pointed in the opposite direction and said, "He's gone out there." Once the hunter disappeared, the deer came out of hiding and thanked him. In gratitude, made him a confidence quietly, "On top of this mountain there is a small lake between the rocks that nobody knows. If you go there a night of full moon, you will see the heavenly fairies bathing in its waters. Lies one of the winged garments to its owner can not return to heaven, then will stay with you and will be your wife. Of course, you do not return his cloak until you have at least three children. "That said, the deer you instantly disappeared in the forest.

A clear and beautiful full moon night, the woodcutter went to the top of the mountain. When he finally found the small lake, hid among the rocks. Soon I saw down from heaven through a rainbow of glittering colors hermosísimas seven fairies. Between jokes and laughs, their winged robes gently removed and immersed in the waters of the lake. After a long time to contemplate them with bated breath, was quietly to the tree where they had left their coats hung his clothes and hid under one of them. Fairies splashed and swam in the lake till you drop. When they saw that the moon was in hiding, dressed to return to heaven. However, one had discovered his winged mantle disappeared. Her friends tried to help, but were forced to leave after a while, it should arrive before the gates of heaven were closed. When she was alone the fairy, the woodcutter left his shelter and comforted her as best he could. Not having to go, followed the fairy woodsman to his house, where he was to live as his wife.

It took several years, in which the Fairy and the Woodcutter were very happy. The couple had two beautiful children and life went quiet and peaceful. One day, talking about this and that, the woodcutter confessed to his wife that he had hidden his winged cloak to keep her on the ground. When found out, she begged him to let her try on the mantle. He refused, but she did nothing but sigh and soon a shadow of melancholy settled on her face. Seeing so sad, the woodcutter had no choice but to take the mantle of hiding and let them try it. When she did, she took her children on each of his arms and in the blink of an eye, before he could do anything the woodcutter, flew to heaven. The woodcutter was sad and heartbroken .. One day he found the deer had saved and told him what happened. The deer said, "There is a remedy. Every night, the sky lowers a Cuba to raise the river water. Go and hold on tight rope, so you can meet with your wife and children. "Woodman followed the advice and managed to climb to heaven, where he met his family and returned to be as happy as before.

Although the new life in heaven with his wife and children was wonderful, the woodcutter could not forget her elderly mother, who was left alone on earth. Seeing this, the fairy got a winged horse so she could visit her. "Just do not go to get off the horse, because you can not back up to heaven," the fairy warned. Content, the woodcutter fell to his old house, where he found his mother in the yard. When his son wanted to leave, the old woman brought him a freshly made soup of pumpkin. The woodcutter would eat it, but it fell a little hot soup on the animal's back. He jumped with fright and the woodcutter went down. Free your load, the horse galloped up to heaven without looking back.

The poor woodcutter, and without the possibility of reuniting with his wife and children lived sad and lonely until he died of old age. After his death appeared a rooster singing at home looking at the sky every night of the full moon. It was the woodcutter, who was reincarnated in the bird and still longing for his wife and children in heaven.

Kuda-Gitsune


It is a yōkai from Japanese mythology allegedly used by the kitsune-tsukai, those who use foxes as familiar spirits. Its use is described in several books:

In Sōzan Chomon Kishu (想 山 著 闻 奇 集?) The kuda-Gitsune described as a fox the size of a rat that can be maintained in a pipe.

According to the Zen'an Zuihitsu (善 庵 随笔?) The kanko is a fox the size of a weasel or rat, with vertical eyes and fine hair. The magician summons the kanko to appear in a bamboo tube being carried out, whereby the fox will respond to all questions asked. The origin of this practice dates back to a yamabushi he got this art while undergoing strict asceticism on Mount Kinpu. Kanko These are said to be numerous in the northern mountains of Suruga, Tōtōmi and Mikawa Provinces.

It can be tamed and kept in a pocket or sleeve, and uses his supernatural power to search a variety of information that then whispers to his master. A person who holds it can well see the past and the future.


Dukeobi Sawi - The son toad

There was once an old fisherman who lived on the shore with his wife. They were very poor, and as the old man was not in age go out to sea, the couple remained as could how little he was fishing on a boat not far from the coast. Once it happened that for three consecutive days not scored a measly fish. The fourth day was the same, but when the sun was about to hide, the bait a huge, warty toad. He was about to throw it back to the water, but the animal looked at him with such sadness that took pity and took him home. That night, to the surprise of himself and his wife, the toad spoke and said: "Treat me like a son and I will bring them much fortune." In fact, from that day, the old man returned to the sea with the boat loaded fish till you drop. Time passed and one day Toad met them with this occurrence: "I want to marry the youngest daughter of the richest man in the county, father. Go to him and tell him to take me as a son. "Poor old did not know how to tell the warty toad ugly and nobody would want to marry him, so I pretended not to. But the toad kept pestering trastocándolo all their strange powers, so the old man had to do what he asked. The richest man in the county had married well with his two older daughters and expecting a better match for his younger daughter, who was the most beautiful girl in the region. When the poor fisherman asked the hand of his daughter, millionaire almost hits the annoyance caused by the elderly. But the toad threatened to ruin and leave it in the street, and as the man loved his wealth above all things, and risked not consent to the marriage. The youngest daughter, horrified at the thought of marrying a toad, consoled him saying stick a knife wedding night. Then came the day of the wedding and the guests stood there quietly mocking Toad son, so the father was busting rage. As was the custom, the couple prepared to spend the first night in the house of the bride. When the ugly toad came to his new wife, she took out a sharp knife. Undeterred in the least, the toad said, "I'm glad you're ready. Take off the thick skin and you'll be surprised. "Bride did as he asked and left a handsome young toad leather. The next morning the father saw with astonishment that her daughter left the room, radiant as ever, the arm of her husband toad. Displeased, he commanded them to go home soon.

It took a few months and came on the birthday of the father. Her daughter and son-toad went home to participate in the great organized to celebrate the wedding date. Toad volunteered to go hunting to honor your father, but all laughed heartily. Sure you return with empty hands, gave horses and servants. The toad into the forest and instead of going out to hunt animals, ordered one of the servants who went in search of a monk who would be sitting on a stone removing lice and tell where he was. After a while, they began arriving deer, rabbits, turkeys and wild boars, which fell at the feet of the toad. The servants did not have to do more than tie the legs and put them on the backs of horses. When the frog returned to the banquet with its abundant and varied hunting, the father and the guests could hardly believe such a prodigy. Especially considering that the other two sons, young looking and strong, had returned empty-handed. But instead of rejoicing over the exploit of the toad, the father gave him the awful back and ordered never to return to his home.

The couple, sadly, returned to the house of the old fisherman and his wife, where they lived. Here the Frog made ​​a revelation that caused shock across: "Although I have the look of an ugly toad, I really am the son of the lord of the stars. I came here to reward you for you, kindly elderly, and to take one, the beautiful wife of this land. He wanted to also reward my father, but he has failed to see past my ugly appearance. Now it's time to leave. Once you do, the will become the richest people in the region. "That said, the toad skin was removed and turned into a very beautiful young woman, who rose to the stars with his wife. Immediately, the sky was covered with dark clouds and began to sound terrible thunder and lightning. It rained for two whole days, and the third day, he said finally. The land surrounding the house of the elders, which were covered in salt and sand by the proximity of the sea, had been transformed into a fertile and abundant land, which eventually gave the best crops in the region, making it rich in kindness fisherman and his wife.