Nyūdō-bōzu

Nyūdō-bōzu (入道坊主) are yōkai first known in Tsukude, Minamishitara District, Aichi Prefecture (now Shinshiro),[1] and then also in Fukushima Prefecture;[2] Kurikoma, Kurihara District, Miyagi Prefecture[3] (now Kurihara); Hirano, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture[4] (now Oyaka), among other places.

Legend

It is a yōkai that becomes larger the further one looks up, and is thus considered a type of mikoshi-nyūdō, which has the same characteristics. In Aichi Prefecture, it appears as a small bōzu that has a height that is not even 3 shaku (about 1 meter), but when people who meet them get close to it, it would then increase in height and become a large man about 7 or 8 shaku to 1 to (about 2 to 3 meters). It is said that by saying to it "I've seen it (見ていたぞ)," it is possible to make it disappear, but in reverse if it says something instead, it results in death.[1]

In Fukushima Prefecture, it is said to be a weasel, and when one looks up at a nyūdō-bōzu, it would gnaw at people's windpipes and kill them. It is said that since the weasel stops on the shoulder of the person it is trying to fool, if one does not get startled and grasps that leg and stomps it on the ground, it would be possible to exterminate the nyūdō-bōzu.[2] In Nagano Prefecture, it is said that their true form is considered to be a tanuki or mujina,[4] and in Miyagi Prefecture, a mujina.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 柳田國男 (1977). 妖怪談義. 講談社学術文庫. 講談社. pp. 208–209頁. ISBN 978-4-06-158135-7.
  2. 1 2 蒲生明 (1938-11). "妖怪名彙". 民間伝承 (民間伝承の会) 第4巻 (第2号（通巻38号）): 8頁. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. 1 2 小野和子 (1976-06). "栗駒の狐話・ムジナ話". 季刊民話 (一声社) (通巻7号): 37–38頁. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. 1 2 有賀恭一 (1933-03). "信州諏訪の狸と狢". 郷土研究 (郷土研究社) 7巻 (3号): 34頁. Check date values in: |date= (help)
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