January 12 marks “Seijin no Hi” (成人の日) in Japan. Interpreted as “Coming of Age Day”, those who turn 20 are celebrated as adults. These individuals attend a “Seijin shiki” (成人式) or “Coming of Age ceremony” in their local area, where they dress up in fine outfits; while boys generally wear a western style suit¹, girls adorn themselves in high quality furisode kimono (振袖着物). There are many establishments that hold some form of Seijin shiki, making it easy for these young adults to meet up with their peers, take pictures and celebrate together as they become legal adults.
A pic featuring girls dressed in fine kimono for Seijin no Hi. From Photo-AC.
CHANGES TO SEIJIN NO HI
Being a national holiday, Seijin no Hi falls on the 2nd Monday in January, but this was a recent change made in 2000. Before that, it was celebrated on January 15th. This day was also previously intended for those who turned 18, but the age was raised to 20 in 2022². Many small adjustments like these were made to accommodate other holidays that were observed close together.
GENPUKU
Another interesting point is how Seijin no Hi has its roots in much more ancient practices. Before this, boys would celebrate becoming an adult through a ceremony called “Genpuku” (元服), where they would don on a specific head wear to symbolize this growth, which would either be a kanmuri (冠) if they were from a family of nobility status, or an eboshi (烏帽子) if they come from a military family.
A woodblock print called “Narihira ason hatsu kanmuri yatsushi” (業平朝臣初冠畧), it’s an imaginary portrait of Lord Narihira (center, seated) going through his Genpuku. He is about to receive a very lavish kanmuri (left). By Chokusai Eisho, from MFABoston.
Girls too celebrated their own Genpuku, but they would get this honor through a different ceremony called “Mogi” (裳着). Here, they have their hair tied up in a method called kamiage (髪上げ), and dress in a special multi-layered kimono called mo (裳)³. This attire was designated for girls who were not married yet.
Dating back centuries ago, the age in where boys and girls became adults was much lower (around 11~ 16 for boys, 11 ~ 14 for girls). Both survived to the 1600s of Edo period, before receiving changes. Over time, these unique Genpuku celebrations that were enjoyed by the elite phased out, and later replaced by today’s celebratory style in which everyone despite their class can partake in.
ENDING
In closing, Seijin no Hi is a special day many young adults look forward to. It symbolizing the transition from one’s youthful times to growing up and taking responsibility in life. Wish anyone you know who just turned into an adult a happy coming of age!
1) Boys can also wear a more traditional style monpuku (紋服), which entails a familiar kimono worn by men with a dark colored montsuki (紋付) top, and a white sensu (扇子) fan. Nowadays, very few boys dress in this for Seijin no Hi, while most would only turn to this for very formal events, if needed at all. On the other hand, those who choose to wear a monpuku have turned to a more flashier style, rivaling the colorfully appealing version worn by girls.
2) While the majority of areas, especially big cities, observe the holiday for age 20, there are few places that still celebrate Seijin no Hi for age 18. One of them being Mie Prefecture, although a different day is designated for the celebration of turning 18. Note that since the legal adult age is now 20 on a national level, 18-year-olds are still regulated by the law as minors, which prevents them from engaging in age-restricted activities (i.e. cannot drink alcohol).
3) The name generally implies 12-layer garment. It was not unusual for girls to be subjected to wearing something heavy like this. In fact, there’s accounts of some noble families going overboard and adorning their girls with a dress made of 21 layers! Fortunately, the dress for Mogi got regulated and became standardize to a reasonable number of layers at some point.
Welcome 2026! As the 1st post of the year, we start off with a review of this year’s Zodiac sign. For those who follow this on their own, or have seen related posts on social media, are aware that the Zodiac animal is the horse. Although the Lunar year officially starts on February 17th, there’s so much talk about it that many have been preparing in advance. What’s in the horizon for us under this hardworking & dependable animal? From the looks of things, this year is very dynamic and can either open the doors to great opportunities or unexpected challenges.
In this article, we will cover the natural perceptions the physical horse, and their roles in society over the ages. Following that will be the breakdown of the Zodiac sign, the components that make up the predictions for this year, along with some well known phrases & expressions.
An image of a horse representing the new year. From Photo-AC.
MANKIND’S BEST COMPANION
Looking at the history of the horse, whether Asia or other parts of the world, it’s not hard to grasp just how big of a role they have played. Whether carrying warriors into battle, pulling carts for passengers or goods, or running at breakneck speed to deliver it’s rider to their destination, the horse is a creature that has walked side-by-side with humans due to its ease in domestication and the various ways in how they help us.
The depiction of horses is just as amazing in myths and fables. Chinese culture helped plant the seeds for this, with many legendary tales depicting horses as powerful creatures, representatives of status for the aristocrats, as well as symbols of brave companions for great heroes. There are many interpretations of them possessing amazing traits or supernatural abilities, including tales of a particular half-horse, half-dragon hybrid. Japan was influenced by these through culturual exchange. With literary works, teachings from Buddism as well as Shinto teachings, Japan society also was graced with many vivid images of horses acting as messengers of deities, as well as transportation for them when they descend from the heavens to the earthly realm.
With horses bearing so many respectable qualities such a sturdy & fast legs, a strong sense of independence, and being a reliable companion to humans, the horse sign tends to be viewed in a positive light, usually bringing good fortune.
INTERPRETING THE ZODIAC
The year of the horse is pronounced as “umadoshi” (午年) In Japanese. Linguistically, the proper kanji for horse is “馬”, with the pronunciation being “uma”. However, the sign/kanji used to represent the horse in the Zodiac system is “午”, which had no association with the horse in its early conception within China until centuries later. How was it interpreted before this? During the earlier period when the Zodiac system was devised and was understood mainly through the seed/plant analogy, the “午” kanji possessed the meaning of a fully grown plant showing signs of withering.
When the Zodiac was interjected into society more, the horse imagery was attached to this sign, making it easier to remember amongst the masses. Through this, it became more natural for the sign’s readings like “energetic spirit”, “success”, and “the power to win” to be interpreted through human’s relationship with the horse.
ZODIAC USAGE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
The following below is a list of useful data concerning this year’s Zodiac sign and how it played a role in the daily lives of people in the past.
Zodiac number: 7th sign
Pronunciation: go (original)
Direction: south / true south¹
Time: between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (usually points to 12 pm)
While not significant in modern times, there’s still use of these today in specialized fields. Here’s a few related tidbits pertaining to the horse sign:
It is one of the cardinal directions, being the opposite of north
Just as how the north and south poles do not meet², the horse sign and mouse sign of the Zodiac are generally said to be opposites, thus not getting along³
Represents the afternoon, when the sun is at its highest in the sky⁴
THE BLAZING HORSE
We’ve covered the Zodiac animal. Now, let’s look at the energy for this year. Following the5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept, the energy for this year is light, while the 10-Heavenly Stems, in its 43rd year, falls on the fire element. The sign used in the 10-Heavenly Stems system representing fire is “丙” or “hinoe”. Together, this energy/element combo gives off a sense of a flame as big & bright as the sun, wrapping everything around in its warmth. When applied to humans, it means someone who is overflowing with vibrant life energy.
An image of a fire horse, blazing the ground with each step. Is it charging forward to glory, or will it burn out into failure? By Erkut2 from pixabay
As mentioned earlier, the horse sign is already associated with the fire element. In conjunction with the hinoe sign, we have double fire elements, which happens once in the 60-year Zodiac cycle. It’s easy to focus on this on a positive sense, such as “being fueled with passion and charging forward with near unlimited energy to see our goals completed”. However, there is also the negative side of this, such as being overbearing and blind through “passion”. Such a hot-headed, unyielding personality can lead to chaos.
Thus, with double fire energy coming from both the Zodiac horse and the 10-Heavenly Stems, we get the proper name for the year as “hinoe-uma”, or “fire horse”.
HOW TO APPROACH FORTUNE IN THE NEW YEAR
What’s the prediction for this year’s Zodiac? Normally, the Zodiac horse is read as a sign with good fortunate. In fact, it falls in line with the dog and tiger Zodiacs as being the 3 lucky signs⁵.
Those born in the year of the “fire horse” are said to have a fiery passion when approaching their tasks, and charge head on with an energetic spirit to succeed. All this is possible with little need for rest. For the sake of success, others born under different signs should follow suit in order to see fortune come their way, despite whatever obstacles that may come up. Yet, one must also be careful of burnout, and running headlong towards failure. To stay on track, we must take time to stop, be patience, take proper guidance, and possess a vision of what we want to accomplish and how.
While the traits are similar between men and women born in the year of the horse other than for some small differences (i.e. men enjoying their solo time, women more straight forward with their feelings), there are always those words of caution regarding avoiding disaster, sometimes told through old tales. For this year, there is a lingering superstition about women needing to take caution about letting their passionate emotion run amok. This is tied to certain real-life events that took place early in the Edo period. I plan to cover this in another article, so look out for that discussion later.
PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS
The Zodiac signs have no shortage of interesting phrases that have interesting, and at times humorous, meanings. There are plenty related to the horse, all fitting in many unique categories.
The following two are said to be good references to the 2026 Zodiac year.
ウマくいく / 馬九行久(uma kuiku; quick horse) This means being adept to quickly take on any request at a drop of a dime.
A little more on this phrase, it’s a play on words using the word “uma” and following it with the phonetics of 9 (ku), the 1st syllable from the word “to go” (i) and one of the phonetics of the word “long duration of time” (ku) to create the sound of the word “quick”.
馬力 (bariki; horse power) A simple phrase wishing one to have a year where they are filled with strength and vitality.
Now here’s a select few. There are quite a good number of old ones here, with some dating back to ancient Chinese proverbs.
人間万事塞翁が馬 (ningen banji saiō ga uma; a horse can represent the unexpected fortunes and hardships humans face in life) Reflecting the tone for this year, the meaning for this phrase is taking all that comes one’s way, whether it be good fortune or bad luck. In other words, accept the unpredictability of life experiences.⁶
勝ち馬に乗る (kachi uma ni noru; ride on the victory horse) This is used when a person “rides” on the coattail of someone who’s on the fast track to success in order to benefit as well.
千里の馬は常に有れども伯楽は常に無し (senri no uma ha tsune ni aridomo hakuraku ha tsune ni nashi; even if you have a famed running horse, it won’t be put to good use if there’s no skilled horse trader to evaluate its value) A well-known yet lengthy phrase that originates from the Chinese scholar Han Yu’s⁷ “Zassetsu”⁸, it stresses that a qualified leader can distinguish those who possesses outstanding abilities. Without this, those individuals won’t be able to shine.
馬の耳に念仏 (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu; reciting Buddhist invocation to a horse) A phrase that paints a vivid image, but is not straightforward. The meaning expressed here is the uselessness of preaching to a person who doesn’t have the capacity to understand the topic. There are many types of expressions like this using the horse analogy, but worded differently.
老いたる馬は道を忘れず (oitaru uma wa michi wo wasurezu; an old horse never forgets the road taken) We can interpret this saying referencing a person who is wise and has good judgement. These traits are apparent with how accurate they are able to handle an unforeseen situation, which is usually something earned by those with experience.
馬子にも衣装 (mago ni mo ishō; the packhorse driver can also don on fine garments) The meaning behind this is that anyone, even those of low qualities or status, can look magnificent through wearing the right outfits.
ENDING
This covers the horse Zodiac sign for the new year. There are a few more articles being prepped to match the theme for this year. Until then, wish everyone to have a good start on any planned goals, and charge forward (with good judgement) to see them through to the very end!
1) There are 4 absolute directions, which are tied to a Zodiac animal equivalent: true north (mouse), true south (horse), true east (rabbit), and true west (rooster).
2) North & south are connected linearly on a perfect longitude of 0° and 180°. Speaking of which, in relations to Earth, the meridian line that divides the earth into east hemisphere and west hemisphere is called “shigosen” (子午線) in Japanese, which uses the Zodiac kanji for the mouse and the horse.
3) In terms of a person’s personality and compatibility, Zodiac readings normally say that the horse and mouse cannot get along due to being total opposites (i.e the horse being hard-working and independent, while the mouse being clever and opportunist). Of course, this should not be taken as fact.
4) The Japanese word for afternoon is “gozen” (午前), which also uses the same kanji for the horse in the Zodiac.
5) To elaborate, these three Zodiac signs form what is called “sangō kakyoku” (三合火局), due to their strong fire energy. This is according to a fortunetelling method called “Shichū suimei” (四柱推命), which incorporates the 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept.
6) This saying is a complex one! A bit of investigation was needed here, even to understand how to translate the saying into simple English. To really grasp the meaning is to understand the origin. There is an old philisophical book called “Huáinánzǐ” (淮南子, Enanji in Japanese) compiled by scholars from Huainan area during the reign of Emperor Wǔ dì (159 bc ~ 87 bc) in China’s early Han Dynasty. In this book is a short story that lays the roots to the saying, which is summarized as the following:
“There was an old man who resided in a castle up in the north. One day, his horse had escaped the castle walls and ran away. Perplexed, the worried old man went out and searched for it. In the end, he not only found the horse, but also gained a few more that was accompanying it.”
There are a few more short stories tied to this saying, but the one above is a good representation using the horse analogy.
7) Han Yu (韓愈) (768 – 824) is a famous figure who was a writer, scholar, and government official during the Tang Dynasty.
8) “Zassetsu” (雑説) is a collection of theories and short stories compiled by Han Yu.
As I write my last post of the year, I look back at how things progressed as a whole. Being the year of the snake, there was many mentions of falling upon fortune, or resetting oneself to become better. On a large scale, there was all sorts of money talk going on worldwide, especially politically. With so much international conflicts being televised, not all of it was on a positive level.
Snake passes the baton to the horse. Go 2026!!
On my end, much adjustments needed to be made. Relocating to a new state, I had to learn a new lifestyle; instead of the comfort of public transport and availability to almost all types of stores in a walking distance found in NYC, I now have to own a car and drive to most places in Michigan. In all honesty, much of this is a positive, and in it’s own way a form of growth for me. Leaving the fast paced life of the big city for a more relaxed environment opening up more time for focusing on my hobbies and research. As I get my life back on track, I’m feeling reinvigorated to write articles for my blog on a regular basis. Will continue to offer a variety of topics from Japan, some on traditional practices, celebrations, unique historical figures, and even on well known dishes!
Should have the new website up and running as well. Focus will shift a bit, for it will be less on promoting Chikushin Group as a martial arts group, but more of site pertaining to researching Japanese documents and offering translations on them. Budō training will most likely continue to be covered on this blog, as well as Facebook and Instagram.
Signing off as 2025 comes to a close in a few hours. Looking forward to “charging” ahead in 2026!
A little bit of what I’ve been working on lately. An interesting find while reviewing documents online regarding shinobi-related manuscripts and comparing the contents with what’s in other widely known ones, such as “Mansenshūkai” (万川集海), “Shōninki” (正忍記) , or even some lesser known ones like “Gōbudenpō Kyūkenkyū Monomi no maki” (合武伝法急勌齅物見之巻). In an academic report written by Mr. Inoue Naoya¹, a 3-volume manuscript known as “Yamazaki ryū Shinobi no sho” (山崎流忍之書)² is introduced, which covers certain skills that lean heavily on what a shinobi, or better known under the modern-day word “ninja”, would need while working actively in the field. On top of this, a separate document is mentioned to accompany the manuscript, which possesses philosophical guidance & advice pertaining to kenjutsu.
A screenshot from the actual academic report. The introduction section, giving background info about where the manuscript is located, how it became known, etc.
The contents from the actual manuscript were handwritten, while Mr. Naoya and the help of others reproduced them digitally. For this article, we’ll take an overview on the contents from the manuscript as explained in the academic report. Since the report is in Japanese, I’ll be providing translations in English and, if required, explanations on what the contents mean.
BREAKING DOWN THE SHINOBI NO SHO
First let’s cover the Shinobi no sho. While it has been determined to have been written in 1754, the author is unknown, which is the same for the group in which the contents are tied to. A manuscript divided into 3 volumes, much of the contents appear to be based on tested and real-world knowledge on how to successfully perform duties as a shinobi. Here are the 3 volumes based on their titles:
Vol 1: Omotemuki no maki³ (面向之巻)
Vol 2: Shinobi no monogatari kudensho (忍物語口伝書)
Vol 3: Omokage no maki (面影之巻)
Each volume contains an abundance of info, covering important topics that can be compared to and identified in other shinobi-related documents, giving proof of their connection. Taking a look at the 1st volume, there are 13 points detailing specific topics of knowledge.Here’s an example of some of these topics:
入用道具之事 (Nyūyō dōgu no koto) Carrying tools for breaking an entry
闇所にて人を見る事 (Kurai tokoro nite hito wo miru koto) Spying from the shadows
起臥を知る事 (Kiga wo shiru koto) Monitoring a target’s daily activities
眠薬之事 (Minyaku no koto) Using sleeping medicine to incapacitate a target
堀ノ浅深を知る事 (Hori no senshin wo shiru koto) Learning about holes of different depths
道に不迷之事 (Michi ni fumei no koto) How not to get lost when navigating through your target’s territory
手火之事 (Tahi / Tebi no koto) Possessing lighting implements
These all appear to be geared towards one’s task on a more subtle level, such as blending in to an enemy’s territory while keeping a low profile. This volume is comparable to the skills mentioned in the sections called “Yōnin” (陽忍), found in Mansenshūkai.
Outline of the contents from the Shinobi no sho.
Next we turn to the 3rd volume, which contains 17 points of topics. Let’s look at a few of the contents below:
松明之事 (Taimatsu no koto) Concerning the use of torches
穴立火之事 (Anadate hi no koto) Using rice straw as a quick means for setting fire
無言薬之事 (Mugonyaku no koto) Speech-impeding (sensory restricting) drugs
隠形之文大事 (Ongyō no bun daiji) Importance of being versed in the methods of hiding
御符之事 (Gofu no koto) Carrying talismans and charms
There are apparently some advanced teachings, but they aren’t present in the document. Volume 3 gives a sense of taking more direct action, most likely at night, and when the enemy has to be confronted. Liken to the sections labeled “Innin” (陰忍) in Mansenshūkai, these 2 go hand-in-hand outlining tasks and the tools needed for them during different times of the day.
A surprising point one may gather from volumes 1 and 3 is the deliberate mention of using drugs and medicine; there are a good number of them listed that can aid in a shinobi’s mission, which include variations of incapacitating concoctions that render a target compliant in more ways than one. Ingredients for each one, however, are not shared within the current manuscript. Another point worth mentioning is the numerous lighting implements listed. Some are more obvious in application, while a few are left to oral transmission. This shows that the shinobi needed to have a good knowledge of working with fire-based tools and understand how to improvise with natural materials depending on the situation.
What about the 2nd volume? In this part there is a clearer, distinctive listing of the many different points (38 total) on how a shinobi should prepare mentally, how they should act in front of others in order to achieve their goal, the steps one should take when manuevering through a target’s home or territory, using incidents that cause hysteria as a cover to invade, and so on. A good comparison to these use cases would be the Shōninki, for those who are familiar with that manuscript and how indept it goes. Here are the following examples from volume 2:
One needs to learn a persona in & out in order for one’s true intentions not to be discovered
How to present oneself and win over the family of the house you must get in
Add another layer to hide your identity in the case where your current cover is being blown
How to deceive people through the use of sound, such as mimicking raindrops
The use of starting a fire in a home
There are some surprising topics, such as to never make a sound in situations where you have been hurt, or even on the verge of death. Also, a few of the topics steer towards putting trust in both Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, with one stating to call upon the aid of the Buddhist deity Kannon (観音菩薩) when hiding in the shadows⁴.
BREAKING DOWN THE KENJUTSU DOCUMENT
Now, let’s take a look at the accompanying document, which appears to be a listing of profound insight on kenjutsu. This document is labeled simply as “Hakutei iru” (白丁入ル), which an unusual term concerning martial arts; having more of a ceremonious connotation, in this case it can mean someone coming of age and entering society as an adult, which can be military lifestyle or simply becoming a common. Due to this document being part of the collection under “Yamazaki ryū”, there is speculation that it comes from “Yamazaki ryū Kenjutsu”. Looking at this further, family-run martial systems was common during the Edo period. On the flip side, the number of known families using the Yamazaki surname recorded was few. There was only one known to have been associated with kenjutsu, and their style was derived from Chūjō ryū.
Listing of the 3 Yamazaki families recorded to have their own form of martial arts. The one in the red box is renown for their kenjutsu originating in Chujo ryu. From Bugei Ryuha Daijiten 1963 edition.
Does that mean that this document on kenjutsu (along with the shinobi-related manuscript) belong to this Yamazaki family? Could the contents be linked to Chūjō ryū? While it is a possibility, there is no way to verify this due to no author being mentioned. On top of that, the contents themselves have no real connection to any sword system so to speak; the knowledge here can be viewed as either generic in nature, or interpretation-based strings of words. Depending on the person and their profession, anyone with competent understanding can follow them.
As mentioned earlier, this sword document is not an instructional guide on swordplay, but more like a listing of words of inspiration on a deeper, profound level for one trained in the Japanese sword. One part of it contains 11 uta or “poems” in the form of proverbs. As a whole, the knowledge here doesn’t have any true unique value style-wise, but more practical knowledge to those who are trained to actually fight.
Here’s a few of these poems:
Jishōken (自勝剣) A unique saying based on the idea of “overcoming one’s weaknesses and obstacles, and ensuring victory through one’s own strength”. This is geared towards swordsmanship.
Setsunintō⁵ katsujinken (殺人刀 活人剣) 2 set of phrases that naturally go together, where your actions while wielding a sword are to help others (katsujinken) in opposition of another person wielding a sword to harm others (setsunintō)⁶.
Dokushin dokui (独身独意) A simple term, which expresses one to not lose sight of yourself and what you have to achieve. This includes not being sidetracked by others’ matters.
Taiyō icchi (体用一致) A version of a common lesson regarding “unity as one”, for this phrase dictates you must be in tune with both the body and actions. Through this, one can utilize a sword as if it’s an extention of the body.
Dandan shugyo (段々修行) An all-around phrase that is applicable in any occupation, a person must strive to achieve higher each day, surpassing even your past self every time. This can be viewed as words of inspiration for the receiver to continue their personal training with the sword.
Ishin denshin (以心伝心) A common phrase, meaning “expressing oneself without using words”.
While it’s commonplace to call knowledge like these as poems, in truth they tend to lean more towards proverbs. On another note, some of the poems were commonly used in both the martial arts field and Buddhism, due to both having a strong foundation in the concept of Zen (i.e. setsunintō katsujinken).
Screenshot of the Hakutei section, with several of the poems.
The final part of this kenjutsu document is “Ippo furyū“ (一歩不留), which stands for “going forward no matter what”. This section mainly serves as advice on how one should view their training and the type of person they should become, all compiled in 15 points. Here are a few of them below:
剣術ハ闇路をたとる灯の 光のまゝに行ハゆかるゝ Kenjutsu should illuminate a path out of darkness, and lead a person to the light
稽古をも真の勝負とつとめなは 実の勝負も常と成へし If a person engages in their sword practice as if fighting, then they will be sure to win in a real battle
道理なく気精まかせに余の人と 仕合に勝は盲勝なり If you go into battle with a person who relies more on spirit and no reason, obtaining victory will be nothing more than riches falling into your lap
One can view this document as something a person would carry on themselves when not returning to their teacher and their dōjō for a long period of time.
CONCLUSION
We’ll wrap up the summary on this manuscript. As of recent, there are more antiquated documents from Japan’s historical past with unique contents such as this that are coming out from private collections, with researchers investing to bring them to the public light. While some are published in books, others, like this Yamazaki ryū Shinobi no sho, are analyzed and reported in an academic environment. I enjoy collecting those that are readily available and, when time permitting, sharing them here on my blog.
1) This academic report is from the literary collection kept in “Kyōto Institute, Library and Archives” of Rekisaikan in Kyōto City, Japan.
2) It is also categorized as just “Yamazaki ryū”, with the other contents being addressed as “Shinobi no sho” and “Hakutei”.
3) This is tricky to read. Other ways to read this includes “menkō” and “men no muki”.
4) Kannon is a female Buddhist deity worshipped as a savior for people in times of need, or helping them during difficult times that can lead to their doom. She is commonly described as using countless forms to aid people, each which conceal her true self. It’s such an ability of concealment like this that is dotted upon in shinobi-related documents.
5) Can also be read as “satsujintō”, although there are arguments that when this is used the meaning changes to “sword used to commit murder”.
6) There is another profound meaning in Buddhism, where a disciple uses unfavorable methods for harsh training that can later impact them in a negative way (setsunintō). On the other hand, a disciple trains in a progressive manner that has them become a better person as if reborn (katsujinken). For both phrases they are used when one is striving to reach enlightenment, whereas obstacles that prevent this are “cut down” metaphorically through training.
As the year is coming to a close, I present one last article on this year’s Zodiac sign, the snake. One point that must be repeated is the fact that under the Zodiac system, the snake represents many quality values, such as longevity, rejuvenation, and fortune. Through superstitions and stories, these values are sought after by the general populous.
In Japan’s case, there are snake deities that can be worshiped at designated shrines throughout Japan, which are especially highlighted during the year of the snake. Earlier this year I covered one by the name of Kyōgawa-sama, who was a savior to villagers during times of drought. Here are a few more.
Ryūjajin (龍蛇神), the “Dragon-Snake God”, is widely recognized as a worshiped deity at the shrine Ryūjajin Jinja (龍蛇神神社) by the coastal area Seto-ura of Ashibe Town, located in Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Kanahebi (金蛇), the “Golden Snake”, resides in the Kanahebisui Jinja (金蛇水神社) in Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture
Shirahebi (白蛇), the “White Snake”, is revered in numerous shrines around Japan, including 3 major ones in Tokyo City, Chiba Prefecture, and Nagasaki Prefecture.
Minokami Sugi (巳の神杉), “Snake of the Divine Cedar tree”, is tied to the legends of of the shrine Oomiwa Jinja (大神神社) in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture
One in particular, Shirahebi, has many shrines dedicated to it. The story behind this is that the White Snake is a messenger for the deity of good fortune, Benten¹. Other than a messenger, it is also said to be used as a vessal for when Benten himself goes to interact with humans. As many shrines are visited for the sake of benefits such as receiving good luck, protection from disaster, or falling into wealth, the idea of paying tribute to shrines connected to Benten is very appealing, while it’s not unusual for shrines dedicated to the White Snake, due to its connection to Benten, to be held in high regard.
To the left is a shrine revering Shirahebi, which is found in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. To the left is a statue in the liking of the Shirahebi, with the words “nade Shirahebi” (撫で白蛇, stroking Shirahebi) written below.From Photo-AC.
Just how did Shirahebi benefit humanity in the name of Benten? There are several stories illustrating its acts of goodness to those in need in the form of folklores. For this article, we will look at one entitled, “Jinrikisha ni notta Shirahebi” (人力車に乗った白蛇, The White Snake rides the Rickshaw). An old local tale from Chiba Prefecture, dating back around late Edo period. It gives an example of the many ways, as written in folklores, in which Shirahebi performs its duties. One of the many folklores recorded as important cultural treasure of this prefecture. The following site is where the version of this folklore used is taken from:
Just as he stood up, he heard a voice call out to him.
“Mr. rickshaw, Mr. rickshaw!” A young woman with fair white skin approached him.
“I’d like to get to Fuse no Benten-sama³ Can you please take me there?⁴ How much is the fare?”
To the left is a rickshaw being pulled by a rickshaw man, a representative of what is described in the folklore. To the right, a striking image of a pretty young woman, a possible representation of the likelihood in which Shirahebi disguised as. From Photo-AC.
The rickshaw man was captivated by the young woman’s beauty, and for a moment couldn’t take his eyes off from her. Regaining his senses, he replied,
“Customers can typically get a ride despite how much fare they pay.”
The young girl paid the fare and tip in advance, and with that, she sat in the cart and they took off. The rickshaw man was in great spirits over receiving both the fare and tip in advance from such a pretty girl.
“Hold on tight!” he exclaimed as the cart was traveling faster as he ran at top speed.
While running he commented, “Wow, you are very light. Carrying you is no problem, as expected from a young girl.”
Pulling such a light customer in his cart, he weaved through the numerous streets with no issues, taking a route that, while normally would take 1 & 1/2 hrs, got them to the entrance of Fuse no Benten in record time of about 1 hr⁵.
A pic of the shrine Fuse no Benten Tōkaiji in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. From Photo-AC.
Stopping the cart at their destination, the rickshaw man turned to his customer, but was confused when he didn’t see her. Just as he was contemplating about the possibility of her falling out of her cart while they were rushing through the streets, he noticed that the seat where the young girl sat was soaking wet.
Surprised, he quickly looked around the area, when he spotted a white snake slithering into the shadows of Mt. Benten⁶.
うすきみ悪くなった車屋さんは、きた時以上のはやさで上野に帰ったということです。
Spooked at the sight, the rickshaw man ran back to Ueno in a record speed more faster than that used to get to Fuse Benten.
What’s the moral of the story? Fortune can come to one’s way when least expected, especially when in need. In the case of the story, this fortune was tied to doing one’s job. Through Shirahebi, Benten tested the rickshaw man’s resolve at a time when he was about to give up and go home due to a slow day with barely any customers. Shirahebi suddenly showed up with a request, and through a little bit of persuasion with paying a generous fare (and using the appearance of a pretty girl), the rickshaw man went over & beyond to carry his customer to their destination. Talk about lucky!
One thing to point out is the matter of the Shirahebi not showing its true form until after reaching Fuse no Benten. This isn’t unusual, for in many folklores deities of all kinds use disguises to interact with humans, sometimes to judge their character, to provide assistance, or help them in times of need. If the person reciprocates and goes accordingly, they are usually bestowed with a well-deserved fortune. The catch is, these deities’ true identity mustn’t be revealed, or else they will be forced to leave, halting whatever blessing or service they were providing. In the case of the rickshaw man, seeing the Shirahebi after receiving his fortune in the form of a generous fare was fine, for he had already completed the task.
ENDING
This marks the final look at this year’s Zodiac sign. Although personally I’m familiar with some of the positive standings the snake has in Asia history, this Zodiac year gave me more reason to do research and learned a great deal of historical information. For Japan, most of these are tied to temples and shrines, linked to deities like Shirahebi. For the readers, I hope you all can say the same as well.
1) Benten, or the full name “Benzaiten”, is a male deity categorized as one of the “Shichifuku Jin ” (七福神, Seven Lucky Gods) in Japan. Originating in Hinduism, then adapted into Buddhism as well as Shintō, this deity was known under different appearances, names and possessed varying benefits. The name “Benzaiten” is written a few ways in kanji, or Chinese characters, such as “弁才天” and “弁財天”. On a related note, since the prevailing image is that of a god representing material fortune, it is not surprising to find the kanji “財”, which means “treasure”, is used in his name.
2) This lake is located in present day Onshi Park in Ueno, Tōkyō City.
3) The label “Fuse no Benten” is linked to a network of three prominent shrines in Eastern Japan called “Kantō no San Benten”. They are as follow:
Benten-dō (弁天堂), located in Asakusa, Tōkyō City
Fuse no Benten Tōkaiji (布施弁天東海道), located in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture
E-no-Shima Benten-dō (江島弁天堂), located in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture
While there are more than one way to identify these 3 shrines (over time, different names were given according to circumstances and trends), they all are known as “Fuse no Benten”, which stands for “Charitable Benten”. The more respectful & familiar nickname of “Fuse no Benten-sama” is also common amongst locals.
4) As mentioned earlier, this folklore is tied to Fuse no Benten Tōkaiji in Chiba Prefecture.
5) The explanation regarding this small trip, if taken literally, is no less than amazing. Distance-wise, it’ll take about an hour if traveling from Ueno to Benten Tōkaiji Shrine by car for modern time standards. A rickshaw should take longer even at a running pace. However, since it took an hour in the story, and considering roads were becoming more easier to traverse during the folklore’s time setting, it demonstrates the rickshaw man truly hustled at a superhuman pace!
6) The label “Benten-yama” (Mt. Benten) is used to identify shrines of Benten that are on small hills. The shrine Benten Tōkaiji in Chiba Prefecture is built on elevated grounds, which gives it the impression that it sits on a mountain. This is an important preference, for historically shrines were built on mountains as a means to be “closer” to the gods who reside in the heavens.
Sakura (桜), or commonly known as cherry blossom in English, is one of Japan’s most revered flowers next to the kiku (菊, chrysantemums). It took time over the generations to reach this level, for early in Japan’s history another flower by the name of ume (梅, plum) held this position beforehand, up until Nara period. From Heian period onward, this appreciation for cherry blossoms “bloomed”; as it was introduced into society alongside the development of new nice fields and crops, its appearance and and traits became very appealing to the mass. Many sentimental feelings, alongside auspicious meanings were tied to cherry blossoms that had influences within society over time. In fact, there is an old poetic line by those of the warrior caste that goes “hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi” (花は桜木, 人は武士), which compares the splendor of their petals in full bloom followed by their sudden withering due to the short life span of cherry blossoms to the glorious feats in battle of the samurai that will inevitably be cut short through untimely death by the blade of their opponents.
It isn’t hard to find artistic images of chery blossoms. Here’s an example of capturing clear details of several cherry blossoms fully bloomed, while petals are shown fluttering in the air like snow. From Photo-AC.
The love for cherry blossoms can be seen in paintings, artworks, crafts, and fashion. There is national pride in having images and designs in the liking of this flower, such as when the petals flutter down in the air like light snowflakes. Despite all this, there are situations where people also shown caution regarding the usage of cherry blossoms, to avoid what would be considered bad luck. For example, whereas many cherry blossom motifs were willingly used for clothing, products, and even on the weapons of warriors, there was significant hesitation to use it as a family crest. Why is that?
Some clues are linked to the origin of the cherry blossom. There are different tales that depict this, a few in the form of ancient mythological tales. They are from sources such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, which speak of major deities inhabiting Heaven, while minor deities populating Earth. As tales like these were taken as truth in the past, they in turn shaped people’s minds as societies grew in Japan.
THE BEAUTIFUL SAKUYA
There is a prominent source to how the name “sakura” is linked to the manner in which this flower blooms. It’s tied to the popular tale of a goddess named “Konohana no Sakuya-bime¹” (木花之開耶姫²). Daughter of a mountain god residing in a shrine on Mt. Fuji, Sakuya was courted by and soon married Ninigi no Mikoto, the descendant of the Sun goddess Amaterasu. When Ninigi no Mikoto laid his eyes on her for the first time, Sakuya became immortalized through his statment about her beauty paralleled to blooming flowers which is the highest form since, in a fleeting moment, will eventually disappear like how flowers wither away. As a deity, she is worshipped as the goddess of growth of flowers & plants at the major shrine Fujisan Hongu Asama Taisha (富士山本宮浅間大社), as well as others. She is also recognized as the protector of safe childbirth, and child rearing due to her very strong personality as demonstrated in mythology³.
An artwork of Konohana no Sakuya-bime from the series “Fugaku Hyakkei” (富嶽百景) by Katsushika Hokusai.
Here’s where we arrive to a theoretical origin for the cherry blossom. It is said that at one point, Sakuya became possessed by the divine God of Harvest, traveled to the very top of Mt. Fuji and made the flowers there to bloom. This incident is then linked to Sakuya’s name, from which we get a play on this flower’s name in the following case:
SA = represents the God of Harvest, with “Harvest” pronounced as “sa” (稲)
KURA = inhabiting a vessel, with the action represented by the phonetic “kura” (座)
An artwork featuring Sakuya sitting amongst sakura trees. By Dōmoto Inshō.
The parallel of Sakuya and flowers is that her beauty is liken to that of flowers in full bloom. Yet this moment of beauty is fleeting, as the petals will eventually fall, and the flowers eventually wither away. As fragile as they are, blooming flowers are priceless even if for a moment, making them invaluable more than anything else, even more than a forever-lasting stone.⁴
FAMILY CRESTS
As mentioned earlier, imagery of sakura was very common throughout Japanese culture once it became popular in society. This became even more apparent from Edo period onward. This was also a period when kamon (家紋), or family emblem, became widespread not just amongst the elite, as having such a thing represented the longevity of one’s family line. See, one’s family lineage was valuable, and how this lineage was presented was very important, especially those prestigious ones with long history. Family emblems served this purpose, each using a plethora of imagery from almost anything from nature. These range from mountains, rivers, insects, plants, bird feathers, to even shapes. Through interpretations and varying superstitions, each can have powerful meanings that can bolster a family line’s standing in society, such as longevity, protection against ailments, bravery, and knowledge.
Entitled “Oka no Utage” (丘の宴), a scene of women of nobility attending a “sakurami” (桜見, cherry blossom viewing) event. Cherry blossom motif can be seen on many of the attendee’s clothing, as well as on the tapestry. By Kitagawa Utamaro.
A cherry blossom emblem, on the other hand, was not viewed in the same way. While there is beauty and sutble strength appreciated in the qualities of cherry blossoms, many people were in agreement regarding its dark & its ominous traits in how petals fall off at the same time, which signals how quickly this flower withers away. These traits are viewed as a bad omen when applied to a family emblem, as it could result to one’s family line ending. Thus, historically it was rare for any family to establish any form of cherry blossom family emblem openly as it wasn’t a popular practice. Still, this didn’t stop those who went against the norm and establish an actual cherry blossom emblem⁵.
Here’s a short list of those families who used one of the existing cherry blossom emblems:
Matsudaira / 松平
Hosokawa / 細川
Sengoku / 仙石
Sakurai / 櫻井
Yoshino / 吉野
Yoshida / 吉田
Aono / 青野
Masaki / 正木
This is a short list. Note that some of these families, such as the Sakurai family, are main branches. Later, some of them have branch families or extended families that follow suit and use the same emblems, including those cherry blossom emblems.
The following are cherry blossom emblems, from left to right and top to bottom: Sakurai zakura, Sengoku Kuyō zakura, Hosokawa zakura, Sakura, Yama zakura, Edo zakura.From Kamon no Iroha.
Here are a few of the types of cherry blossom emblems used:
Sakura / 桜
Sakurai zakura / 桜井桜
Hosokawa zakura / 細川桜
Yamazakura / 山桜
Sengoku Kuyō zakura / 仙石九曜桜
Edo zakura / 江戸桜
Each of these emblems have a unique meaning behind their design. Let’s take the Sakurai zakura emblem as an example. This presents a sakura growing wild in the mountains with a row of petals overlapping another row. Matsudaira families from old regions called Settsu (area between the north-central part of Osaka and south-eastern part of Hyōgō Prefecture) and Dewa (area in both Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture), whom have roots from the Sakurai clan, had this particular cherry blossom emblem a reserved one behind another that was used as their public emblem. It is thought that the Sakurai clan is connected to the establishment of the Sakurai zakura emblem. Next example is the Hosokawa zakura emblem, which features 5 petals, each with 3 pistils on top. This emblem was used by the Hosokawa family from Kumamoto domain of Higo Prefecture. However, there is another story stating that the Hosokawa family gained this emblem from Matsudaira Tadataka, whose roots are also from the Sakurai clan.
CONCLUSION
As this article comes to a close, I’ll reiterate about how there’s always something interesting to learn when research different topics in Japan’s history, no matter how small or obscure it may seem. Case in point, as the cherry blossom continues to be a flower beloved not just in Japan, but also appreciated by many all around the world, one would think that it’s seen as a flawless creation of life. Yet, there is one point of its qualities that would shun families from representing their own family line. This is due in part to the cherry blossom’s deep connection to auspicious beliefs ingrained in the livelihood of the populous, established by mythological stories once held in high regard as the origins of Japan itself.
1) Just for additional info, her first original name was Kamuatsu-hime (神阿多都比売) in the Kojiki. Later in the Nihon Shoki, the name was written as Kamiatsu-hime or Kamutaka-ashitsu-hime, as well as Konohana no Sakuya-bime. Seems like the last name sticks out more, thus what she is referred to nowadays. Another completely different name tied to her is “Asama no Ookami” (浅間大神).
2) There are different ways to write her name using kanji, or Chinese characters. Some using kanji for the sake of phonetics, and others that string kanji together to create a uniqe meaning. At the end of the day, there is no one “right” way to write this.
3) In Sakuya’s tale the event where she was pregnant with children between her and Ninigi no Mikoto unfolds as follow. The two had a discussion where Ninigi no Mikoto spoke doubt about the children being that of Earthly status instead of Divine status such as him. In opposition, Sakuya protested that their children will be that of Divine status. To prove this, she holed up in a room, and set fire around herself to demonstrate that only divine children can be born safely under such extreme conditions. In the end, Sakuya successfully gave birth to children that would also be recognized as gods.
4) This refers back to the original tale found in sources such as the Kojiki, when Ninigi no Mikoto seeked out Sakuya to request for her hand in marraige at her family’s shrine, her father presented another daughter named Iwanaga-hime (石長比売) as a better match. While Iwanaga-hime’s qualities were compared to the ever-persistence and long-lasting qualities of stone (which her name implies), Ninigi no Mikoto believed Sakuya’s beauty, likened to flowers, surpassed everything, and refused to accept anyone else besides her.
5) Note that many families possessed more than one family emblem at any given time. So just because a particular family decides to have a sakura emblem doesn’t mean that they have to use it publicly. Instead, they can use one of their other ones, and keep the cherry blossom emblem only for specific occassions.
One of coolest things about translating older documents that are related to martial arts is being able to decipher techniques, and compare them with what I’m learning. Some are more descriptive than others, so this is a case by case situation. One document I’ve been working on for some time now is a manual on the techniques from Chūjō ryū (中條流). Known for its swordplay, this manual covers the movements and ideology behind them through kata, accompanied with pretty detailed notes.
Example of 2 Pages from the Chūjō ryū manual.
This article will cover 2 of them, which coincide with techniques associated with Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his claimed short sword skills¹. What is provided here are interpretations of the description for the two kata. Sticking with the methodology associated with Chūjō ryū, I use a short sword liken to a kodachi, and an even shorter sword like a wakizashi.
The first kata is Ko Rannyū (虎乱入). In the manual there are several variations. The one presented here uses 2 swords.
DESCRIPTIONS
Stand with swords in jūmonji formation (low)
Enemy strikes for the face
Block with both swords in jumonji formation
Pull one sword back and stab enemy’s face, then cut down on right hand
Step back and lower swords
Enemy strikes with kesa giri to left shoulder, receive with right hand sword
Direct enemy’s sword down to the side (ukenagashi)
Step to enemy’s left while performing horizontal cut with right hand sword
Circle behind enemy and finish with left hand cut
This is a pretty aggressive kata with 2 swords, which takes dexterity to use simultaneously. Some things to take from it includes the following:
Knowing when to block and when to redirect (ukenagashi)
Understanding how to create advantageous moments in order to use a free sword
The next kata is Hichō no Kakeri (飛鳥翔). Using a single sword, one moves quickly with agility through the use of an improvised attack.
DESCRIPTIONS
Stand in a normal posture
Draw sword and assume jōdan posture
While maintaining distance, left hand pulls out a small towel from jacket
Throw the towel at the enemy’s face
Leap in and cut down the enemy with followup strike
The movements in kata particularly remind me of popular tales featuring Yoshitsune when he was young, and his use of throwing objects such as his sensu (扇子, fan) to distract his opponents in conjunction with his swordplay. A few words about this particular kata:
Make use of any item at hand
Followup strike is dependent on the enemy’s reaction to thrown object
From a research perspective, there are always something to take away from old martial arts documentations, and the manual for Chūjō ryū is no different. For myself, who is engaged in kenjutsu training regularly, I find these 2 kata quite informative, especially in the idea of wielding a shorter sword. It’s a shame that I currently could not present both kata with a partner, but I hope that the images, along with the descriptions, are clear enough to follow along.
1) This is in relations to the 2-part discussion on Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his combative knowledge found on this blog. Mention of the 2 kata can be read here.
A topic I bring to the table today is the idea of extreme conditions while engaging in physical activities. This can be a range of methods, such as training in unpleasant environments, bearing an unusual amount of load, to lack of fluid consumption for long periods of time. For athletes this is the norm in order to perform at their highest for their country. However, what about those who are not invested in such occupation, but just want to have fun in the activity of choice?
Extreme conditions during sports are an issue in Japan. Kids of all ages face some form of this when they participate in a sports club at school, which can range from long practices under the blazing sun with no cover, to denial of water by their coach. Whether it be tennis, baseball, soccer, judō, or kendō, the idea is for the kids to learn how to develop spirit of endurance, and go the extra mile no matter how taxing the situation is, which can prove critical when seizing victory against other prefectural schools during competition. However, there have been many cases where kids have collapsed due to heat stroke or exhaustion, some of which had led to deaths. My wife explained to me her experience when she was part of the softball team at her school in Japan, where not only was she and her teammates denied wearing a cap to block the sun rays, but weren’t allowed to drink water until practice was done even though they were dehydrated. It was not a pleasant experience for her. Over the years, efforts by sporting committees in Japan are bringing awareness of how to avoid endangering kids that participate in sports clubs. Still, this is questionable, for the harsh conditions still exist, and the cases of heat stroke during practices still occur, albeit few.
Simple items like a bottle of water and portable fan are essential for recovery during grueling training sessions. From Photo-AC.
From my standpoint, extreme conditions have their purpose, especially for those who are invested in it to excel at their chosen activity, and are monitored by staff or companions, (i.e. a manager, a medical team, etc.) ensuring they progress safely. This can be done in moderation, so that the individual can grow. Kids shouldn’t be forced to endure such harsh conditions to the point it leaves long-lasting injuries. A lot of responsibility has to be taken when putting people through training with extreme conditions. For me, in my pursuit to study martial arts, I took the plunge and engaged in this as much as I could.
During my teenage years, my mentality towards budō was old-fashioned, thinking that a person on this path trains to be as fit as a warrior. Through research, I adapted a rigorous training regiment, along with other forms of conditioning outside of training. One in particular included not drinking water during 2+ hrs of training. I spent many years doing this with no issues, which further cemented the idea of such extreme training as fine. During my college years, I met others with the same ideologies as me, whom would become my training brothers, and would engage in long training sessions together, pushing ourselves to be the best. As an example, there were times when we would meet early in the morning on a weekend and travel to a park in a different borough while I was still living in NYC. There, we would have a long training session, which included running on a path hidden in foliage and scaling the side of a rocky surface to strengthen our fingers. This normally lasted over 2 hours. Having no drinks with us, we would have to make our way to the local store which, depending on how deep we were in the park, could take as long as 20 minutes to get there.
One day, when I was having a particular conversation related to martial arts with one of my training brothers, we hit on a topic about our experience with interacting with others who weren’t part of our group. Seeing that my views were abit one-sided, he responded to one of my statements in a manner like, “people have their own reasons to studying, and you shouldn’t always expect others to want to train for the same purpose as you.” At the time, I acknowledged the remark, but still held on to my own views as law.
A little later, after joining a dojo and training with many practitioners from all walks of life, I learned there was more to life than just training to be a “warrior”; interacting with others with varying views and values from mine, along with different purposes in their pursuit to studying martial arts helped to make me more open-minded. Not everyone is training for duels to the death, carry on the tradition of a specific style until they die with unwavering dedication, or even conditioning themselves to surpass limits as if going to war…which is fine. Quite frankly, we live in a time where such devotion is not a necessity to survive; on the contrary, it is more of a personal endeavor, one that I have embraced, but need not expect those around me to do the same.
Coming to this understanding was a good thing overall, as it made me more responsible when taking others under my wing. When I started my training group years later, I created an environment where students can immerse themselves in the martial arts, but also being mindful of everyone’s capacity. For example, after a period of rigorous practice, I would add breaktime where students can take 5 mins to catch their breath, ask questions, take a water break, and so on. If practice was indoors, I ensured that we had plenty of ventilation and, if the room got excessively hot, would turn on whatever cooling system we had on hand. Also, if during practice someone needed water to stay parched, I didn’t hesitate to allow them to step away and get a drink. In a dual fashion, the option to tough it out was there, but wasn’t forced onto students. My hopes were that each would develop endurance overtime, and slowly go pass their limitations. I encouraged this through various training methods, but was still mindful not to force this ideology outright in the group as a must-do.
In closing this topic, there’s a time when we should push ourselves during physical activities. Some people relish in this, while others are grateful when their coach or team pushes them hard to excel. Subjecting people of any age to extreme conditions without any regard to their health and safety, especially when signs of deterioration is evident, is wrong. Gradual strengthening over time can produce favorable results. While I see value in training to get better through specific forms of extreme conditioning, I believe they should be used with responsibility.
It’s been a while since I’ve made any announcements regarding the Translations page. There are still a few projects planned that will be released there, which I’m slowly getting back to. The latest entry is “Itō Ittōsai’s story: Obtaining the Secrets of Swordsmanship“. A tale of one of Japan’s prominent powerhouses regarding sword expertise, Ittōsai is highly respected and recognized as the founder of Ittō ryū.
The full scope of this project included retyping the Japanese manually according to the main source in Word, then producing alongside it English transliteration. Although not a difficult translation, this project is overdue, for in actuality this should’ve been released a few years back. Due to some unforeseen PC issues, this got delayed and put on the back burner for some time.
The current translation projects on my plate are listed on the Translations page. While there are more that are not listed, how they will be presented publicly will depend on some future plans, which includes the current development of my new website. For the time being, please enjoy this new entry!
It’s time to revisit the Zodiac theme of this year. We’ll do it again with a snake-related folklore. In Japan, there aren’t many popular folktales that paint snakes in a good light. However, there are plenty of short and obscure ones, along with those that focus on the primal nature of this creature. Fortunately, I managed to find a suitable one, a local tale from Yabasama in Kani City, Gifu Prefecture. Long ago, this place used to be known as “Yabasama village”.
A snake swimming in a body of water, much like how Kyōgawa-sama was said to be the owner of a pond in the area known as Yabasama village. From Photo AC.
The name of this folklore is generally known as “Kyōgawa-sama”, which is about a snake deity that has a proper shrine, as well as a pond nearby. Below is the original Japanese from the official Kani City webpage. Alongside it is my English transliteration.
This is a tale from long time ago. Within the mountains of an area known as Yabasama stands a small stone shrine where the deity called “Kyōgawa-sama” resides¹. In the neighboring valley is Kyōgawa-sama’s pond.
Based on rumors about it, the pond appears to be small, but is very deep.
It’s also said it never lost even a drop of water, although now in its current condition it’s covered up by leaves.
During one summer, there was a village where the farmlands and rice fields were whithering, and drinking water had become scarce, due to a lack of rainfall. The villagers were left puzzled.
The villagers gathered and discussed about how to handle their situation, but couldn’t come up with any good ideas. In the end, they came up to one agreement. “Guess there’s no other choice, but to plead for help from a god during tough times like this.”
They went around to all the temples and shrines within the area and requested for rain. However, not once did it rain.
Finally, they journeyed to the stone shrine of Kyōgawa-sama. While the adults went to the shrine to appease to the god there, the children played around the pond.
Expecting that there was just a tiny bit of water there, they started to push away the clutter covering the water. Suddenly, something started to move below the surface of the pond, then out emerged a giant snake.
This scene caused everyone around to get into an uproar.
“You all there, what is the reason for all this pleading to me with such urgency?” The giant snake spoke in human speech, which caught everyone by surprise. The crowd were speechless with fear, and noone replied immediately. Finally, one person emerged and spoke up.
“This summer, we aren’t able to bear any harvest, and many of us are thirsty as there is not enough drinking water due to no rainfall. So, we came to see Kyōgawa-sama and request to make it rain for us.”
“If rain is all that you need, then can you clear the clutter in this pond and make it clean? I will surely make it rain if you do this for me.” The giant snake declared, then returned below the surface of the lake.
Doing as the owner of the pond requested, the villagers removed all the clutter, then went back home, and cleaned the lake on that same day.
Late the same night, large droplets of rain started to fall, making everyone in the village run out of their homes and cheering happily.
From there on, if there are periods of drought or when water is scarce, the villagers received rain whenever they cleaned out Kyōgawa-sama’s pond.
The stone shrine was still standing during those times until now. Due to the changes caused by modernization, it seems that all that remains is the tradition of the annual reverance of this deity.
This is a classical example of the age-old belief of locals giving prayers to deities for the sake of help during troubling times. It’s from tales like this that set the grounds for yearly traditional celebrations. What is the real story behind Kyōgawa-sama? Unfortunately there’s very little info related to the folklore. I’m even having difficulties finding the shrine dedicated to Kyōgawa-sama, along with the pond². The difficulties in uncovering more of the backstory is very strange.
This brings our article to an end. The folklore of Kyōgawa-sama is one of those few in Japan that illustrate snakes of any kind in a way where humans would revere to them for protection or good fortune…making it fitting for this Zodiac year.
1) I suspect that this was also the name of the stone shrine.
2) As hinted in the folklore, there are other strines within the general area. This is true today. From my research, doesn’t seem like any of them have any connections to Kyōgawa-sama.
