Kakurezato

Kakurezato (隠れ里 – Hidden Village) is a type of yōkai/place depicted in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi by Toriyama Sekien.

This is the separate realm where yōkai, ghosts, mythical beasts, immortals and others not of this world live.

This depiction of Kakurezato shows a celebration headed by Daikokuten, the god of commerce and trade.

He is wrapped in a lucky bag, within his right hand appearing to hold cintamani jewels. The rice is overrun by mice with gold koban in their mouths.

The red snappers on the tables to eat, which in Japanese is tai, evokes the idea of medetai, or auspiciousness¹

External Links

• • View the book online here: Konjaku Hyakki Shūi 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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• • See also: Sugawara no Michizane Poems
  • Period: Heian Period
  • Occupation: Udaijin, Governor, Poet
  • Family: Haji no Mimichi (ancestor) Sugawara no Koreyoshi (father) Sugawara no Fumitoki (grandson)
    
  • Birth: 845
  • Death: 903

Sugawara no Michizane

Sugawara no Michizane (菅原 道真/菅原 道眞) was a member of the Sugawara Clan living during the Heian Period who was famous for his knowledge of classical chinese literature amongst other things. Born in 845¹² he died March 26th 903.³

The son of Sugawara no Koreyoshi¹² he was also a distant decendant of Haji no Mimichi⁴ and grandfather of Sugawara no Fumitoki.⁵

He was on the 5 yen bill until its discontinuation in 1929.³

Career

In 866 we see him appointed as Governor of Sanuki Province which he held for 4 years, and in 877 he was appointed as Professor of Chinese literature,¹² a position which he held for ten years.²

During his time as minster he suggested delegations to China stop due to instability there, this was accepted in 894.

In 899 the Emperor Uda gives him the title of udaijin, but unfortunately jealousy from the Fujiwara Clan (Fujiwara no Tokihira¹) would see him banished in 901 after they accuse him of treason against Emperor Daigo. His banishment would see him sent to Dazaifu in Kyushu where he was to govern, dying here in 903 whilst still proclaiming himself innocent.¹² It is said he died from malnutrition.³

Poetry and Literature

His poetry was similar to that of his ancestor Haji no Mimichi, as they both use plum blossoms to express sorrow.

This particular poem can be found in the Shin Wakashū and goes as follows.

Other accounts state whilst eating super he wrote 20 poems on 20 different subjects at the same time.³ He also helped in the compilation of the Sandai Jitsuroku which was the last of the ‘six offical histories.’ He also went on the create a version of these books called the Ruijū kokushi themed topically instead of chronologically.²

Poems of his were included in the Wakan rōeishū.²

Unrestful Ghost

After his death many bad things are said to have happened at court.¹²³

A partial list of his attacks include the following. 903 torrential rains all year. 905 drought. 906 floods. 907 bad floods. 911 floods which engulfed villages. 912 large fire in Heiankyo. 913 death of his rival. 914 more Heiankyo fires. 915 chicken pox outbreak. 918 terrible floods. 922 whooping cough outbreak. 923 death of the crown prince aged 21. 925 death of late crown princes son. 930 lightning strike in the palace walls killing several officials.³

To try and end the string of bad omens he was posthumously givn the highest honors, with some of his deified names being Tenjin Sama, Karai Tenji, Kan Shōjō and Temmangu. He is now seen as a kami of literature.¹² Many shrines to him include a reposed deer which people attributed with the power to cure disease. Students have the habit of rubbing these statues before exams in the hopes of improving their grades.¹

The text known as the Gukansho theorized that the kami made his spirit reappear as an example of the repurcusions of false accusations.³

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.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
4. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
5. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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Hear about Kashin Koji on Bonus Episode 10 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Muromachi Period
• Occupation: Magician
• Family:
• Birth: 1524
• Death: –

Kashin Koji

Kashin Koji (果心居士) was said to have been a magician born in 1524 who also went by the name of Shippo Gyoja (Pilgrim of the Seven Treasures). His ancestry is unfortunately not known and we can often find this man as portrayed wearing robes with white hair.

During his childhood he grew up on Mount Koya where he studied Shingon esoteric Buddhism, however, he soon found himself exiled after his interest in magic began.

After that he is said to have become a wander and would perform magic shows for people after deciding to live in the area near Lake Sarusawa.

Such tricks involved throwing leaves into lakes which would transform into fish, as well as being able to make people believe they were holding go stones in their hands when they weren’t.

His powers grew and he eventuallly found himself performing and scamming those of very high rank.

It is said Kashin had in his possession a hell scroll, which would move, as it was so skillfully carved. Oda Nobunaga wished to have this scroll, and after negotiations (and making an attempt on Kashin’s life) he finally bought the scroll for 100 ryo. However when Kashin gave over the scroll, the magic had been lost and it no longer moved. Kashin said this was because it was a priceless item, and no longer moved as it was now only worth what had been paid for it.

Nobunaga was disappointed, but he let him go.

By 1582 we find he was arrested for vagrancy, but was allowed out to entertain a dinner party for Akechi Mitsuhide.

Here Kashin managed to escape, using his magic on a folding screen showing a lake with a boat. He caused the water to flood into the party, and taking the boat he escaped. After this, the room he caused to magicially flood was completely dry.

He later comes into contact with Toyotomi Hideyoshi and he reads him his fortune. Unfortunately, due to it being an embarassing one, he is forced to flee by turning into a mouse as Toyotomi tries to kill him with his own hands.

We are unsure about the end of his life. Some say he was assassinated in 1584, but a book called Koro Chawa says he met with Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612 where Ieyasu asked the man his age and he said he was 88.¹

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

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