Ushi no Koku Mairi – Shrine Visit at the Hour of the Ox » Ushi_no_Koku_Mairi_Mizuki_Shigeru
03 Jan 2013 5 Comments
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Translated Japanese Ghost Stories and Tales of the Weird and the Strange
03 Jan 2013 5 Comments
百物語怪談会 Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai 
Jan 04, 2013 @ 02:53:16
One would hope that the ‘angels of our better nature’ would prevail: perhaps the ritual provides a safe release for negative thoughts, energy, and evil intent. Taking on the dress, makeup and hours of a yurei or yokai magically transforms the individual into a sub-human form…hopefully to project ill intent from a persona that does not exist — into a non-worldly domain. Just a thought!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 12:01:56
It’s a nice thought, but I don’t think so! This is a very terrible curse, that transforms both the caster and the target. Anyone serious enough to perform the ritual certainly has enough hate built up that they are deadly serious
Jan 04, 2013 @ 15:06:13
You’re probably right, Zack. I suppose being the eternal optimist — in hope that someone serious enough to attempt transformation would ‘wake up’ to realize how the transformation would be permanent — and spiritually deadly for target and caster. Thank you for being the agent of reality.
The artwork and the photo of the tree enhance the history tremendously. Well done, as usual!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 15:42:23
Some versions do have an escape clause for “Curser’s Remorse.” In the versions where the curse summons a yokai (sometimes in a cow-shape keeping with the Hour of the Ox theme), if the curser is shocked out of his/her vengeance and changes their mind, they can jump over the monster 48 times to dismiss it and cancel the curse.
That’s only for the yokai-summoning version though. In the versions where the nails directly hurt the cursed person, there is no going back once the nails are driven.
Sep 09, 2013 @ 12:03:58
This sounds similar to how the curses work in the animation “Hell Girl” (地獄少女) – that cursing someone also curses the caster. It’s interesting how the idea of the “hour of the ox” – which I’ve also seen come up in other tales – and the idea of the hashihime combined, though! (hashibime?)