Japan then defeated warriors ghosts because of his talent, and mujina. Sep 24, 2019 his ghost stories, which were drawn from japanese folklore, appeared in collections throughout the 1890s. In showa 4 1767, in the kaidan collection shinsetsu hyakumonogatari, there were stories that told of how in nijugawara in kyoto near the nijoohashi bridge in the nakagyoku, kyoto, a monster called nopperabo appeared and those that were attacked by it would have. They are today regarded in japan as classics in their own right. The foxlike tanuki appear often in japanese folklore as shapeshifters with. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. This definitive recording includes an introduction by paul murray. The first known instance of badgers or mujina in japanese folklore was in the eighthcentury legal document laws concerning robbers where they are reported as vengeful, justicedelivering demons. Newly revised and updated, a history of japan is a singlevolume complete history of the nation of japan. Most of these japanese folk tales are stories which little folk hear even. Japanese ghost stories mujina and the faceless ones. In some regions the term refers instead to the raccoon dog tanuki or fox kitsune.
Theyre not malevolent, but neither are they benevolent. Mujina is actually the name for badgers who in japanese folklore could play tricks like the one in this story. Hearns mujina and badger undoubtably refer to the raccoon dog. Much like the mujina, the obake is a shapeshifter in japanese folklore. What are the best books in english about japanese mythology. Anthologies, asian literature, cultural, fiction, folklore, horror, japan, japanese literature, short stories. Studies in japanese folklore, 1963 online research. Jun 15, 2011 of the japanese folktalkes that ive read, many end up being nothing like what i expect them to be. Other yokai and japanese folklore books the book of yokai. Mischief, magic and change in the japanese countryside.
He lived in a nice house, as was typical of samurai at the time. Mujina posted in urban legends, myths, and folklore. Download book japanese ghost stories by author lafcadio hearn in pdf epub. Japanese folklore simple english wikipedia, the free. An interest in japanese culture and enthusiasm for sharing their traditions with. Compiled from japanese and chinese folklore by lafcadio hearn from numerous sources.
Im used to having a tale with a moral, or some kind of teaching. In 1904, lafcadio hearn wrote one of the earliest accounts for western readers in his book kwaidan weird tales. So this slope right here is called kiinokunizaka, which means the slope of the province of kii. Japanese ghost stories mujina and the faceless ones youtube.
Mysterious creatures of japanese folklore yokai attack the japanese monster survival guide yurei attack the japanese ghost survival guide the night parade of one hundred demons. Electronic books readers readers publications additional physical format. Broadly labeled yokai, these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water spirits to shapeshifting foxes and longtongued ceilinglickers. Apr 17, 2020 download book japanese ghost stories by author lafcadio hearn in pdf epub. The badger does not figure prominently in japanese or chinese folklore or artwork yet western scholars have mistranslated tanuki mujina as badger or raccoondog for decades, and this has caused great confusion among folklore enthusiasts. They are sometimes mistakenly referred to as a mujina, an old japanese.
The foxlike tanuki appear often in japanese folklore as shapeshifters with supernatural powers and mischievous tendencies. Abumiguchi a furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander who worked for yamata no orochi. In japanese folklore, shape shifting is attributed to three animals foxes, cats under certain conditions and raccoon dogs. The faceless ghost is often referred to by english speakers as a. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories and legends of the samurai. The following is a list of demons, ghosts, kami, obake, yokai, yurei and other legendary creatures that are notable in japanese folklore and mythology. Lafcadio hearn, a master storyteller, drew on traditional japanese folklore, infused with memories of his own haunted childhood in ireland, to create the chilling tales in japanese ghost stories.
In this collection of classic ghost stories from japan, beautiful princesses turn out to be frogs, paintings come alive, deadly spectral brides haunt the living and a. Kuchisakeonna slit mouth woman, a japanese urban legend about a disfigured woman. The following is a list of demons, ghosts, yokai, obake, yurei and other legendary creatures that are notable in japanese folklore and mythology. One of the forms the mujina is purported to take, as popularized in a story by lafcadio hearn, 1 is that of a faceless ghost. Nov 28, 2011 in japanese folklore, shape shifting is attributed to three animals foxes, cats under certain conditions and raccoon dogs. Tanuki, mujina, and mami manifestations of the shapeshifting, fox. Starting in ancient japan during its early prehistory period, a history of japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal japan to the postcold war period and collapse. Japanese folklore is filled with tales of the mujina, a faceless spirit. Ten japanese folktales you should know the japan guy.
In japanese folklore, like the fox and the tanuki, they are frequently depicted as a yokai that shapeshifts. Aug 22, 2014 japanese folklore is filled with tales of the mujina, a faceless spirit. Old man of the sea atui koro ekashi, the old man of the sea, is briefly mentioned in tales from the ainu of hokkaido, japan. Oct 31, 2012 mujina a japanese ghost story posted on october 31, 2012 by e. But, i have read mujina is an old term referring to badgers. If tanuki lore is japan original, how did the tanuki start out in japanese folklore. The nopperabo, or faceless ghost, is a japanese yokai legendary creature that looks like a human but has no face. A mujina is a ghost that has smooth skin instead of a.
The chilling accounts of those who claim to have met a mujina read like urban legend, and go back a long way. It also includes many supernatural creatures, such as kami gods and revered spirits, yokai monsterspirits like oni, kappa, and tengu, onryo, dragons, and animals with supernatural. In japanese, obake is a term often used to describe a thing that changes. What makes hawaii unique is that people experience the ghosts of all the cultures even without hearing the stories first. A classic of japanese history, this audiobook is the preeminent work on the history of japan.
Mujina and mami the myth and the mammals wild in japan. Buy products related to japanese folklore products and see what customers say about japanese folklore products on. It is very influenced by shinto and buddhism, the two most important religions in the country. Its so interesting how american stories are so different. They are available from in paperback and kindle formats the night parade of one hundred demons, written and illustrated by matthew meyer, is a 224page fullcolor yokai encyclopedia containing over 100 creatures from japanese folklore. Jan 14, 2015 the book of yokai provides a lively excursion into japanese folklore and its everexpanding influence on global popular culture. This week, leading up to halloween, im posting some modernized versions of the japanese ghost stories documented by lafcadio hearn in a 1903 book of short stories, called kwaidan. His ghost stories, which were drawn from japanese folklore, appeared in collections throughout the 1890s. Of the japanese folktalkes that ive read, many end up being nothing like what i expect them to be. Posts about japanese folklore written by abookofcreatures. One day, his wife went to use the bathroom, and something strange happened. In my country people say that fear has big eyes but in that case we can equally say that it has slanting ones as well. In japanese folklore, like the kitsune fox and the tanuki typically a japanese raccoon dog, mujina which could be raccoon dog or.
The goblin fox and badger and other witch animals of japan, folklore studies, vol. It also invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them. A kurote is a bizarre, hairy yokai from the noto peninsula in ishikawa prefecture. Yes, many of the japanese tales do have them, but some of themit beats me. It often involves humorous or bizarre characters and situations and also includes an assortment of supernatural beings, such as bodhisattva, kami gods and revered spirits, yokai monsterspirits such as oni, kappa, and tengu, yurei. On the site old stories of japan you can learn about the folklore. It is heavily influenced by both shinto and buddhism, the two primary religions in the country. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Lafcadio hearn captures the folk spirit and quaint exoticism of a land thought at the. Kwaidan then is an interesting collection of japan weird stories illustrated with drawings of ghosts, demons and other unusual creatures typical of japan folklore and myth. Originally conflated with folklore surrounding the sinister figure of the chinese fox, imported. Japanese folklore has remained a topic of interest for people across the world. The fox like tanuki appear often in japanese folklore as shapeshifters with.
Original title isbn 97802481274 published on 2015622 in edition language. Currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games, many yokai. Folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories and legends of the samurai mitford, a. Paul murray editorintroducer is the author of biographies of lafcadio hearn and bram stoker, and the editor of collections of hearns work. Studies in japanese folklore, 1963 online research library. Monsters, ghosts, fantastic beings, and supernatural phenomena of all sorts haunt the folklore and popular culture of japan. If they even have shapeshifting foxes, wolves, and wild dogs, surely raccoon dogs could be included. The book of yokai is a fascinating and enormously informative study. It usually includes humorous or strange characters and situations. The book of yokaiprovides a lively excursion into japanese folklore and its everexpanding influence on global popular culture. The badger and the monkey and the otter mujina to saru to ka.
Here are all the phantoms and ghouls of japanese folklore. Aug 19, 2009 japanese ghost stories mujina and the faceless ones. Written by lafcadio hearn, japanese by choice and avocation, in times when eyes of the japanese people. The last man who saw the mujina was an old merchant of the kyobashi. The japanese raccoon dog or tanuki, a shapeshifting, hedonistic and jovial trickster, has. He is a former irish diplomat whose posting to japan. Stories and studies of strange things by lafcadio hearn, shadow of the fox by julie kagawa, tales of moonlig. In japanese folklore, like the kitsune and the tanuki typically a japanese raccoon dog, mujina which could be raccoon dog or badger are frequently depicted as yokai that shapeshift and deceive humans. Jul 11, 2006 mujina posted in urban legends, myths, and folklore. In some regions the term refers instead to the japanese raccoon dog. If you enjoy this site, please consider supporting the artist by buying the books. While you could technically call them folktales, some are more like legends and others are more like fairy tales. The book is easy to read, and at the same time immensely informative on the complicated and varied ways yokai have existed throughout japanese history.
They are first seen in literature in the nihon shoki in the part about empress suikos 35th year 627, where it states, in two months of spring, there are mujina in the country of mutsu. Broadly labeledyokai,these creatures come in infinite shapes and sizes, fromtengumountain goblins andkappawater spirits to shapeshifting foxes and longtongued ceilinglickers. Many stories that originated from japan have inspired horror movies, graphic novels, anime, manga, and books, often because the stories characters make a lasting impression. Like the tanuki and the fox, the mujina of japanese folklore is an avid shapeshifter and deceiver of humans. Soon after this, the shapeshifter myth was first documented in the historical text shoku nihongi. Often, a nopperabo would not actually exist, but was the disguise of a mujina, a fox kitsune, or a tanuki. Long ago in the province of noto, there was a samurai named kasamatsu jingobei.
After being brought to hawaii, the term obake became commonly used for supernatural entities of all kinds, though mostly ghosts or malevolent spiri. Most japanese people know a lot of them, if not all, and they are also sometimes taught in japanese culture and language classes. See more ideas about japanese folklore, japanese mythology and japanese art. It exists largely outside the japanese yokai canon, best known from the tale of the heike 71. The mujina of japanese folklore is an avid shapeshifter and deceiver of humans. They are sometimes mistakenly referred to as a mujina, an old japanese word for a badger or raccoon dog. In japanese folklore, the badger is a magical animal with shapeshifting abilities and a penchant for playing tricks on humans. The book of yokai provides a lively excursion into japanese folklore and its everexpanding influence on global popular culture. See more ideas about mythology, japanese mythology and japanese folklore.
The fox and badger in japanese folklore, transactions of the asiatic society of japan, vol. After being brought to hawaii, the term obake became commonly used for supernatural entities of all kinds, though mostly ghosts or malevolent spirits. As each new group arrived, they brought their own traditions and ghost stories. Aburaakago an infant ghost who licks the oil out of andon lamps. A kurote is a bizarre, hairy yokai from the noto peninsula in ishikawa prefecture legends. A captivating guide to japanese folklore, myths, fairy tales, yokai, heroes and heroines explore captivating myths of japanese deities, yokai, heroes and heroines the study of mythology and folklore is a peculiar one to the ext. Japanese folklore academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. The book of yokai audiobook by michael dylan foster. The fox, badger and raccoon dog take human form in japanese. The tanuki, kitsune and mujina who inhabited its woodlands lived alongside the villagers. In japanese folklore, shape shifting is attributed to three animals foxes.