Hito-gitsune: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
4,941,200 edits
m Alter: title. Add: website, title-link. Removed parameters. You can use this bot yourself. Report bugs here. | User-activated.
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{italic title}}
'''Hitogitsune''' or '''ninko''' (人狐) is a type of [[spirit possession]] told about in legends of the [[Chūgoku region]] of western Japan.
'''''Hito-gitsune''''' or '''''ninko''''' ({{nihongo2|人狐}}) is a type of [[spirit possession]] told about in legends of the [[Chūgoku region]] of western Japan.


==Concept==
==Concept==
They are said to be the spirit of a [[Japanese marten]]-like animal, and it is said that those possessed by one would be afflicted with stomach aches and mental abnormalities.<ref>{{Cite book|editor=北原保雄他編|title=日本国語大辞典|edition=第2版|year=2001|publisher=[[小学館]]|volume=第11巻|isbn=978-4-09-521011-7|pages=372頁|chapter=人狐|title-link=日本国語大辞典}}</ref> In some areas, it is said that a "mizu-itachi" (water weasel) within onds are hitogitsune. Though it has "itachi" in its name, they are said to be much smaller than real weasels and stay in a large [[willow]] of the pond, and several of them would all make a bustle at once.<ref>{{Cite web|author=朝山晧|url=http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/YoukaiCard/0850030.shtml|title=憑いた話|website=[[怪異・妖怪伝承データベース]]|publisher=[[国際日本文化研究センター]]|accessdate=2011-01-08}}</ref>
They are said to be the spirit of a [[Japanese marten]]-like animal, and it is said that those possessed by one would be afflicted with stomach aches and mental abnormalities.<ref>{{Cite book|editor=北原保雄他編|title=日本国語大辞典|edition=第2版|year=2001|publisher=[[小学館]]|volume=第11巻|isbn=978-4-09-521011-7|pages=372頁|chapter=人狐|title-link=日本国語大辞典}}</ref> In some areas, it is said that a {{nihongo3|water weasel|水鼬|mizu-itachi}} within ponds are ''hito-gitsune''. Though it has ''itachi'' (weasel) in its name, they are said to be much smaller than real weasels and stay in a large [[willow]] of the pond, and several of them would all make a bustle at once.<ref>{{Cite web|author=朝山晧|url=http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/YoukaiCard/0850030.shtml|title=憑いた話|website=[[怪異・妖怪伝承データベース]]|publisher=[[国際日本文化研究センター]]|access-date=2011-01-08}}</ref>


In the [[Shimane Prefecture]], hitogitsune are considered to be smaller tha a normal fox. Hitogitsune would enter people's bodies and make the ill, and when that person dies, they would bite a hole in that person's belly or back to go outside, and it is said that the dead one's body would have a black hole in it somewhere.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=千代延春楊 |date= July 1922 |title=山陰西部地方の憑物雑話 |journal=民族と歴史|volume=第8巻|issue=第1号|pages=263頁}}</ref>
In [[Shimane Prefecture]], ''hito-gitsune'' are considered to be smaller than a normal fox. Hito-gitsune would enter people's bodies and make them ill, and when that person dies, they would bite a hole in that person's belly or back to emerge. It is said that the corpse would have a black hole in it somewhere.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=千代延春楊 |date= July 1922 |title=山陰西部地方の憑物雑話 |journal=民族と歴史|volume=第8巻|issue=第1号|pages=263頁}}</ref>


Families possessed by a hitogitsune are called "hitogitsune-mochi" (those that have hitogitsune) and it is said that those that are hated by this family would get possessed by one of their hitogitsune. It is said that those possessed by a hitogitsune become pretty much the hitogitsune itself, and through the hitogitsune, they would talk about various things with families that have hitogitsune, walk on all fours like a fox, and like to eat food that foxes like to eat.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=著者不詳|title=山陰西部地方の狐持に関する報告|journal=民族と歴史|volume=第8巻|issue=第1号|pages=248頁}}</ref>
Families possessed by a ''hito-gitsune'' are called {{nihongo3|lit. "those that have ''hito-gitsune''"|人狐持ち|hito-gitsune-mochi}}, and it is said that those that are hated by this family would get possessed by one of their ''hito-gitsune''. It is said that those possessed by a ''hito-gitsune'' would become the ''hito-gitsune'' itself, and through the ''hito-gitsune'', they would talk about various things with families that have ''hito-gitsune'', walk on all fours like a fox, and like to eat food that foxes like to eat.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=著者不詳|title=山陰西部地方の狐持に関する報告|journal=民族と歴史|volume=第8巻|issue=第1号|pages=248頁}}</ref>


When someone from a family that has hitogitsune marries, 75 hitogitsune would attack the other family,<ref name="郷土研究">{{Cite journal |author=清水兵三 |date= May 1914 |title= 出雲より |journal=郷土研究 |volume=第2巻|issue=第3号|pages=44–45頁 }}</ref> so families that had hitogitsune tended to be treated coldly and marriages with them tended to be avoided.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=禀二生 |date= Sep 1914 |title=雲州人狐状|journal=郷土研究|volume=第2巻|issue=第7号|pages=38–42頁}}</ref> Also, families that have hitogitsune would grow wealthy as a result of the hitogitsune carrying back riches, but if someone of the family mistreats the hitogitsune, the fortunes of the family, no matter how rich they were, would immediately decline.<ref name="郷土研究" /> Furthermore, it is said that anyone who buys the assets of a family that falls to ruin like this would also be attacked by hitogitsune.<ref name="郷土研究" /> No matter how presgegious the family, if they ever even get rumored to have hitogitsune, other people would distance themselves from them, leading them to hardship.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=桜田勝徳 |date= May 1934 |title=仲間はづし|journal=ドルメン|volume=第3巻|issue=第5号（5月号）|pages=58頁}}</ref>
When someone from a family that has ''hito-gitsune'' marries, 75 ''hito-gitsune'' would attack the other family,<ref name="郷土研究">{{Cite journal |author=清水兵三 |date= May 1914 |title= 出雲より |journal=郷土研究 |volume=第2巻|issue=第3号|pages=44–45頁 }}</ref> so families that had ''hito-gitsune'' tended to be treated coldly and marriages with them tended to be avoided.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=禀二生 |date= Sep 1914 |title=雲州人狐状|journal=郷土研究|volume=第2巻|issue=第7号|pages=38–42頁}}</ref> Also, families that have ''hito-gitsune'' would grow wealthy as a result of the ''hito-gitsune'' carrying back riches, but if someone of the family mistreats the ''hito-gitsune'', the fortunes of the family, no matter how rich they were, would immediately decline.<ref name="郷土研究" /> Furthermore, it is said that anyone who buys the assets of a family that falls to ruin like this would also be attacked by ''hito-gitsune''.<ref name="郷土研究" /> No matter how prestigious the family, if they ever even get rumored to have ''hito-gitsune'', other people would distance themselves from them, leading them to hardship.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=桜田勝徳 |date= May 1934 |title=仲間はづし|journal=ドルメン|volume=第3巻|issue=第5号（5月号）|pages=58頁}}</ref>


[[File:Sozan Kuda-gitsune.jpg|right|thumb|240px|"Kudagitsune" from the ''Shōzan Chomon Kishū by Miyoshi Shōzan]]
[[File:Sozan Kuda-gitsune.jpg|right|thumb|240px|''Kuda-gitsune'' from the ''Shōzan Chomon Kishū by Miyoshi Shōzan'']]
In the [[Tottori Prefecture]], families possessed by a fox are called "kitsune-zoru,"<ref>{{Cite book|author=日野巌・日野綏彦|editor=[[村上健司]]校訂|title=動物妖怪譚|year=2006|publisher=[[中央公論新社]]|series=[[中公文庫]]|isbn=978-4-12-204792-1|volume=下|pages=256頁|chapter=日本妖怪変化語彙}}</ref> and the foxes that possess such families are called "hitogitsune."<ref name="憑物">{{Cite book|author=[[喜田貞吉]]編|editor=[[山田野理夫]]補編|title=憑物|year=248–249頁|publisher=宝文館出版|isbn=978-4-8320-1332-2|pages=248–249頁}}</ref> It is said that around such a family, 75 kin of the fox would be playing around, and that its true identity was a male weasel.<ref name="憑物" /> Also, in the [[Miyagi Prefecture]], [[kuda-gitsune]] are also called hito-gitsune.<ref>{{Cite book|author=茂木徳郎|editor=渡辺波光・岩間初郎編|title=宮城県史|year=1978|publisher=宮城県史刊行会 |volume=21|pages=543頁|chapter=妖怪変化・幽霊：事例篇}}</ref>
In [[Tottori Prefecture]], families possessed by a fox are called ''kitsune-zoru'',<ref>{{Cite book|author=日野巌・日野綏彦|editor=[[村上健司]]校訂|title=動物妖怪譚|year=2006|publisher=[[中央公論新社]]|series=[[中公文庫]]|isbn=978-4-12-204792-1|volume=下|pages=256頁|chapter=日本妖怪変化語彙}}</ref> and the foxes that possess such families are called ''hito-gitsune''.<ref name="憑物">{{Cite book|author=[[喜田貞吉]]編|editor=[[山田野理夫]]補編|title=憑物|year=248–249頁|publisher=宝文館出版|isbn=978-4-8320-1332-2|pages=248–249頁}}</ref> It is said that around such a family, 75 kin of the fox would be playing around, and that its true identity was a male weasel.<ref name="憑物" /> Also, in [[Miyagi Prefecture]], ''[[kuda-gitsune]]'' are also called ''hito-gitsune''.<ref>{{Cite book|author=茂木徳郎|editor=渡辺波光・岩間初郎編|title=宮城県史|year=1978|publisher=宮城県史刊行会 |volume=21|pages=543頁|chapter=妖怪変化・幽霊：事例篇}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Japanese folklore long}}


[[Category:Yōkai]]
[[Category:Yōkai]]

Latest revision as of 22:51, 16 September 2023

Hito-gitsune or ninko (人狐) is a type of spirit possession told about in legends of the Chūgoku region of western Japan.

Concept[edit]

They are said to be the spirit of a Japanese marten-like animal, and it is said that those possessed by one would be afflicted with stomach aches and mental abnormalities.[1] In some areas, it is said that a mizu-itachi (水鼬, water weasel) within ponds are hito-gitsune. Though it has itachi (weasel) in its name, they are said to be much smaller than real weasels and stay in a large willow of the pond, and several of them would all make a bustle at once.[2]

In Shimane Prefecture, hito-gitsune are considered to be smaller than a normal fox. Hito-gitsune would enter people's bodies and make them ill, and when that person dies, they would bite a hole in that person's belly or back to emerge. It is said that the corpse would have a black hole in it somewhere.[3]

Families possessed by a hito-gitsune are called hito-gitsune-mochi (人狐持ち, lit. "those that have hito-gitsune"), and it is said that those that are hated by this family would get possessed by one of their hito-gitsune. It is said that those possessed by a hito-gitsune would become the hito-gitsune itself, and through the hito-gitsune, they would talk about various things with families that have hito-gitsune, walk on all fours like a fox, and like to eat food that foxes like to eat.[4]

When someone from a family that has hito-gitsune marries, 75 hito-gitsune would attack the other family,[5] so families that had hito-gitsune tended to be treated coldly and marriages with them tended to be avoided.[6] Also, families that have hito-gitsune would grow wealthy as a result of the hito-gitsune carrying back riches, but if someone of the family mistreats the hito-gitsune, the fortunes of the family, no matter how rich they were, would immediately decline.[5] Furthermore, it is said that anyone who buys the assets of a family that falls to ruin like this would also be attacked by hito-gitsune.[5] No matter how prestigious the family, if they ever even get rumored to have hito-gitsune, other people would distance themselves from them, leading them to hardship.[7]

Kuda-gitsune from the Shōzan Chomon Kishū by Miyoshi Shōzan

In Tottori Prefecture, families possessed by a fox are called kitsune-zoru,[8] and the foxes that possess such families are called hito-gitsune.[9] It is said that around such a family, 75 kin of the fox would be playing around, and that its true identity was a male weasel.[9] Also, in Miyagi Prefecture, kuda-gitsune are also called hito-gitsune.[10]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 北原保雄他編, ed. (2001). "人狐". 日本国語大辞典. Vol. 第11巻 (第2版 ed.). 小学館. pp. 372頁. ISBN 978-4-09-521011-7.
  2. ^ 朝山晧. "憑いた話". 怪異・妖怪伝承データベース. 国際日本文化研究センター. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  3. ^ 千代延春楊 (July 1922). "山陰西部地方の憑物雑話". 民族と歴史. 第8巻 (第1号): 263頁.
  4. ^ 著者不詳. "山陰西部地方の狐持に関する報告". 民族と歴史. 第8巻 (第1号): 248頁.
  5. ^ a b c 清水兵三 (May 1914). "出雲より". 郷土研究. 第2巻 (第3号): 44–45頁.
  6. ^ 禀二生 (Sep 1914). "雲州人狐状". 郷土研究. 第2巻 (第7号): 38–42頁.
  7. ^ 桜田勝徳 (May 1934). "仲間はづし". ドルメン. 第3巻 (第5号（5月号）): 58頁.
  8. ^ 日野巌・日野綏彦 (2006). "日本妖怪変化語彙". In 村上健司校訂 (ed.). 動物妖怪譚. 中公文庫. Vol. 下. 中央公論新社. pp. 256頁. ISBN 978-4-12-204792-1.
  9. ^ a b 喜田貞吉編 (248–249頁). 山田野理夫補編 (ed.). 憑物. 宝文館出版. pp. 248–249頁. ISBN 978-4-8320-1332-2.
  10. ^ 茂木徳郎 (1978). "妖怪変化・幽霊：事例篇". In 渡辺波光・岩間初郎編 (ed.). 宮城県史. Vol. 21. 宮城県史刊行会. pp. 543頁.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hito-gitsune&oldid=1175716008"