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{{Short description|Type of demon in Japanese mythology & folklore}} |
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[[File:Tosa Kijo.jpg|right|thumb|180px|"Kijo" from the ''[[Tosa Obake Zōshi]]'' (author unknown)]] |
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A {{nihongo|'''kijo'''|鬼女|lit. demon woman}} is an [[oni]] woman from Japanese legends. |
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{{nihongo|'''Onibaba'''|鬼婆|lit. demon hag}} is an [[Oni]] from [[Japanese folklore]] that has the appearance of an old woman but is a [[yōkai]] that feasts on humans. Variously known as the "Demon-[[Hag]]," "Old Hag," "Mountain Woman," "the Goblin of Adachigahara," and "Kurozuka," the Onibaba has many stories behind her name.<ref name="Alt">Matt Alt and Hiroko Yoda, Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide (Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2008).</ref>{{rp|74}} |
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==Characteristics== |
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The Onibaba has the appearance of a shriveled old woman. Some of her more distinctive features include having a disheveled, maniacal appearance, wild-looking hair, and an oversized mouth.<ref name="Alt"/>{{rp|74}} She is sometimes depicted with a kitchen knife or sitting with a spool of thread.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/images/NOH/adachigahara/pages/02Adachigahara.htm |title=02Adachigahara |publisher=Eee.uci.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/images/NOH/adachigahara/pages/05kurozuka.htm |title=05kurozuka |publisher=Eee.uci.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref> She often conceals her demonic appearance in order to put visitors into a false sense of security. |
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The woman from whom the Onibaba originated is said to have lived in a cave or small house in {{nihongo|[[Adachi, Fukushima|Adachi]]-ga-hara|安達が原| lit. the moor of Adachi}} and died close-by, in a place called {{nihongo|Kurozuka| 黒塚}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bappychan.com/saijiki/saijiki.html |title=bappychan.com |publisher=bappychan.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref> There is a small museum in Adachigahara that is said to hold her remains as well as the cooking pot and knife that she used on her victims.<ref name="Alt"/>{{rp|76}}<ref name="Schreiber">Schreiber, Mark, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20121021x1.html In Search of the fearsome Onibaba]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 21 October 2012, p. 7</ref> |
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==Portrayal== |
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===Tale of Origin=== |
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[[File:Yoshitoshi The Lonely House.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tsukioka Yoshitoshi]], The Lonely House, September 1885. 9" by 28". The print depicts the Hag of Adachi Moor, who was said to drink the blood of unborn children.]] |
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One version of the story of the creation of the Onibaba involves the baby girl of a wealthy family in Kyoto. Although already five-years-old and otherwise healthy and happy, the child had not uttered a sound since birth. Worried and desperate, the family consulted doctor after doctor with no success until they came upon a fortune teller who told them that the cure was to feed the girl the fresh liver of a living fetus. This gruesome task was passed on to her nanny who set off on the search after leaving her own similarly aged daughter an [[omamori]], an amulet for protection. The nanny’s search for a woman willing to give up her unborn child’s liver lasted for weeks and months before the nanny, tired and weary, reached Adachigahara, where she decided to stay in a cave to wait for pregnant travelers to pass by. Years passed before a lone pregnant woman approached her cave. Desperate, the nanny jumped upon the woman and retrieved the fetus’ liver. Only after accomplishing her goal did she realize that the woman was wearing the omamori she had given her daughter many years ago. Driven insane by this realization, the nanny became a yōkai and from then on attacked passers-by and ate their flesh.<ref name="Schreiber"/> |
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In another version of the story, the nanny goes on the trip because she loves the child she is nursing. In this version, the nanny has no daughter - the cure is a pregnant woman’s liver instead of the fetus’ liver.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bappychan.com/kurozuka/kurozuka.html |title=bappychan.com |publisher=bappychan.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}{{dead link|date=January 2013}}</ref> |
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===The Noh Play Kurozuka=== |
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There is a [[Noh]] play by the name of Kurozuka that tells the story of two priests who stop by the hut of the Onibaba in Adachi. The Onibaba, in her human form, kindly lets them in and speaks to them about her loneliness while spinning thread. Later, she leaves to gather firewood, but tells the priests not to look into the inner room of the house. Curious, the servant disobeys and the priests find that the inner room is filled with the bones and rotting corpses of people. They realize that the woman is the goblin of Adachi. As they are about to run away, the Onibaba returned, outraged, and in her demon form. They were able to escape through the power of their [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] prayers.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Theatre Nohgaku |title=Projects Kurozuka |year=2004 |url=http://www.theatrenohgaku.org/projects/2004_e.php |accessdate=April 19, 2009}}</ref> |
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===Onibaba the Movie=== |
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In 1964, Scriptwriter and Director [[Kaneto Shindo|Kaneto Shindō]] made the film ''[[Onibaba (film)|Onibaba]]'' based upon an old Buddhist fable by the name of "[[A Mask with Flesh Scared a Wife]]."<ref name="DVD">{{cite web |title=Onibaba |year=2005 |publisher=DVD Times |url=http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=58304 |accessdate=April 19, 2009}}</ref> The fable tells the tale of a woman who, jealous of her daughter-in-law, dons a mask and tries to scare the girl and stop her from meeting her lover. The woman fails because the daughter-in-law’s love is much stronger than her fear of the supposed-demon. As punishment from [[Buddha]], the mask permanently bonds to her face.<ref name="DVD"/> |
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==Mythology== |
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==The Transformation of the Onibaba== |
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They are normally considered to be women who have turned into oni as a result of karma and resentment, with the younger ones being called "kijo" while the ones that look like old ladies are called '''[[yamauba|onibaba]]''' (鬼婆, "demon hag").<ref name="murakami">{{Cite book|author=[[村上健司]]編著|title=妖怪事典|year=2000|publisher=[[毎日新聞社]]|isbn=978-4-620-31428-0|page=132}}</ref> They often appear in Japanese legends, folktales, fairy tales, and performing arts, and famous among them are [[Momiji (oni)|Momiji]] (from The Legend of Momiji and ''[[Momijigari (play)|Momijigari]]'') from [[Togakushi, Nagano|Togakushi]], [[Shinano Province]] (now the town of Kinasa, [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]], [[Nagano Prefecture]]) and [[Suzuka Gozen]] from the [[Suzuka Mountains]].<ref name="murakami" /> |
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In stark contrast to the original portrayals of the Onibaba, the Onibaba has undergone a few striking transformations. One example is that of [[Bappy-chan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bappychan.com/nurie/nurie2.html |title=bappychan.com |publisher=bappychan.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref> the Onibaba mascot of the [[Adachigahara Furusatomura Village]], a tourist destination in Japan depicting a replica of a traditional Japanese village that lies on the Onibaba’s stomping grounds. Unsurprisingly, Bappy-chan has horns and fangs, sports an angry face, and is posed in a fashion as if she were about to chase after you. But controversially according to her original image, she is drawn in a super-deformed fashion that gives her a harmless, cute, and loveable appearance. The Village sells merchandise featuring Bappy-chan and even offers a virtual Onibaba for download on their website.<ref name="Alt"/>{{rp|77}} |
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The onibaba of Adachigahara ([[Kurozuka]]) had "baba" in her name, but she is also considered a kijo.<ref>{{Cite book|author=[[多田克己]]|editor=[[京極夏彦]]編|title=妖怪画本 狂歌百物語|year=2008|publisher=[[国書刊行会]]|isbn=978-4-3360-5055-7|page=306|chapter=『妖怪画本・狂歌百物語』妖怪総覧}}</ref> Also, the [[Tosa Obake Zōshi]] (author unknown) that spelled out tales of yōkai in [[Tosa Province]] (now [[Kōchi Prefecture]]) had, under the title of "Kijo," stated that an oni woman (kijo) with hair of a length 4 shaku and 8 sun (about 150 centimeters) ate a fetus from a pregnant woman, although the origin of this story is the onibaba legend of Adachigahara from [[Fukushima Prefecture]] that later spread to Tosa, and due to this spread, it became told about along with local legends there.<ref>{{Cite book|author=「雪婆編著|title=妖怪百物語絵巻|year=2003|publisher=[[国書刊行会]]|isbn=978-4-336-04547-8|page=60}}</ref> |
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Another example of the transformation of Onibaba is the [[anime]] and [[manga]] [[Kurozuka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/107/107561/ |title=長き時を生きる吸血鬼2人の物語――「黒塚」アニマックスとBS 11で放送開始 - 電撃オンライン |publisher=News.dengeki.com |date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref> In this series the Noh story of the Onibaba is portrayed, with the Onibaba masquerading as a beautiful woman with a slender body and long dark hair and with powers similar to a vampire. The difference between the Noh story and the series is that instead of the two priests escaping, one of the men, a feudal lord, falls in love with the Onibaba in her beautiful form and is transformed into a vampire by the Onibaba and her vampiristic powers. |
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The word "kijo" is also used as a general term for women with hideous hearts like that of an oni.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?p=%E9%AC%BC%E5%A5%B3&stype=0&dtype=0|title=【鬼女】|website=dic.yahoo.co.jp|publisher=[[Yahoo! JAPAN]]|access-date=2011-03-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710172202/http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?p=%E9%AC%BC%E5%A5%B3&stype=0&dtype=0|archive-date=2012-07-10}}</ref> |
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==Common usage of "Onibaba"== |
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In Japan, the word Onibaba does not always refer to the Onibaba of folklore. The word Onibaba, literally translated as demon/ogre/devil-hag, may also refer to witch, penurious or spiteful old woman, [[termagant]], or [[virago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jisho.org/words?jap=onibaba&eng=&dict=edict |title=Find words - Denshi Jisho |publisher=Jisho.org |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Baba Yaga]] |
* [[Baba Yaga]] |
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*[[Black Annis]] |
* [[Black Annis]] |
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*[[Boo Hag]] |
* [[Boo Hag]] |
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*[[Crone]] |
* [[Crone]] |
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*[[Hag]] |
* [[Hag]] |
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*[[ |
* [[Kurozuka]] |
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* [[Muma Pădurii]] |
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* [[Onibaba (film)]] |
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* [[Yama-uba]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Japanese folklore long}} |
{{Japanese folklore long}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Oni]] |
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[[Category:Japanese folklore]] |
[[Category:Japanese folklore]] |
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[[Category:Yōkai]] |
[[Category:Yōkai]] |
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[[Category:Female legendary creatures]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:37, 23 August 2022
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2013) |
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A kijo (鬼女, lit. demon woman) is an oni woman from Japanese legends.
Mythology[edit]
They are normally considered to be women who have turned into oni as a result of karma and resentment, with the younger ones being called "kijo" while the ones that look like old ladies are called onibaba (鬼婆, "demon hag").[1] They often appear in Japanese legends, folktales, fairy tales, and performing arts, and famous among them are Momiji (from The Legend of Momiji and Momijigari) from Togakushi, Shinano Province (now the town of Kinasa, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture) and Suzuka Gozen from the Suzuka Mountains.[1]
The onibaba of Adachigahara (Kurozuka) had "baba" in her name, but she is also considered a kijo.[2] Also, the Tosa Obake Zōshi (author unknown) that spelled out tales of yōkai in Tosa Province (now Kōchi Prefecture) had, under the title of "Kijo," stated that an oni woman (kijo) with hair of a length 4 shaku and 8 sun (about 150 centimeters) ate a fetus from a pregnant woman, although the origin of this story is the onibaba legend of Adachigahara from Fukushima Prefecture that later spread to Tosa, and due to this spread, it became told about along with local legends there.[3]
The word "kijo" is also used as a general term for women with hideous hearts like that of an oni.[4]
See also[edit]
- Baba Yaga
- Black Annis
- Boo Hag
- Crone
- Hag
- Kurozuka
- Muma Pădurii
- Onibaba (film)
- The Witch (fairy tale)
- Yama-uba
References[edit]
- ^ a b 村上健司編著 (2000). 妖怪事典. 毎日新聞社. p. 132. ISBN 978-4-620-31428-0.
- ^ 多田克己 (2008). "『妖怪画本・狂歌百物語』妖怪総覧". In 京極夏彦編 (ed.). 妖怪画本 狂歌百物語. 国書刊行会. p. 306. ISBN 978-4-3360-5055-7.
- ^ 「雪婆編著 (2003). 妖怪百物語絵巻. 国書刊行会. p. 60. ISBN 978-4-336-04547-8.
- ^ "【鬼女】". dic.yahoo.co.jp. Yahoo! JAPAN. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kijo (folklore).
English Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Goblin of Adachigahara
