The Fox's Wedding: A Compendium of Japanese Folklore

Description

Throughout history, people have invented supernatural explanations for mysterious phenomena. Strange sounds heard deep in the woods, pebbles falling from the sky, even universal concepts like good and bad luck—all were the work of spirits. Things understood in the modern world, like thunder and lightning, mental illnesses, and infectious disease were equally blamed on demons, ghosts, monsters, and mischievous magical animals. In Japan, one species in particular was frequently blamed for peculiar occurrences: foxes. A fox's wedding is the Japanese term for when rain falls while the sun is shining. It is a sign that somewhere nearby, foxes are holding a wedding ceremony. The rain makes people stay indoors, and the foxes can celebrate their wedding unobserved by human eyes. This compendium of Japan folklore contains over 100 illustrated entries covering ghosts, monsters, spirits, and of course foxes. There are horrific tales of murder ending in supernatural vengeance, adorable animals that you'll want to keep as pets, evil ghosts in search of victims, man-eating beasts, beast-eating men, demon priests, evil trees, haunted chickens, ghostly vegetables, vampires, babies, giants, and more. Each entry is described in detail, including its habitat, diet, origin, and legends based on translations from Japanese texts. Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Map of Japan Language Notes Syllables Diacritical Marks Compound Words The Fox's Wedding Introduction Foxes and Folklore Prophets of Pandemic In the Country 槌の⼦ 野守 千⽦狼 ⽻⽝ ⼩⽟⿏ 旧⿏ ⼭おらび 夜泣き⽯ 提灯⽕ 野宿⽕ 天狗⽕ 天狗倒し 天狗礫 ⼿洗⻤ 醜⼥ ⻤⼀⼝ ⻤童丸 ⼤嶽丸 In the City 乳房榎 化け銀杏の精 いが坊 柳⼥ 柳婆 死神 縊⻤ 七⼈ミサキ ⾸かじり ⻤の寒念仏 べか太郎 右も左も 為憎 充⾯ ⾝の⽑⽴ いそがし ⻲姫 朱の盆 ⾆⻑姥 ⾁吸い ⾶縁魔 ⼩幡⼩平次 In the House 札返し ⽬競 五徳猫 びろ〜ん 納⼾婆 袋狢 絹狸 払⼦守 ⽊⿂達磨 鈴彦姫 笈の化け物 雲外鏡 鳴釜 鷄の僧 鼈の幽霊 塩の⻑次郎 寝肥 ⾜洗邸 During a Pandemic 疫病神 箕借り婆 ⾵の神 恙⾍ 腰抜の⾍ 腰痛の⾍ ⼨⽩⾍ 噛み⼨⽩ 鳴き⼨⽩ 陰の⻲積 陽の⻲積 気絶の肝⾍ 頓死の肝⾍ 肝の聚 ⼼積 肝積 疱瘡神 ⻁狼狸 はしか童⼦ アマビコ アリエ 豊年⻲ 海出⼈ ヨゲンノトリ At a Wedding 狐の嫁⼊り 妖狐 善狐 野狐 ⽩狐 ⿊狐 銀狐 ⾦狐 荼枳尼 阿紫霊 地狐 気狐 空狐 天狐 政⽊狐 ⼋尾狐 ⼄姫狐 おとら狐 ⽩蔵主 伝⼋狐 経蔵坊 おとん⼥郎 尾無し狐 恩志の狐 ショロショロ狐 おさん狐 おこん狐 管狐 オサキ 王⼦の狐 Acknowledgments Yōkai References and Further Reading Index of Yōkai