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As it& #39;s #folklorethursday I& #39;d like introduce one of my favourite monsters, the Nue (鵺), who was killed close to my house.
At the time of the incident this area belonged to the Kunaisho (宮内省-Department of the Imperial Household) within the Dairi (内裏-the Greater Palace).
At the time of the incident this area belonged to the Kunaisho (宮内省-Department of the Imperial Household) within the Dairi (内裏-the Greater Palace).
The Nue (鵺) first appears in stories from the early Kamakura period. The Heike Monogatari (平家物語) describes the creature as having the face of a monkey, the legs of a tiger, a Tanuki& #39;s (or tiger& #39;s) body & a snake for a tail (including spitting head).
#Kyoto #Japan #nue #鵺
#Kyoto #Japan #nue #鵺
It so happened that one night, during the reign of Emperor Nijo (二条天皇 1143-65), black smoke engulfed the Seiryo-den (清涼殿-the Residence of the Emperor) at the Hour of the Ox (2am). A strange cry, like the call of the Scaly Thrush, filled the palace rooms.
#Japan #Kyoto #鵺
#Japan #Kyoto #鵺
When day broke it was discovered that Emperor Nijo* had fallen deathly ill. Neither prayers nor medicine could wake him. Linking his sickness to the strange events, a record was uncovered of Minamoto-no-Yoshiie (源義家 1039-1106) slaying a creature with a similar voice.
#京都
#京都
*There are many different versions of the story of the Nue. Taking place some time between the reigns of Emperor Konoe & Takakura, each tale describes the Nue& #39;s appearance in slightly different ways.
The final resting place of the Nue remains hotly contested to this day.
#Kyoto
The final resting place of the Nue remains hotly contested to this day.
#Kyoto
Minamoto-no-Yorimasa (源頼政 1106-80), a master archer & descendant of Yoshiie, was called upon to kill the monster should it return. Yorimasa arrived with his right hand man Ino Hayata (猪早太) & an arrow that had belonged to his ancestor Yorimitsu (源頼光).
#FolkloreThursday
#FolkloreThursday
Secreting themselves in the forest at Higashi Sanjo, the pair waited until the Hour of the Ox. Sure enough, a dark cloud soon extinguished the moon. Without waiting Yorimasa called upon the god Hachiman (protector of the Minamoto) for help & shot into the heart of the smoke.
