• Period: Heian Period
• Occupation: –
• Family: Fujiwara Hidesato (son) Fujiwara no Uona (ancestor)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Fujiwara no Murao

Fujiwara no Murao was a member of the Fujiwara Clan. Father to Fujiwara Hidesato, he is descended from Fujiwara no Uona.¹

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

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The Dōmeki (百目鬼) is a type of japanese Yōkai known to have had one hundred eyes on each arm. Fujiwara Hidesato is said to have fought against this creature.

This particular creature may have inspired Toriyama Sekien‘s Dodomeki.¹

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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Dodomeki

Dodomeki (Hundred Eyed demon – 百々目鬼) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien.

The origins for this creature are said to be found in a text known as the Kankan-gaishi which states a women born with long arms always stole people money. A hundred birds eyes sprouted on her arms, these being the spirit of the money. She was thus named Dodomeki.

However, this particular text has never been proven to exist, supported by the fact that the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki is the first ever appearance of it. It was maybe inspired by Fujiwara Hidesato exploits, one which involved fighting againt a creature known as the Dōmeki (百目鬼), a demon with a hundred eyes on each arm.¹

External Links

• View the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki online here: Konjaku Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

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• Period: –
• Occupation: –
• Family: Fujiwara no Fusasaki (father) Fujiwara no Nagate (brother) Fujiwara no Matate (brother) Fujiwara no Kiyokawa (brother) Fujiwara no Torikai (brother)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Fujiwara no Uona

Fujiwara no Uona (藤原 魚名) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch of this clan.¹

He is attested to being the ancestor of Fujiwara Hidesato¹ as well as being the ancestor to the Ōshu-Fujiwara and Date Families of Mutsu. He is a part of the Fujiwara Clan.

Living from 721-83 he acted as Minister during reigns of Emperor Shōmu, Kōken, Junnin, Kōnin and Kanmu. ²

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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• See also: List of Provinces

Shimotsuke Province

Shimotsuke Province (下野国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Tochigi Prefecture.¹

Fujiwara Hidesato is known to have acted as Governor of this Province.¹²

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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The Chinjufu-shōgun (鎮守府将軍) was a military position or district for the ‘pacification of defence of Japan.’ This position was overseen by a sei-i-tai-shōgun.

Created during the Nara Period it was centred in Northern Honshu to fight Ezo tribes there, located originally at Tagajō. Later, in 801 it was moved further north to Izawajō after the victories of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro against the Ezo.¹²

This position was abandoned at the beginning of the 14th century after Honshu was completely conquered, with Clans in the north (such as the Kiyohara Family and Ōshū-Fujiwara Clan occupying the base. This was all temporarily revived during the Kenmu Restoration.¹

Known Chinjufu-shōgun

• Fujiwara Hidesato

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.

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The Dragon King’s Palace

The Dragon King’s Palace (龍宮城) is the home of The Dragon King, located at the bottom of Lake Biwa.

It is noted in the Folktale My Lord Bag of Rice that it is ‘beautiful’ and ‘built of white marble.’ The feast held here was supplied with dishes made of crystalised lotus leaves and flowers, with chopsticks of rarest ebony.¹

Footnotes

1. Ozaki, Y.T. (1903) “The Japanese Fairy Book”. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.

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• Co-ordinates: 35.0503°N 136.0378°E
• Region: Kansai Region
• Prefecture: Shiga Prefecture
• Height: 432 m.

Mount Mikami

Mount Mikami (三上山) is a mountain within Shiga Prefecture.

It is mentioned as the home of The Giant Centipede Seta in the Japanese Folktale My Lord Bag of Rice where Fujiwara Hidesato kills the Giant Centipede Seta.¹

Footnotes

1. Ozaki, Y.T. (1903) “The Japanese Fairy Book”. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.

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Hear about the Seta on Episode 6 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Creature type: Centipede
• Home: Mount Mikami

Seta

Seta is a creature, more specifically a Giant Centipede, known from the Folktale My Lord Bag of Rice living on Mount Mikami, described as having eyes that glowed like two balls of fire, its body so big its body wrapped around the mountain seven times.

My Lord Bag of Rice

Upon discovering the Dragon King’s Palace at the bottom of Lake Biwa he came every night taking his family.

In desperation, The Dragon King asked Fujiwara Hidesato for his help in defeating Seta. Once the Dragon King recruits Fujiwara for his help the warrior defends the Dragon King and his family against the centipede.

Firing arrows at the creature the first two hit the centre of his head but caused no damage. The centipede is killed by Fujiwara’s third and final arrow after he remembers human saliva is deadly to centipedes and fires his arrow after wetting it. The centipede is killed, it’s dead body floating in the lake.¹

Footnotes

1. Ozaki, Y.T. (1903) “The Japanese Fairy Book”. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.

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• Co-ordinates: 35°20′N 136°10′E
• Region: Kansai Region
• Prefecture: Shiga Prefecture
• Depth: 104 metres.

Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) is a lake within Shiga Prefecture. The Seta-no-Karashi Bridge is built on the lake.¹

According to Buddhist tradition, Mount Fuji rose from the earth in 286 BC after an earthquake that also created Lake Biwa.²

Supernatural Connections

It is mentioned as the home of The Dragon King in the Japanese Folktale My Lord Bag of Rice where Fujiwara Hidesato kills the Giant Centipede Seta.¹ Additionally we see the tale known as The Gratitude of the Samebito set in this are where we find a creature known as the Samebito who due to a minor offence has been expelled from the service of the Dragon King.²

Poetry

A poem written by Priest Manzei (subjected to the art of honkadori in the Tōkan Kikō) states that he wrote a poem whilst standing on Mt. Hiei gazing over Lake Biwa.³

Footnotes

1. Ozaki, Y.T. (1903) “The Japanese Fairy Book”. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.
2. Davis, F. H. (1992) “Myths and Legends of Japan.” New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
3. Miller, R. A.. (1981) “The Lost Poetic Sequence of the Priest Manzei”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.36 No.2 pp.133-172

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