Hear about these forms of sacrifice on Episodes 17A and 17B of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

Human Sacrifice

Human Sacrifice was a practise that was said to have been carried out in ancient Japan. Though it is dubious whether this actually occoured or not.

Hitobashira

Hitobashira (人柱 – Human Pillar) was the practise of emtombing a person at the base of a structure/pillar with the belief that in doing so it would ensure the safety and durability of the building.

One example of this is that of the Matsue Ohashi Bridge. Legends say a man known as Gensuke was sacrificed here in 1608. Attempts were being made to construct a bridge over the Ohashi river here, however, the pillars kept being washed away. A sacrifice was chosen (this being the next soul to walk passed the construction site) and so Gensuke was taken and sacrificed. After this the construction went ahead with no more problems.¹

Burial of Retainers

During his reign of Emperor Sujin the Kojiki states that the practise of human sacrifice was started after Yamatohiko’s death.

‘in the time of this King a hedge of men was the first time set in the mausoleum.’

However the Nihongi says the practise is abolished soon after (see below). Scholars have tried to reconcile these statements by supposing human sacrifice was a long standing tradition already but that the burial of live people during the internment of Yamatohiko was increased to a much larger degree than before which is why it is noted upon in the Kojiki.⁴⁵

According to the Nihongi, when the wife of of Emperor Suinin (Empress Hibasuhime) died Suinin asked what should be done, his ministers saying they should follow the old traditions of burying retainers alongside her as had been done upon the death of Yamatohiko.

However a man known as Nomi no Sukune stepped in with another idea saying human sacrifice was contrary to a benevolent government. And so he took 300 potters and made images in clay. The Emperor liked what had been created, dubbing them haniwa and this became the replacement of human sacrifice. For his work he was given the name of Haji ‘master potter’ and was put incharge of pottery workers (Haji Be) and funerary rites. The substitution for haniwa, may have been an invention by the Haji as their origins were forgotten but they were still very prevelant in funerary rites.

There is, however, little archaeological evidence of the mass burying of peoples retainers.²

Ponsonby states that this practise was called junshi, and that voluntary junshi was carried out until modern times.⁶

Sacrifice to the Kami

We can see this form of sacrifice in the Folktale Shippeitaro. In the story, every year a young maiden is placed into a cage and left as a sacrifice for the kami of the Mountain. In the end the ‘kami’ turns out to be a large cat who is killed by a warrior, thus freeing the village from its need for a yearly sacrifrice.³

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Yurei Attack: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
2. Borgen, R. (1975) “The Origins of the Sugawara. A History of the Haji Family”. Monumenta Nipponica. Vol.30 No.4 pp.405-422
3. Davis, F. H. (1992) “Myths and Legends of Japan.” New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
4. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
5. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
6. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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Hear about Shippeitaro on Bonus Episode 1 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

Shippeitaro

Shippeitaro (しっぺい太郎, 竹篦太郎, 悉平太郎, 執柄太郎) is the name of a dog from a Folktale of the same name.

In one version of the story, a warrior takes shelter for the night in an abandoned temple. Close to midnight he awakens to see many strange dancing cats, and over here’s them say that Shippeitaro is not to know of their antics here.

After the warrior wakes the next day he finds himself at a near by village where he learns that every year a young maiden is placed in a cage and taken to the abandoned temple he slept in the previous night where she is left as a human sacrifice for the Spirit of the Mountain.

Curious, he asks who Shippeitaro is after hearing the cats from the night before. The villagers say that it is the name of a local dog who is owned by the head man of the Prince who dwells here. The warrior asks to borrow the dog for a night and hatches a plan in the hope of saving the maiden.

He places Shippeitaro inside the cage, and carries the cage with the help of other men from the village to the temple. During the night when the cats reappear he sees that this time they are joined by a much larger tom-cat. This cat, excited to recieve this years sacrifice approaches the box, but when it draws close the warrior opens it to unleash Shippeitaro.

Shippeitaro catch the creature in its jaws allowing the warrior to then quickly attack and dispatch of it. The other cats in their confusion at what is happening are then all killed by Shippeitaro before they can flee.

And so the village is finally free, and no longer do they have to make a yearly human sacrifice.¹

Footnotes

1. Davis, F. H. (1992) “Myths and Legends of Japan.” New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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Here follows a list of Japanese Folktales (昔話) currently on our website. There will be more over time, so please bear with us for the time being.

Festivals

• Ōtoshi no Kyaku. The New Years Eve Visitor. A collection of tales around mysterious New Years visitors who will give great gifts.

Grateful Creature Motif

• The Bewitched Tea-Kettle (分福茶釜 or 文福茶釜) A grateful Tanuki performs for the man who saved him, making him very wealthy.
• My Lord Bag of Rice (俵藤太) The story or Fujiwara Hidesato and the killing of the Giant Centipede Seta at the behest of The Dragon King.
• The Tongue Cut Sparrow (舌切り雀) The story of an old man and his cruel wife who cuts the tongue out of a Sparrow as she grows jealous of how her husband feels about the bird.
• Urashima Taro the Fisher Lad (浦島 太郎) The story of Urashima Tarō who saves a turtle and marries the Daughter of the The Dragon King.

Hero/Heroine Motif

• The Clever Boar and Monkey. An old monkey who was going to be killed saves his life by saving a kidnapped baby.
• Momotarō. Folktale about a man with the same name, as well as a Dog, Monkey and Pheasant and their journey to the island of Onigashima to stop the Oni.
• Princess Glory. A lonely old couple find a baby in a Bamboo Grove and raise her. She later is revealed as The Immortal Lady of Mount Fuji.

Longlife

• Longevity. Story of an old man who wished to live forever.

Mourning

• The Mirror of Matsuyama. A girl missing her mum, thinks she can find her by looking in a mirror.

Punishment Motif

• Kachi-Kachi Yama (かちかち山) Also known as The Farmer and the Badger. The story of a Rabbit seeking revenge on a Badger for killing an old woman.
• The Monkey and the Crab. The son of a crab who was killed by his apparent friend the Monkey gets revenge on his fathers murderer.

Sacrifice Motif

• Shippeitaro – Story of the Dog Shippeitaro and the Warrior who save a maiden from being sacrificed.

Unfinished Business Motif

• Banchō Sarayashiki – Okiku is killed after breaking one of ten heirloom plates, and thrown down a well. Her ghost returns each night trying to count and find the tenth plate she broke.

Yōkai Motif

• Hagoromo (羽衣) Story of a celestial nymph who is forced to marry a fisherman.
• How an Old Man Lost is Wen – Story of a man who dances for some Oni and tricks them into taking the wen growing on his face.
• Rashōmon no oni. Story of an Oni  who is fought by Watanabe no Tsuna.
• The Melon Princess (瓜子姫) Story of a childless couple, who find a melon floating down river. Upon cutting it open a baby girl is found inside.
• The Nightingale’s Coin. A man is gifted with a ‘never ending’ coin after looking after a woman house for one year, without open a ‘forbidden door.’ Later, another man comes hoping for the same reward, but opens this forbidden door.
• The Oni of Adachigahara. A monk seeks shelter in an old womans home only to find out she is an Oni.
• Shōjōji no Tanuki Bayashi. The story of a group of Tanuki and their wild drum parties.

Tales of China

• The Elixir of Life. Story of a Chinese Emperor who believes the Elixir of Life is on Mount Fuji.
• The Shinansha. The story of Emperor Kotei killing the rebel Shiyu after inventing The Shinansha (Artefact).
• The Stone of the Five Colours and the Empress Jokwa. Empress Jokwa saves her country.

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