Wiki Category: Kyoto

Oboro-guruma Oboro-guruma (朧車 – Gloom Cart) is a type of yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. It is depicted as a travelling cart with a giant face. In essence it is not truly a creature, but a manefestation of the grudges of those who would try to find the best[...]

The Mirror of Matsuyama The Mirror of Matsuyama, known in Japanese as Matsuyama kagami (松山鏡) is one of Japan’s many folktales. Synopsis In the province of Echigo lived a man and a wife who had one daughter aged seven. One day the man finds himself summoned to the capital in Kyoto,[...]

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, in Japanese known as the Taketori Monogatari (竹取物語) is one of the famous folktales from Japan. Synopsis There was an old man and woman who had no child. He would go every day and cut bamboo and made[...]

Chūjō-hime Chūjō-hime (中将姫), also known as Princess Hase, is said to have been the daughter of Fujiwara no Toyonari and a ‘Princess Murasaki.’ A folktale has sprung up around her life. Synopsis In Nara lived Fujiwara no Toyonari married to Princess Murasaki. They had no child, which caused them sadness[...]

Dōjōji no kane Dōjōji no kane (道成寺鐘 – The Bell of Dōjōji) is a type of yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. The story behind this creature relates to the priest Anchin and his love Kiyohime. Kiyohime was the daughter of a wealthy merchant family and that her and[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Poet Family: Fujiwara no Korechika (father) Birth: 992AD Death: 1054AD   Fujiwara no Michimasa Fujiwara no Michimasa (藤原 道雅) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan, more specifically the Hokke Branch, living from 992-1054AD. He was the son of Fujiwara no Korechika and acted as Master of[...]

See also: List of Provinces Kazusa Province Kazusa Province (上総国) was one of the many provinces of Japan. Legendary Period Emperor Keikō visits here when he wished to see the lands subdued by Yamato Takeru.3 Nara Period In 738AD we see Haji no Ushikatsu mentioned as lieutenant Governor of this[...]

Period: Kamakura Period Occupation: Painter, Monk Family: Fujiwara no Ienobu (father) Fujiwara no Takasuke (son) Birth: – Death: – Fujiwara no Nagataka Fujiwara no Nagataka was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living in the 13th Century. He was a painter in the Yamato-e style and was also a Buddhist[...]

Period: Kamakura Period Occupation: – Family: Fujiwara no Nagataka (son) Birth: – Death: – Fujiwara no Ienobu Fujiwara no Ienobu was a member of the Fujiwara Clan from the 13th Century. It is known that he studied alongside his son Fujiwara no Nagataka in Kyoto.1 Footnotes 1. Louis Frederic, translated[...]

Period: Azuchi-Momoyama Period, Edo Period Occupation: Sculptor Family: Birth: c.1548 Death: c.1634 Hidari Jingorō Hidari Jingorō (左 甚五郎) is said to have lived from c.1584-1634,1 and whose real name was Itami Toshikatsu.12 Born in Akashi (now Hyogo Prefecture) he was discipled to a master carpenter of the Imperial Court.2 Said[...]

Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga The Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (鳥獣人物戯画 – Scrolls of Frolicking Animals) Chōjū-giga (鳥獣戯画) are a group of 4 emakimono scrolls with varying animal and human depictions, many of the animals having human characteristics. They are also notable as they contain no text.12 The scrolls measure 31cm high and are around 1 metre[...]

Provincial Titles See also: Court Titles, Imperial Titles, Be, Uji, Sesshō and Kampaku This pages serves to list the various Provincial Titles used in the past and up to this day. No doubt this page will continue to be updated as we continue our research. This page may also merge[...]

  Period: Heian Period Occupation: Poet, Caligrapher, Statesman. Family: Fujiwara no Yoritada (father) Fujiwara no Sadayori (son) Fujiwara no Teishi (sister) Fujiwara no Junshi (sister) Birth: 966AD Death: 1041AD Fujiwara no Kintō Fujiwara no Kintō (藤原 公任) was a renowned member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 966-1041AD.12 He was[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Author Family: Sugawara no Takasue Birth: 1008 Death: after 1059 Sugawara no Takasue no Musume Sugawara no Takasue no Musume (菅原孝標女) was a member of the Sugawara Clan and daughter of Sugawara no Takasue, born in 100812 she died some time after 1067.2 Though we know[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Monjō Hakase, Poet Family: Fujiwara no Atsumoto (son) Fujiwara no Atsumitsu (son) Birth: 989AD Death: 1066AD Fujiwara no Akihira Fujiwara no Akihira (藤原 明衡) was a member of the Fujiwara Clan living from 989-1066.12 He was the father of two sons Atsumoto and Atsumitsu and during[...]

Co-ordinates: 35° 7′ 26″ N, 135° 46′ 17″ E Region: Kansai Region Prefecture: Kyoto Prefecture Height: 584 metres. Mount Kurama Mount Kurama (鞍馬山) is located towards the northern end of Kyoto and has the temple of Kuramadera upon its slopes, founded in 796AD. The mountain itself is 584 metres high[...]

Co-ordinates: 35° 3′ 36″ N, 135° 38′ 3″ E Region: Kansai Region Prefecture: Kyoto Prefecture Height: 940 metres. Mount Atago Mount Atago (愛宕山) makes up one of the Tamba Mountains and is located to the north-west of Kyoto. At a height of 924 metres the Atago Shrine can be found[...]

Period: Edo Period Occupation: Poet Family: – Birth: 1651 Death: 1704 Mukai Kyorai Mukai Kyorai (向井 去来), real name Mukai Kanetoki2, lived from 1651 to 1704, born to a physician from Nagasaki.1 As he grew up he excelled in martial arts, but by the age of 23 he decided to[...]

Jōgū Shōtoku Hōōtei setsu Jōgū Shōtoku Hōōtei setsu (上宮聖徳法王帝説 – Traditions concerning His Holiness, Prince Shōtoku) is a one volume piece of literature of unknown authorship concerning Shōtoku Taisha. Background The original document is said to have been housed in the temple of Hōryū-ji in Nara, however, the only remaining[...]

Hitotsume Kozō Hitotsume Kozō (一つ目小僧 – One Eyed Boy) is a type of Japanese Yōkai. Should you run into this creature you will find one which has the appearance of a small child, however, they have extraordinarily long tongues and one large central eye in their forehead. They will be[...]

See also: Sarumaru Taifu Poems Period: Nara Period Occupation: Waka Poet Family: – Birth: ? (Active during mid 8th Century?) Sarumaru Taifu Sarumaru Taifu, also called Sarumaru Dayu (猿丸大夫) lived during the mid 8th century, or so we believe.  This poet may in fact have never existed in the first place[...]

Nopperabō The Nopperabō (のっぺらぼう) , also known as Zunberabo and Nupperiho are a type of Yōkai known to have a face completely devoid of features. However, there are other tales which states they merely lack eyes and a nose. There name is a pun on the Japanese word ‘nopperi,’ which[...]

See also: List of Provinces Mino Province Mino Province (美濃国) also known as Nōshū (濃州) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Gifu Prefecture. It is included as one of the eight Provinces which made up the Tōsandō Region. It is well known for its Mino[...]

Tosa Nikki The Tosa Nikki (土佐日記 – Tosa Diary), written in 935AD by Ki no Tsurayuki, is an account (punctuated by poems throughout) of his journey home to Kyoto. The composition of the diary is as if it was written by a women, ie. it is written in kana script.[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Poet, Governor Family: Ki no Tokibumi (son) Ki no Tomonori (cousin) Birth: – Death: 946AD Ki no Tsurayuki Ki no Tsurayuki (紀 貫之) was a high ranking court nobleman of the Heian Period. Best known for his poetry and prose. He was the cousin of Ki[...]

Occuption: Buddhist Monk Sōgen Sōgen (叢原) is known to have once been a Buddhist Monk, residing within Mibudera Temple, outside of Kyoto. He is noted to have stolen money offerings and lamp oil left at the temple by worshippers. After finally dying it is said he was punished in hell[...]

Sōgenbi The Sōgenbi (叢原火) (Thicket-Fire) is a type of Yōkai created from the wicked life of a monk called Sōgen. Toriyama Sekien in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō describes the creature saying: Said to appear near Mibudera Temple south of Saiin, located outside of Kyoto. There they call it Sōgen’s Fire[...]

Reign: 1073-1087AD Period: Heian Period Family: Fujiwara no Kenshi (wife) Burial Place: – Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Go-Sanjō * Successor Emperor Horikawa Emperor Shirakawa Emperor Shirakawa (白河天皇) was the 72nd Emperor of Japan. Family He was married to the daughter of Morozane, Fujiwara no Kenshi.3 Childhood His wet nurse,[...]

See also: List of Provinces Sagami Province Sagami Province (相模国) was an old Province in Japan, situated in what is now Kanagawa Prefecture, established during the Taika Reforms in 645.4 This area is called Sagami in the Kojiki1, but Suruga in the Nihongi2. Legendary Period Yamato Takeru travelled through here[...]

Co-ordinates: 35°04′14″N 135°50′28″E Region: Kansai Region Prefecture: Shiga Prefecture Founded: 788AD Affiliation: Buddhism Enryaku-ji Enryaku-ji (延暦寺) is a Buddhist Temple overlooking Kyoto. The temple itself is build upon Mount Hiei, situated in the old Province of Omi. Built during the Heian Period, the temple gained control of many estate lands[...]

Birth: – Death: – Period: Heian Period Occupation: Buddhist Monk Raigō Raigō was a Buddhist monk who lived during the reign of Emperor Shirakawa, residing at Mii-dera. During his lifetime he was tasked by Shirakawa to pray for the safe birth of his son, with the promise of his temple[...]

Taiheiki The Taiheiki (太平記, Chronicle of Great Peace) is a 14th Century chronicle. Within it contains several mentionings to certian Yōkai. One is that of Raigō, a monk, who dies from hunger strike. This is the result of the Emperor Shirakawa reneging on a promise he had made, causing him[...]

Tesso Tesso (鉄鼠) is a Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. His tale is related in the Taiheiki. This Yōkai takes the form of a plague of rats created by the Monk Raigō after his spirit was reborn, dying from a hunger strike, the hunger strike[...]