Here there be monsters
TGIF readers, what better way to greet the weekend than talk about monsters, spirits and apparitions. Namely we will take a look at some interesing apparitions from Japanese folklore. As we will not go in deep, barely scratching the surface, hopefully you will all sleep like babies tonight.
As mostly cryptocurrency traders, you are all accustomed to various horrors, so lets jump right in and visit some of my favorite yokais. For those not in the know, yokai means basically an apparition or a spirit.
Meet the Tsukumogami
Tsukumogami. Author unknown yokai.wikia.com
According to omamorifromjapan.blogspot.com, Tsukumogami is yokai (apparition) of old household items. Tsukumogami would become alive from items that are of solid age and neglected. While mostly harmless, Tsukumogami have shown a tender to anger easily and band together to punish people for throwing items away easily.
Tsukumogami vary, based on the item they were born from and varuous tears and scratches would give them specific features - eyes, teeth etc. Unfortunately, or luckily for you, modern items seldom develop Tsukumogami, as the spirits, that take possession of the items, hate electricity. Or do they? Something for you to ponder late at night when you look at that ancient cupboard you bought from the flea market.
Some of the Tsukumogami are rather cute and funny though.
Enter Bakezōri
Bakezōri is the classic and cute representative of the Tsukumogami. An old sandal, let go of it's loyal service, but over the ages grown into a yokai. Bakezōri in translation means "straw sandal". According to yokai.com, Bakezōri have a cute chant, that goes like this:
Kararin! Kororin! Kankororin! Managu mittsu ni ha ninmai!
Kararin! Kororin! Kankororin! Eyes three and teeth two!
Mostly depicted as a bit clownish figures, a late night meeting with your ancestors sandals would definitely not be on the top of our lists, I believe. The three eyes in the chant refer to the straps connection points and thw two teeth refer to the two heels below japanese traditionals sandals.
Moving on to meet the cool Kasa-obake
Kasa-obake is one of the more famous Tsukumogami, shaped like an umbrella and jumping around on one leg. Guess what - it's jumping around on an old sandal... i wonder if it's the Bakezōri. Anyway, Kasa-obake often has arms and has developed one giant eye.
You don't have to fear Kasa-obake, as it is usually harmless :)
But let's introduce you to an evil Tsukumogami, the Ittan-momen
Ittan-monen is a re-animated narrow sheet of cotton roll, usually for making clothes. They are seen flying around the sky at night mostly, but they tend to attack people, wrapping themselves around people's necks and face, strangling them to death.
So if you see someone struggling with their turban, it might actually be a person fighting for this life with Ittan-momen.
As we made our way to malicious yokais, lets take a break here, to sooth your nerves that are probably as tight as violin strings and meet some new creepy guys next week. Stay tuned!
img credz: pixabay.com
Don't let the bedbugs bite ;)
Materials used:
kappapedia.blogspot.com
yokai.wikia.com
anime-manga.atresmedia.com
yokai.com
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Now that was scary.. 😥 Interesting.. following you to stay tuned..:-)