Sankai: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Yōkai}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=December 2020}} |
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Before the advent of modern medicine, childbirth was far more dangerous and incomprehensible, and people were deeply superstitious. Thus, unusual appearances from miscarriages and early births created the sankai belief. |
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⚫ | In Japanese mythology, a {{Nihongo|'''sankai'''|産怪|sankai|extra=literally, "birth monster"}} is a [[yōkai]] (praeternatural creature) that is born to a woman.<ref name="katsumi">"幻想世界の住人たち IV 日本編』 新紀元社〈Truth in fantasy〉". [[Katsumi Tada]], 1990. pp. 103-104.{{ISBN|978-4-915146-44-2}}</ref> According to myth, when due care is not given during pregnancy, a ''sankai'' would emerge instead.<ref>"妖怪事典". [[The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd.]] [[Kenji Murakami]], 2000. pp 76–77. {{ISBN|978-4-620-31428-0}}.</ref> |
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==Oketsu== |
==Oketsu== |
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The story of the oketsu |
The story of the {{Nihongo|oketsu|オケツ}} comes from [[Okayama Prefecture]]. From outer appearance, it looks similar to a turtle, and it has hair growing on its back. As soon as it is born, it starts to crawl on the floor and attempts to escape underneath the house. If not captured and killed right away, it is said to crawl underneath the sleeping mother and kill her. |
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==Kekkai== |
==Kekkai== |
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The sankai is known as a {{ |
The sankai is known as a {{Nihongo|kekkai|[[Wiktionary:血塊#Japanese|血塊]], ケッカイ}} in [[Saitama Prefecture]] and [[Kanagawa Prefecture]], and {{Nihongo|kekke|ケッケ}} in [[Nagano Prefecture]]. Legends about its outer appearance are sparse, however it is said to look like cattle and is said to be hairy. Kekkai is also said to bury under the house to kill its mother. In [[Urawa-ku, Saitama|Urawa]], a practice existed of surrounding the bottom of a house with [[byōbu]] during childbirth to prevent this maneuver. It is theorized that the etymology may derive from {{Nihongo|kekkai|結界}}, meaning an area restricted for religious reasons. |
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Kekkai is also said to bury under the house to kill its mother. In [[Urawa-ku, Saitama|Urawa]], a practice existed of surrounding the bottom of a house with [[byōbu]] during childbirth to prevent this maneuver. It is theorized that the etymology may derive from {{nihongo|kekkai|結界}}, meaning an area restricted for religious reasons. |
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In the |
In the Ashigara region of [[Kanagawa Prefecture]], the sankai is said to move immediately while still bloody, the [[jizaikagi]] of an [[irori]], or hearth. If the kekkai successfully escapes, the woman was believed to die. In order to prevent this, someone would have to guard the irori, typically equipped with a [[shamoji]]. |
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Folklorist [[Iwao Hino]] recalls spotting a kekkai at a freak show during childhood. The show stated that it was given birth by a woman at a University hospital, however Hino later believed that it must have been a trained [[night monkey]]. |
Folklorist [[Iwao Hino]] recalls spotting a kekkai at a freak show during childhood. The show stated that it was given birth by a woman at a University hospital, however Hino later believed that it must have been a trained [[night monkey]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Ubume]], yōkai of a woman giving birth |
* [[Ubume]], yōkai of a woman giving birth |
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[[Category:Japanese legendary creatures]] |
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{{Japanese folklore long}} |
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[[ |
[[Category:Yōkai]] |
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[[fr:Sankai]] |
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[[ja:産怪]] |
Latest revision as of 23:19, 15 May 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2020) |
In Japanese mythology, a sankai (産怪, sankai, literally, "birth monster") is a yōkai (praeternatural creature) that is born to a woman.[1] According to myth, when due care is not given during pregnancy, a sankai would emerge instead.[2]
Oketsu[edit]
The story of the oketsu (オケツ) comes from Okayama Prefecture. From outer appearance, it looks similar to a turtle, and it has hair growing on its back. As soon as it is born, it starts to crawl on the floor and attempts to escape underneath the house. If not captured and killed right away, it is said to crawl underneath the sleeping mother and kill her.
Kekkai[edit]
The sankai is known as a kekkai (血塊, ケッカイ) in Saitama Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture, and kekke (ケッケ) in Nagano Prefecture. Legends about its outer appearance are sparse, however it is said to look like cattle and is said to be hairy. Kekkai is also said to bury under the house to kill its mother. In Urawa, a practice existed of surrounding the bottom of a house with byōbu during childbirth to prevent this maneuver. It is theorized that the etymology may derive from kekkai (結界), meaning an area restricted for religious reasons.
In the Ashigara region of Kanagawa Prefecture, the sankai is said to move immediately while still bloody, the jizaikagi of an irori, or hearth. If the kekkai successfully escapes, the woman was believed to die. In order to prevent this, someone would have to guard the irori, typically equipped with a shamoji.
Folklorist Iwao Hino recalls spotting a kekkai at a freak show during childhood. The show stated that it was given birth by a woman at a University hospital, however Hino later believed that it must have been a trained night monkey.
See also[edit]
- Ubume, yōkai of a woman giving birth
References[edit]
- ^ "幻想世界の住人たち IV 日本編』 新紀元社〈Truth in fantasy〉". Katsumi Tada, 1990. pp. 103-104.ISBN 978-4-915146-44-2
- ^ "妖怪事典". The Mainichi Newspapers Co., Ltd. Kenji Murakami, 2000. pp 76–77. ISBN 978-4-620-31428-0.