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{{short description|Mountain dwelling spirit in Japanese folklore}}
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[[File:Suuhi Yama-warau.jpg|thumb|"Yamawarau" (山わらう) from the ''[[Hyakkai Zukan]]'' by Sawaki Suushi]]
{{italic title}}
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[[File:SekienYamawarawa.jpg|thumb|"Yamawarawa" (山童) from the ''[[Gazu Hyakki Yagyō]]'' by [[Toriyama Sekien]] ]]
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[[File:Suushi Yama-warau.jpg|thumb|{{nihongo||山わらう|Yamawarau}} from the {{transliteration|ja|[[Hyakkai Zukan]]}} by Sawaki Sūshi]]
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[[File:27.Yamawarou.jpg|thumb|"Yama warō 山わらう" from [[Bakemono no e]] (化物之繪, c. 1700), Harry F. Bruning Collection of Japanese Books and Manuscripts, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.]]
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[[File:SekienYamawarawa.jpg|thumb|{{nihongo||山童|Yamawarau}} from the {{transliteration|ja|[[Gazu Hyakki Yagyō]]}} by [[Toriyama Sekien]]]]
Yamawaro or yamawarawa (山童) is a [[yōkai]] that appears in mountains that is told about in Western Japan, starting in [[Kyushu]]. Sometimes it is said that they are [[kappa]] who have come to dwell in the mountains. In the [[Ashikita District, Kumamoto|Ashikita District]], Kumamoto Prefecture, in addition to "'''yamawaro'''," it is also called "'''yamawarō'''", "'''yamamon'''", "'''yamanto'''", "'''yaman wakkashi'''" (山の若い衆, "young person of the mountain"), and "'''yaman ojiyan'''" (山の伯父やん, "mountain uncle"). Also, in the [[Kuma District, Kumamoto|Kuma District]] of the same prefecture, they can also be called "'''yaman-tarō'''" (山ん太郎) or "'''yamanbo'''" (山ん坊).<ref name="yamawaro"/>
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[[File:27.Yamawarou.jpg|thumb|{{nihongo||山わらう|Yama warō}} from {{nihongo||化物之繪|[[Bakemono no e]]}} ({{c.|1700}}), Harry F. Bruning Collection of Japanese Books and Manuscripts, Brigham Young University]]


{{nihongo||山童|'''Yamawaro'''|extra=or {{transliteration|ja|'''yamawarau'''}}}} is a {{transliteration|ja|[[yōkai]]}} (spirit) said to appear in mountains in Western Japan, starting in the [[Kyushu]] region. According to mythology, it is sometimes said that they are {{transliteration|ja|[[Kappa (folklore)|kappa]]}} that have come to dwell in the mountains.
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It can also be written as 山𤢖 (yamawaro). The [[sansō]] (山𤢖) is the name of the Chinese yōkai that this comes from.<ref name="wakan"/>


{{transliteration|ja|Yamawaro}} are known by a number of different, similar terms; in [[Ashikita District, Kumamoto|Ashikita District]], [[Kumamoto Prefecture]], they are also known as {{transliteration|ja|yamawarō, yamamon, yamanto}}, {{nihongo3|"young person of the mountain"|山の若い衆|yaman wakkashi}} and {{nihongo3|"mountain uncle"|山の伯父やん|yaman ojiyan}}. In [[Kuma District, Kumamoto|Kuma District]] in the same prefecture, they are also known as {{nihongo||山ん太郎|yaman-tarō}} or {{nihongo||山ん坊|yamanbo}}.<ref name="yamawaro"/>
==Concept==
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According to the [[Edo period|Edo-period]] ''[[Wakan Sansai Zue]]'', it lives in the depths of the mountains in [[Kyushu]] and with the appearance of a child about 10 years in age, has long perssimon and navy colored hair on its head, and it has intricate fur all over its body. It states that it has a short torso, walks upright on two long legs, and speaks in human language. The same book (the version published by Kyōrindō) states that there are yamawaro in the [[Chikuzen Province]] (now [[Fukuoka Prefecture]]) and on the [[Gotō Islands]], and they have a human-like appearance with a round head, long red hair that reaches their eyes, pointy ears like that of a dog, one eye above their nose, and they eat [[crabs]], tokoro (some types of [[dioscorea]]), and kōzo (a hybrid of two [[broussonetia]] species) roots.<ref name="wakan">寺島良安 『[[和漢三才図会]]』6、島田勇雄・竹島純夫・樋口元巳訳注、[[平凡社]]〈[[東洋文庫 (平凡社)|東洋文庫]] 466〉、1986年、pp. 152–153. {{ISBN|978-4-582-80466-9}}。</ref>


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The [[kanji]] for {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} can also be written as {{lang|ja|山𤢖}} ({{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}}). The {{nihongo||山𤢖|[[sansō]]}} is the name of the Chinese {{transliteration|ja|yōkai}} that this comes from.<ref name="wakan"/>
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In the Kumamoto Prefecture, yamawaro hate [[chalk line|ink line]]s, which are used for carpentry, so it is thought that in places where carpentry work is done in the mountains, if one uses an ink line to make lines of ink, yamawaro would not come close.<ref name="yamawaro"/>


==Description==
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It is said that sometimes they help out with [[lumberjack]] work in the mountains and that they would help out again by giving them [[alcoholic drink|alcohol]] and [[nigirimeshi]] as thanks. The goods given to a yamawaro as thanks must be the same as the ones promised at first, and if something different is given instead, they get unfeelingly angry. It is also said that if they are given their thank-you presents before the work is done, they sometimes run away with it. In the [[Ashikita District, Kumamoto|Ashikita District]], Kumamoto, it is said that when there is a lot of work in the mountains, they say "let's ask for some help from some yaman wakkashi" and ask yamawaro for help.<ref name="murakami" />
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According to the [[Edo period|Edo-period]] {{transliteration|ja|[[Wakan Sansai Zue]]}}, {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} lives in the depths of the mountains in [[Kyushu]]. It appears as a child about 10 years in age, has long perssimon and navy colored hair on its head, and has intricate fur all over its body. The {{transliteration|ja|Wakan Sansai Zue}} states that {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} has a short torso, walks upright on two long legs, and speaks in human language. The same book (the version published by Kyōrindō) states that there are {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} in the [[Chikuzen Province]] (now [[Fukuoka Prefecture]]) and on the [[Gotō Islands]], and they have a human-like appearance with a round head, long red hair that reaches their eyes, pointy ears like that of a dog, one eye above their nose, and they eat [[crabs]], {{transliteration|ja|tokoro}} (some types of [[dioscorea]]), and {{transliteration|ja|kōzo}} (a hybrid of two [[broussonetia]] species) roots.<ref name="wakan">寺島良安 『[[和漢三才図会]]』6、島田勇雄・竹島純夫・樋口元巳訳注、[[平凡社]]〈[[東洋文庫 (平凡社)|東洋文庫]] 466〉、1986年、pp. 152–153. {{ISBN|978-4-582-80466-9}}。</ref>


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In the Kumamoto Prefecture, {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} hate [[chalk line|ink line]]s, which are used for carpentry, so it is thought that in places where carpentry work is done in the mountains, if one uses an ink line to make lines of ink, {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} would not come close.<ref name="yamawaro"/>
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Like the kappa, they also perform [[sumo]] and like to play pranks on [[cattle]] and [[horse]]s. They are also said to enter people's homes without permission and enter into their baths,<ref name="murakami" /> and it is said that the baths that a yamawaro enters in would get dirty with grease floating in them as well as a very foul odor.<ref>[[松谷みよ子]]『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』[[筑摩書房]]〈[[ちくま文庫]]〉、2003年4月、p. 173. {{ISBN|978-448-003811-1}}。</ref>


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It is said that sometimes they help out with [[lumberjack]] work in the mountains and that they would help out again by giving them [[alcoholic drink|alcohol]] and {{transliteration|ja|[[nigirimeshi]]}} as thanks. The goods given to a {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} as thanks must be the same as the ones promised at first, and if something different is given instead, they get unfeelingly angry. It is also said that if they are given their thank-you presents before the work is done, they sometimes run away with it. In the [[Ashikita District, Kumamoto|Ashikita District]], Kumamoto, it is said that when there is a lot of work in the mountains, they say "let's ask for some help from some {{transliteration|ja|yaman wakkashi}}" and ask {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} for help.<ref name="murakami" />
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[[Tengu-daoshi]] and other strange events in the mountains is often considered to be the deeds of mountain gods or [[tengu]] in the eastern half of Japan, but in the western half they are considered to be the deeds of yamawaro. Phenomena such as the tengu-daoshi (sounds such as that of a large tree falling) are considered to be done by the yamawaro themselves, and in the Kumamoto Prefecture, other than stories where they would make falling tree or falling rock noises, there are also stories where they would imitate human songs and where they make sounds imitating mokko (a tool made of bamboo or woven grass for carrying heavy loads) dropping dirt or even the explosion sounds of dynamite.<ref name="yamawaro"/><ref>松谷みよ子『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』十五「河童の声、歌、物音、足あとなど」193-197頁。歌は歌詞までは真似られなかったとされる。</ref> However, the tengu does not play no role at all in those regions, because in some parts, such as the [[Oguni, Kumamoto|Oguni]] in Kuamoto Prefecture, there are no yamawaro legends and they are instead considered to be the deeds of tengu.<ref name="yamawaro">丸山学「山童」 [[谷川健一]]編 『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』[[三一書房]] 1988年、17 - 39頁。{{ISBN|4-380-88527-5}}。</ref>


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Like the {{transliteration|ja|kappa}}, they also perform [[sumo]] and like to play pranks on [[cattle]] and [[horse]]s. They are also said to enter people's homes without permission and enter into their baths,<ref name="murakami" /> and it is said that the baths that a {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} enters in would get dirty with grease floating in them as well as a very foul odor.<ref>[[松谷みよ子]]『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』[[筑摩書房]]〈[[ちくま文庫]]〉、2003年4月、p. 173. {{ISBN|978-448-003811-1}}。</ref>
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===Yamawaro and kappa migration===
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In various places in the west half of Japan, there have been confirmed to be legends where yamawaro are kappa that have moved into mountains. In many of them, kappa would move into the mountains during the autumn [[Higan]] to become yamawaro, and during the spring Higan they would move back to the rivers to become kappa.
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*[[Kumamoto Prefecture]]: [[Garappa]] would move to the mountains during the autumn Higan to become garappa and would return to the rivers during the spring higan to become garappa.<ref name="murakami" />
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*[[Kuma District, Kumamoto|Kuma District]], Kumamoto Prefecture: kawan-tarō and yaman-tarō would switch with each other every February 1 (called the "Tarō Tsuitachi", (太郎朔日)<ref>丸山学「山童伝承」『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』谷川健一編、三一書房、1988年、p. 15。{{ISBN|4-380-88527-5}}。</ref>
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*[[Minamata, Kumamoto|Minamata]], Kumamoto Prefecture: On June 1 ("kōri tsuitachi", 氷朔日), garappa would go from the mountains into the rivers.<ref name="yamawaro"/>
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*[[Wakayama Prefecture]]: Gaoro would go into the mountains to become [[kashanbo]] in the autumn and would return to the rivers to become gaoro in the springtime.<ref name="yanagita">[[柳田國男]]『妖怪談義』[[講談社]]〈[[講談社学術文庫]]〉、1977年、74頁。{{ISBN|4-06-158135-X}}。</ref>
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*[[Yoshino Region]], [[Nara Prefecture]]: kawa-tarō would go into the mountains to become yama-tarō during autumn Higan and return to the rivers to become kawa-tarō during spring.<ref name="yanagita" />
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The folkloricist [[Kunio Yanagita]] theorizes with words such as "river-child migration" that these seasonal changes between kappa and yamawaro comes from the seasonal changes between faith and the field gods ([[Ta-no-Kami]]) and the mountain gods ([[Yama-no-Kami]]) and that since birds could often be heard in many places during those times, it may be related to the [[bird migration]]s that happen with Japan's seasonal changes.<ref>柳田國男「川童の渡り」『妖怪談義』講談社〈講談社学術文庫〉、1977年、pp. 71–76。{{ISBN|4-06-158135-X}}。</ref>


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{{transliteration|ja|[[Tengu-daoshi]]}} and other strange events in the mountains are often considered to be the deeds of mountain gods or {{transliteration|ja|[[tengu]]}} in the Eastern half of Japan, but in the Western half they are considered to be the deeds of {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}}. Phenomena such as the {{transliteration|ja|tengu-daoshi}} (sounds such as that of a large tree falling) are considered to be done by the {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} themselves, and in the Kumamoto Prefecture, other than stories where they would make falling tree or falling rock noises, there are also stories where they would imitate human songs and where they make sounds imitating {{transliteration|ja|mokko}} (a tool made of bamboo or woven grass for carrying heavy loads) dropping dirt or even the explosion sounds of dynamite.<ref name="yamawaro"/><ref>松谷みよ子『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』十五「河童の声、歌、物音、足あとなど」193-197頁。歌は歌詞までは真似られなかったとされる。</ref> However, the {{transliteration|ja|tengu}} does not play no role at all in those regions, because in some parts, such as the [[Oguni, Kumamoto|Oguni]] in Kuamoto Prefecture, there are no {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} legends and they are instead considered to be the deeds of {{transliteration|ja|tengu}}.<ref name="yamawaro">丸山学「山童」 [[谷川健一]]編 『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』[[三一書房]] 1988年、17 - 39頁。{{ISBN|4-380-88527-5}}。</ref>
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It is said that when kappa and yamawaro go to and from mountains, they would move in a group through an "osaki". It is said that if a human ever builds a house there in this passageway, the kappa and yamawaro would get angry and open a hole in the walls. Is also said that if one every tries to catch sight of the yamawaro returning to the mountains, one would fall into an illness.<ref name="tada">[[多田克己]] 『幻想世界の住人たち IV 日本編』 [[新紀元社]]〈[[Truth in Fantasy]] 9〉、1990年、119頁。{{ISBN|978-4-915146-44-2}}。</ref> "Osaki" (尾先) refers to the landscape and places that go down from a mountain and are considered to be lands that are not suited towards building houses.<ref>柳田国男監修、民俗学研究所編『綜合日本民俗語彙』第1巻、平凡社、1955年、p. 239。{{JPNO|48006970}}、{{NCID|BN05729787}}。</ref> In the town of Omine, [[Aso District, Kumamoto|Aso District]], Kumamoto Prefecture, the pathway that yamawaro use to move are called '''toorisuji''' (通り筋).<ref name="yamawaro"/>


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==={{transliteration|ja|Yamawaro}} and {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} migration===
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==Similar things==
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In various places in the Western half of Japan, there have been confirmed to be legends where {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} are {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} that have moved into mountains. In many of them, {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} would move into the mountains during the autumn [[Higan]] to become {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}}, and during the spring Higan they would move back to the rivers to become {{transliteration|ja|kappa}}.
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In the [[Hida Province|Hida Region]] ([[Gifu Prefecture]]), they are also called '''yamagaro''' and they are said to play pranks such as stealing bentō from woodcutters.<ref>谷川健一監修 『別冊太陽 日本の妖怪』平凡社、1987年、135頁。{{ISBN|978-4-582-92057-4}}。</ref>
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*[[Kumamoto Prefecture]]: {{transliteration|ja|[[Garappa]]}} would move to the mountains during the autumn Higan to become {{transliteration|ja|garappa}} and would return to the rivers during the spring Higan to become {{transliteration|ja|garappa}}.<ref name="murakami" />
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*[[Kuma District, Kumamoto|Kuma District]], Kumamoto Prefecture: {{transliteration|ja|kawan-tarō}} and {{transliteration|ja|yaman-tarō}} would switch with each other every February 1 (called the {{nihongo||太郎朔日|"Tarō Tsuitachi"}})<ref>丸山学「山童伝承」『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』谷川健一編、三一書房、1988年、p. 15。{{ISBN|4-380-88527-5}}。</ref>
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*[[Minamata, Kumamoto|Minamata]], Kumamoto Prefecture: On {{nihongo|June 1|氷朔日|"kōri tsuitachi"}}, {{transliteration|ja|garappa}} would go from the mountains into the rivers.<ref name="yamawaro"/>
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*[[Wakayama Prefecture]]: {{transliteration|ja|Gaoro}} would go into the mountains to become {{transliteration|ja|[[kashanbo]]}} in the autumn and would return to the rivers to become {{transliteration|ja|gaoro}} in the springtime.<ref name="yanagita">[[柳田國男]]『妖怪談義』[[講談社]]〈[[講談社学術文庫]]〉、1977年、74頁。{{ISBN|4-06-158135-X}}。</ref>
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*[[Yoshino Region]], [[Nara Prefecture]]: {{transliteration|ja|kawa-tarō}} would go into the mountains to become {{transliteration|ja|yama-tarō}} during autumn Higan and return to the rivers to become {{transliteration|ja|kawa-tarō}} during spring.<ref name="yanagita" />


⚫
The folkloricist [[Kunio Yanagita]] theorizes with words such as "river-child migration" that these seasonal changes between {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} and {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} comes from the seasonal changes between faith and the field gods ([[Ta-no-Kami]]) and the mountain gods ([[Yama-no-Kami]]) and that since birds could often be heard in many places during those times, it may be related to the [[bird migration]]s that happen with Japan's seasonal changes.<ref>柳田國男「川童の渡り」『妖怪談義』講談社〈講談社学術文庫〉、1977年、pp. 71–76。{{ISBN|4-06-158135-X}}。</ref>
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Similar yōkai to yamawaro include the [[seko (yōkai)|seko]], the [[kashanbo]], and the [[kinoko]]. The seko told about in [[Nishimera, Miyazaki|Nishimera]], [[Miyazaki Prefecture]] are said to go into mountains during the evening and return to the rivers during morning.<ref name="murakami">[[村上健司]]編著 『妖怪事典』 [[毎日新聞社]]、2000年、353-354頁。{{ISBN|978-4-620-31428-0}}。</ref> Also, in legends in Omine, [[Aso District, Kumamoto|Aso District]], Kumamoto Prefecture, calling them "yamawaro" is thought to anger them so "seko" would be used instead as a more polite alternative.<ref name="yamawaro"/>

⚫
It is said that when {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} and {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} go to and from mountains, they would move in a group through an {{transliteration|ja|'osaki'}}. It is said that if a human ever built a house in this passageway, the {{transliteration|ja|kappa}} and {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} would get angry and open a hole in the walls. Is also said that if one ever tried to catch sight of the {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} returning to the mountains, one would fall into an illness.<ref name="tada">[[多田克己]] 『幻想世界の住人たち IV 日本編』 [[新紀元社]]〈[[Truth in Fantasy]] 9〉、1990年、119頁。{{ISBN|978-4-915146-44-2}}。</ref> {{nihongo||尾先|'Osaki'}} refers to the landscape and places that go down from a mountain and are considered to be lands that are not suited towards building houses.<ref>柳田国男監修、民俗学研究所編『綜合日本民俗語彙』第1巻、平凡社、1955年、p. 239。{{JPNO|48006970}}、{{NCID|BN05729787}}。</ref> In the town of Omine, [[Aso District, Kumamoto|Aso District]], Kumamoto Prefecture, the pathway that yamawaro use to move are called {{nihongo||通り筋|toorisuji}}.<ref name="yamawaro"/>

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==Similar concepts==
⚫
In the [[Hida Province|Hida Region]] ([[Gifu Prefecture]]), they are also called {{transliteration|ja|yamagaro}} and they are said to play pranks such as stealing bentō from woodcutters.<ref>谷川健一監修 『別冊太陽 日本の妖怪』平凡社、1987年、135頁。{{ISBN|978-4-582-92057-4}}。</ref>

⚫
Similar {{transliteration|ja|yōkai}} to {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} include the {{transliteration|ja|[[seko (yōkai)|seko]]}}, the {{transliteration|ja|[[kashanbo]]}}, and the {{transliteration|ja|[[kinoko]]}}. The {{transliteration|ja|seko}} told about in [[Nishimera, Miyazaki|Nishimera]], [[Miyazaki Prefecture]] are said to go into mountains during the evening and return to the rivers during morning.<ref name="murakami">[[村上健司]]編著 『妖怪事典』 [[毎日新聞社]]、2000年、353-354頁。{{ISBN|978-4-620-31428-0}}。</ref> Also, in legends in Omine, [[Aso District, Kumamoto|Aso District]], Kumamoto Prefecture, calling them {{transliteration|ja|"yamawaro"}} is thought to anger them so {{transliteration|ja|"seko"}} would be used instead as a more polite alternative.<ref name="yamawaro"/>


==Paintings==
==Paintings==
In the yōkai emaki of the Edo period (such as the ''[[Hyakkai Zukan]]'') and the ''Jikkai Sugoroku'' (十界双六) among others, yamawaro are written about under the name of 山童 (also yamawarawa or yamawarau) and they are often depicted with tree branch arms and one eye. According to the Edo Period writing ''[[Kiyū Shōran]]'' (嬉遊笑覧), it can be seen that one of the yōkai that it notes is depicted in the Bakemono E (化物絵) drawn by [[Kanō Motonobu|Kōhōgen Motonobu]] is one by the name of "yama-warawa" (山わらは).<ref name="zukan">[[京極夏彦]]・[[多田克己]]編著 『妖怪図巻』 [[国書刊行会]]、2000年、132-135頁、162-163頁。{{ISBN|978-4-336-04187-6}}。</ref>
In the {{transliteration|ja|[[yōkai emaki]]}} of the Edo period (such as the {{transliteration|ja|[[Hyakkai Zukan]]}}) and the {{nihongo||十界双六|Jikkai Sugoroku}} among others, {{transliteration|ja|yamawaro}} are written about under the name of {{nihongo||山童|yamawarawa|extra=also {{transliteration|ja|yamawarau}}}} and they are often depicted with tree branch arms and one eye. According to the Edo-period {{nihongo||嬉遊笑覧|[[Kiyū Shōran]]}}, it can be seen that one of the {{transliteration|ja|yōkai}} that it notes is depicted in the {{nihongo||化物絵|Bakemono E}} drawn by [[Kanō Motonobu|Kōhōgen Motonobu]] is one by the name of {{nihongo||山わらは|"yama-warawa"}}.<ref name="zukan">[[京極夏彦]]・[[多田克己]]編著 『妖怪図巻』 [[国書刊行会]]、2000年、132-135頁、162-163頁。{{ISBN|978-4-336-04187-6}}。</ref>


==In Popular Culture==
==Notes==
The [[Pokémon]] [[Dusknoir]] is inspired by the yamawaro.
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Japanese legendary creatures]]
*[[List of Japanese legendary creatures]]
*[[Cyclops]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Japanese folklore long}}
{{Japanese folklore long}}
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[[Category:Yōkai]]
[[Category:Yōkai]]
[[Category:Kappa (folklore)]]
[[Category:Kappa (folklore)]]
[[Category:Japanese words and phrases]]
[[Category:Forest spirits]]

Latest revision as of 14:53, 3 May 2024

Yamawarau (山わらう) from the Hyakkai Zukan by Sawaki Sūshi
Yamawarau (山童) from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien
Yama warō (山わらう) from Bakemono no e (化物之繪) (c. 1700), Harry F. Bruning Collection of Japanese Books and Manuscripts, Brigham Young University

Yamawaro (山童, or yamawarau) is a yōkai (spirit) said to appear in mountains in Western Japan, starting in the Kyushu region. According to mythology, it is sometimes said that they are kappa that have come to dwell in the mountains.

Yamawaro are known by a number of different, similar terms; in Ashikita District, Kumamoto Prefecture, they are also known as yamawarō, yamamon, yamanto, yaman wakkashi (山の若い衆, "young person of the mountain") and yaman ojiyan (山の伯父やん, "mountain uncle"). In Kuma District in the same prefecture, they are also known as yaman-tarō (山ん太郎) or yamanbo (山ん坊).[1]

The kanji for yamawaro can also be written as 山𤢖 (yamawaro). The sansō (山𤢖) is the name of the Chinese yōkai that this comes from.[2]

Description[edit]

According to the Edo-period Wakan Sansai Zue, yamawaro lives in the depths of the mountains in Kyushu. It appears as a child about 10 years in age, has long perssimon and navy colored hair on its head, and has intricate fur all over its body. The Wakan Sansai Zue states that yamawaro has a short torso, walks upright on two long legs, and speaks in human language. The same book (the version published by Kyōrindō) states that there are yamawaro in the Chikuzen Province (now Fukuoka Prefecture) and on the Gotō Islands, and they have a human-like appearance with a round head, long red hair that reaches their eyes, pointy ears like that of a dog, one eye above their nose, and they eat crabs, tokoro (some types of dioscorea), and kōzo (a hybrid of two broussonetia species) roots.[2]

In the Kumamoto Prefecture, yamawaro hate ink lines, which are used for carpentry, so it is thought that in places where carpentry work is done in the mountains, if one uses an ink line to make lines of ink, yamawaro would not come close.[1]

It is said that sometimes they help out with lumberjack work in the mountains and that they would help out again by giving them alcohol and nigirimeshi as thanks. The goods given to a yamawaro as thanks must be the same as the ones promised at first, and if something different is given instead, they get unfeelingly angry. It is also said that if they are given their thank-you presents before the work is done, they sometimes run away with it. In the Ashikita District, Kumamoto, it is said that when there is a lot of work in the mountains, they say "let's ask for some help from some yaman wakkashi" and ask yamawaro for help.[3]

Like the kappa, they also perform sumo and like to play pranks on cattle and horses. They are also said to enter people's homes without permission and enter into their baths,[3] and it is said that the baths that a yamawaro enters in would get dirty with grease floating in them as well as a very foul odor.[4]

Tengu-daoshi and other strange events in the mountains are often considered to be the deeds of mountain gods or tengu in the Eastern half of Japan, but in the Western half they are considered to be the deeds of yamawaro. Phenomena such as the tengu-daoshi (sounds such as that of a large tree falling) are considered to be done by the yamawaro themselves, and in the Kumamoto Prefecture, other than stories where they would make falling tree or falling rock noises, there are also stories where they would imitate human songs and where they make sounds imitating mokko (a tool made of bamboo or woven grass for carrying heavy loads) dropping dirt or even the explosion sounds of dynamite.[1][5] However, the tengu does not play no role at all in those regions, because in some parts, such as the Oguni in Kuamoto Prefecture, there are no yamawaro legends and they are instead considered to be the deeds of tengu.[1]

Yamawaro and kappa migration[edit]

In various places in the Western half of Japan, there have been confirmed to be legends where yamawaro are kappa that have moved into mountains. In many of them, kappa would move into the mountains during the autumn Higan to become yamawaro, and during the spring Higan they would move back to the rivers to become kappa.

  • Kumamoto Prefecture: Garappa would move to the mountains during the autumn Higan to become garappa and would return to the rivers during the spring Higan to become garappa.[3]
  • Kuma District, Kumamoto Prefecture: kawan-tarō and yaman-tarō would switch with each other every February 1 (called the "Tarō Tsuitachi" (太郎朔日))[6]
  • Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture: On June 1 (氷朔日, "kōri tsuitachi"), garappa would go from the mountains into the rivers.[1]
  • Wakayama Prefecture: Gaoro would go into the mountains to become kashanbo in the autumn and would return to the rivers to become gaoro in the springtime.[7]
  • Yoshino Region, Nara Prefecture: kawa-tarō would go into the mountains to become yama-tarō during autumn Higan and return to the rivers to become kawa-tarō during spring.[7]

The folkloricist Kunio Yanagita theorizes with words such as "river-child migration" that these seasonal changes between kappa and yamawaro comes from the seasonal changes between faith and the field gods (Ta-no-Kami) and the mountain gods (Yama-no-Kami) and that since birds could often be heard in many places during those times, it may be related to the bird migrations that happen with Japan's seasonal changes.[8]

It is said that when kappa and yamawaro go to and from mountains, they would move in a group through an 'osaki'. It is said that if a human ever built a house in this passageway, the kappa and yamawaro would get angry and open a hole in the walls. Is also said that if one ever tried to catch sight of the yamawaro returning to the mountains, one would fall into an illness.[9] 'Osaki' (尾先) refers to the landscape and places that go down from a mountain and are considered to be lands that are not suited towards building houses.[10] In the town of Omine, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, the pathway that yamawaro use to move are called toorisuji (通り筋).[1]

Similar concepts[edit]

In the Hida Region (Gifu Prefecture), they are also called yamagaro and they are said to play pranks such as stealing bentō from woodcutters.[11]

Similar yōkai to yamawaro include the seko, the kashanbo, and the kinoko. The seko told about in Nishimera, Miyazaki Prefecture are said to go into mountains during the evening and return to the rivers during morning.[3] Also, in legends in Omine, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, calling them "yamawaro" is thought to anger them so "seko" would be used instead as a more polite alternative.[1]

Paintings[edit]

In the yōkai emaki of the Edo period (such as the Hyakkai Zukan) and the Jikkai Sugoroku (十界双六) among others, yamawaro are written about under the name of yamawarawa (山童, also yamawarau) and they are often depicted with tree branch arms and one eye. According to the Edo-period Kiyū Shōran (嬉遊笑覧), it can be seen that one of the yōkai that it notes is depicted in the Bakemono E (化物絵) drawn by Kōhōgen Motonobu is one by the name of "yama-warawa" (山わらは).[12]

In Popular Culture[edit]

The Pokémon Dusknoir is inspired by the yamawaro.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 丸山学「山童」 谷川健一編 『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』三一書房 1988年、17 - 39頁。ISBN 4-380-88527-5。
  2. ^ a b 寺島良安 『和漢三才図会』6、島田勇雄・竹島純夫・樋口元巳訳注、平凡社〈東洋文庫 466〉、1986年、pp. 152–153. ISBN 978-4-582-80466-9。
  3. ^ a b c d 村上健司編著 『妖怪事典』 毎日新聞社、2000年、353-354頁。ISBN 978-4-620-31428-0。
  4. ^ 松谷みよ子『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』筑摩書房〈ちくま文庫〉、2003年4月、p. 173. ISBN 978-448-003811-1。
  5. ^ 松谷みよ子『現代民話考〈1〉河童・天狗・神かくし』十五「河童の声、歌、物音、足あとなど」193-197頁。歌は歌詞までは真似られなかったとされる。
  6. ^ 丸山学「山童伝承」『日本民俗文化資料集成 妖怪』谷川健一編、三一書房、1988年、p. 15。ISBN 4-380-88527-5。
  7. ^ a b 柳田國男『妖怪談義』講談社〈講談社学術文庫〉、1977年、74頁。ISBN 4-06-158135-X。
  8. ^ 柳田國男「川童の渡り」『妖怪談義』講談社〈講談社学術文庫〉、1977年、pp. 71–76。ISBN 4-06-158135-X。
  9. ^ 多田克己 『幻想世界の住人たち IV 日本編』 新紀元社〈Truth in Fantasy 9〉、1990年、119頁。ISBN 978-4-915146-44-2。
  10. ^ 柳田国男監修、民俗学研究所編『綜合日本民俗語彙』第1巻、平凡社、1955年、p. 239。JPNO 48006970、NCID BN05729787。
  11. ^ 谷川健一監修 『別冊太陽 日本の妖怪』平凡社、1987年、135頁。ISBN 978-4-582-92057-4。
  12. ^ 京極夏彦・多田克己編著 『妖怪図巻』 国書刊行会、2000年、132-135頁、162-163頁。ISBN 978-4-336-04187-6。
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