Gashadokuro
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Utagawa_Kuniyoshi's_,_also_known_as_''Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre''.html" ;"title="Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre">Utagawa Kuniyoshi's , also known as ''
Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre">Utagawa_Kuniyoshi's_,_also_known_as_''Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre'' _are_ Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre">Utagawa_Kuniyoshi's_,_also_known_as_''Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre'' _are_Yōkai">mythical_creatures_ A_legendary_creature_(also_mythical_or_mythological_creature)_is_a_type_of_fictional_entity,_typically_a__hybrid,_that_has_not_been_proven_and_that_is_described_in_folklore_(including_myths_and_legends),_but_may_be_featured_in_historical_account_...
_in_modern_Japanese_mythology.


_Description

The_Gashadokuro_is_a_spirit_that_take_the_form_of_giant_
Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre">Utagawa_Kuniyoshi's_,_also_known_as_''Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre'' _are_Yōkai">mythical_creatures_ A_legendary_creature_(also_mythical_or_mythological_creature)_is_a_type_of_fictional_entity,_typically_a__hybrid,_that_has_not_been_proven_and_that_is_described_in_folklore_(including_myths_and_legends),_but_may_be_featured_in_historical_account_...
_in_modern_Japanese_mythology.


_Description

The_Gashadokuro_is_a_spirit_that_take_the_form_of_giant_Skeleton_(undead)">skeletons_made_of_the_skulls_of_people_who_died_in_the_field,_and_is_10_meters_tall._Only_the_eyes_protrude,_and_some_sources_describe_them_as_burning_yellow_or_green._Gashadokuro_wanders_around_at_2:00_a.m._and_attacks_and_eats_humans_when_it_sees_them._When_a_gashadokuro_approaches,_it_is_said_to_make_a_clattering_sound_with_its_teeth. The_following_characteristics_are_not_confirmed_by_Japanese_data._The_Gashadokuro_are_said_to_possess_the_powers_of_invisibility_and_indestructibility_since_it_is_composed_of_the_bones_of_people_who_are_already_deceased,_though_Shinto_charms_are_said_to_ward_them_off._Otherwise,_a_Gashadokuro_will_continue_hunting_its_prey_until_its_pent_up_anger_is_released,_causing_the_bones_to_crumple_and_the_Gashadokuro_to_collapse.


_In_modern_culture

The_Gashadokuro_is_a_Yōkai.html" "title="Skeleton_(undead).html" ;"title="Yōkai.html" "title="Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre''">Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre">Utagawa Kuniyoshi's , also known as ''Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre'' are Yōkai">mythical creatures A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical account ...
in modern Japanese mythology.


Description

The Gashadokuro is a spirit that take the form of giant Skeleton (undead)">skeletons made of the skulls of people who died in the field, and is 10 meters tall. Only the eyes protrude, and some sources describe them as burning yellow or green. Gashadokuro wanders around at 2:00 a.m. and attacks and eats humans when it sees them. When a gashadokuro approaches, it is said to make a clattering sound with its teeth. The following characteristics are not confirmed by Japanese data. The Gashadokuro are said to possess the powers of invisibility and indestructibility since it is composed of the bones of people who are already deceased, though Shinto charms are said to ward them off. Otherwise, a Gashadokuro will continue hunting its prey until its pent up anger is released, causing the bones to crumple and the Gashadokuro to collapse.


In modern culture

The Gashadokuro is a Yōkai">yōkai are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word is composed of the kanji for "attractive; calamity" and "apparition; mystery; suspicious." are also referred to as , or . Despite often being translated as suc ...
 that first appeared in print in the middle of the 20th century.In 1966, it first appeared in an article by Morihiro Saito (unnamed) published in the magazine "Bessatsu Shoujyo Friend" , titled "A Special Feature on Japanese Yokai Beside You". The following year, Shigeru Mizuki appeared in the magazine "Nakayoshi Special Edition" (At this time, Kuniyoshi's painting was used as a reference), and then appeared again in Saito's article published in "Bessatsu Shonen King", and the same article was Shigeaki Yamauchi. It was also published in "World's Bizarre Thriller Complete Works 2 Monsters of the World" (
Akita Shoten is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Teio Akita on 10 August 1948. As of 2020, the company's president is Shigeru Higuchi. Magazines Male-oriented manga magazines ''Shōnen'' magazines * – Bimo ...
, 1968) . Also published in Arifumi Sato's "Nihon Yokai Encyclopedia" (1972). Both the illustrations in Sato's writings and Mizuki's are both based on the appearance of the Gashadokuro on the giant skeleton in
Utagawa Kuniyoshi Utagawa Kuniyoshi ( ja, 歌川 国芳, ; January 1, 1798 – April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al'' (2005). "Kuniyoshi" in He was ...
's
ukiyo-e Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese art which flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. Its artists produced woodblock prints and paintings of such subjects as female beauties; kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers; scenes from history and folk t ...
print, ''
Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre ''Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre'' or ''Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha'' ( ja, 相馬の古内裏 妖怪がしゃどくろと戦う大宅太郎光圀) is an ukiyo-e woodblock triptych by Japanes ...
''. It has no direct connection to the Gashadokuro, but is said to have influenced modern depictions. Kuniyoshi's print was commissioned in the
Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characte ...
by
Santō Kyōden Santō Kyōden (山東 京伝, 13 September 1761 Edo – 27 October 1816) was a Japanese artist, writer, and the owner of a tobacco shop during the Edo period. His real name was Iwase Samuru (岩瀬 醒), and he was also known popularly as Ky ...
for a
yomihon is a type of Japanese book from the Edo period (1603–1867). Unlike other Japanese books of the periods, such as kusazōshi, they had few illustrations, and the emphasis was on the text. In storylines, Buddhist ethics such as karma are often pre ...
, depicting a scene in which
Taira no Masakado was a Heian period provincial magnate ('' gōzoku'') and samurai based in eastern Japan, notable for leading the first recorded uprising against the central government in Kyōto. Early life Masakado was one of the sons of Taira no Yoshimas ...
's daughter, Takiyasha-hime, summons a skeleton yōkai to attack the samurai Ooya Tarou Mitsukuni. Although originally described as many life-sized skeletons, Kuniyoshi depicted it as a single giant skeleton, as is characteristic of his work. In the entry for Gashadokuro in Mizuki's book, a related tale from the ''
Nihon Ryōiki The is an early Heian period setsuwa collection. Written by Kyōkai between 787 and 824, it is Japan's oldest collection of Buddhist setsuwa. It is three volumes in length. Title Commonly abbreviated as ''Nihon Ryōiki'', which means "Record of ...
'' is introduced. It tells of a man in Bingo Province ( Hiroshima Prefecture) who is in a field at night and, hearing an eerie voice moaning, "My eye hurts," finds a skeleton there with a bamboo shoot growing from its eye socket. He removes the bamboo shoot and offers the skeleton dried boiled rice, upon which the skeleton tells him the story of its murder and its personal history, and rewards him for his kindness. Though this tale has been conflated with that of the Gashadokuro, the two are in fact unrelated, the Gashadokuro having originated in the later half of the 20th century.


Mythology

One of the first known myths of the Gashadokuro dates back to the tenth century. During the tenth century in Japan, Taira no Masakado, a prominent samurai from the Kanto region was ambushed one day by three of his cousins due to quarrelling over marriages. Enraged by this, Masakado retaliated by burning down their residence, killing one of his uncles, Kunika. Taira no Yoshimasa, who was either Masakado’s parental uncle or cousin, wanted to avenge Kunika and challenged Taira no Masakado to a duel. Upon losing the duel, Yoshimasa, embarrassed by his defeat, called upon Taira no Yoshikane, another one of Masakado’s relatives who fought over the same woman. Yoshikane, who was the assistant governor for Kazusa Province, was easily able to gather many warriors and other officials from his province. On the day of their battle, Masakado, despite only having around 100 poorly-equipped soldiers, was able to inflict heavy casualties on Yoshikane and Yoshimasa’s forces, which was estimated to be thousands strong. After his victory, Masakado was summoned to the imperial court in Kyoto due to complaints received about him. Fujiwara no Tadihira, Masakado’s lord, however, most likely lightened his punishment and helped him get a pardon from the court. In 937, Yoshikane, anxious to avenge his humiliating defeat, once again battled with Masakado. Masakado, injured in the fight, tried to flee with his wife, Yoshikane’s daughter, but was unsuccessful. In 939, Masakado started a minor rebellion referred to as the ‘Tengyō no Ran’ (天慶の乱) ("War in the Tengyō era" or "Tengyō Disturbance"). The armed revolt officially began when Masakado attacked one of the central government’s outposts in Hitachi Province. Later that year, he conquered Shimotsuke and Kōzuke Provinces, claiming the title of Shinnō (New Emperor). The government in Kyoto acknowledged his attacks as a revolt and put a bounty on his head. Taira no Sadamori, his cousin, and Fujiwara no Hidesato killed him in 940, decapitating him and brought his head to the capital in Kyoto for a reward. Masakado’s daughter, Takiyasha Hime, a famous and powerful sorceress, was infuriated at her father’s killers for disrespecting him. She conjured up the first Gashadokuro with the bones of those dead in the battle where Masakado died. To take revenge, Takiyasha Hime unleashed the Gashadokuro on Kyoto. It ravaged the city until Masakado’s head was moved to Shibasaki, a fishing village that eventually became Tokyo. The head became a sort of demigod there, with a grave still standing today near the Tokyo Imperial Palace.


References

Corporeal undead Culture articles needing translation from Japanese Wikipedia Skeletons Yōkai {{Japan-myth-stub