Atmospheric ghost lights are lights (or fires) that appear in the atmosphere without an obvious cause. Examples include the onibi, hitodama and will-o'-wisp. They are often seen in humid climates.[1]
According to legend, some lights are wandering spirits of the dead, the work of devils or yōkai, or the pranks of fairies. They are feared by some people as a portent of death. In other parts of the world, there are folk beliefs that supernatural fires appear where treasure is buried; these fires are said to be the spirits of the treasure or the spirits of humans buried with grave goods.[1] Atmospheric ghost lights are also sometimes thought to be related to UFOs.[2]
Some ghost lights such as St. Elmo's fire or the shiranui have been explained as optical phenomena of light emitted through electrical activity. Other types may be due to combustion of flammable gases, ball lightning, meteors, torches and other human-made fires, the misperception of human objects, and pranks.[2][3]
The Min Min light is a phenomenon believed to occur in outback Australia. The lights originate from before European colonization but have now become part of modern urban folklore.
In addition to the onibi and hitodama, there are other examples of atmospheric ghost lights in legend, such as the kitsunebi and the shiranui:
Osabi (筬火, lit. "guide for yarn on loom fire")
In the Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture area, atmospheric ghost lights were described in first-hand accounts until the middle of the Meiji period. Two balls of fire would appear side by side on rainy nights at a pond known as the Misuma pond (Misumaike). It was said that a woman lent an osa (a guide for yarn on a loom) to another woman; when she returned to retrieve it, the two argued and fell into the pond. Their dispute became an atmospheric ghost fire, still said to be burning.[4] Legend has it that misfortune befalls anyone who sees the fire.[5]
Obora
Related in legends on Ōmi Island in Ehime Prefecture, it is said to be the spiritual fire of a deceased person.[6] In Miyakubo village, Ochi District in the same prefecture (now Imabari), they are known as oborabi. A legend exists of atmospheric ghost fires appearing above the sea or at graves;[7] these are sometimes the same kind of fire.[8]
Kane no Kami no Hi (金の神の火, lit. "fire of the metal god")
Related in legends on Nuwa Island, Ehime Prefecture and in the folklore publication Sōgō Nippon Minzoku Goi, this is a fire appearing at night on New Year's Eve behind the patron Shinto god's shrine on Nuwa Island. It is accompanied by sounds similar to human screaming, and is interpreted by local residents as a sign that the goddess of luck has appeared.[9]
Kinka (金火, lit. "gold fire")
This fire appeared in the fantasy collection, Sanshū Kidan. It is said to appear at Hachiman, Jōshikaidō and Komatsu as a fuse-like atmospheric ghost light.[10]Sayō Shunsō Anzekyū Ika wo Mishi Mono from Nishihari Kaidan Jikki
Kumobi (蜘蛛火, lit. "spider fire")
In a legend in Tenkō village, Shiki District, Nara Prefecture (now Sakurai), hundreds of spiders became a ball of fire in the air and one would die upon contact with it.[11] Similarly, in Tamashimayashima, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture the Kumo no Hi is said to be the work of spiders. As a red ball of fire appears above the forest near the Inari shrine on the island, it is said to dance around above the mountains and forest and then disappear.[12] In Banshū (now Hyōgo Prefecture), according to Nishihari Kaidan Jikki (in the section "Sayō Shunsō Anzekyū Ika wo Mishi Mono") an atmospheric ghost light would appear in the village of Sayō, Sayō District, Banshū. Although "perhaps it is a spider fire", its details have not been made clear.[13]
Gongorōbi (権五郎火, lit. "Gongorō fire")
In legends from the area around Honjō-ji, Sanjō, Niigata Prefecture, Isono no Gongorō, after winning at gambling, was killed; his murder became an atmospheric ghost light. At a nearby family farm Gongorōbi is a sign of impending rain, and peasants who see it hurry to retrieve their rice-drying racks.[14]
Jōsenbi from Ehon Sayo Shigure by Shungyōsai Hayami
Jōsenbi (地黄煎火, lit. "Jōsen fire")
In a Yomihon (Ehon Sayo Shigure) from the Edo period, at Minakuchi, Ōmi (now Kōka, Shiga Prefecture) there was a person who made a livelihood out of selling jōsen (candy made from the sap of Rehmannia glutinosa, boiled into a paste) who was killed by a robber. It is said that the vendor became an atmospheric ghost fire, floating on rainy nights.[15]
Sōrikanko
Told in legends of Shioire, Oodachi, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, its name means "the Kanko of Shioiri village".[16] A beautiful girl named Kanko received many marriage proposals, but refused them all since she loved someone else. One of her suitors buried her alive in the Niida River, and her atmospheric ghost light became able to fly. When a cement factory was later built there, a small shrine to Kanko was included.[17]
Susuke Chōchin (煤け提灯, lit. "stained paper lantern")
Told in the legends of Niigata Prefecture, on rainy nights it would fly airily around a place where bodies are washed for burial.[18]
Nobi (野火, lit. "field fire")
A legend from Nagaoka District, Tosa Province (now Kōchi Prefecture), nobi appears in a variety of locations. An umbrella-sized fire would float, bursting apart into star-like lights that would spread from four or five shaku to several hundreds of meters apart. It is said that by putting saliva on a zōri and calling it, it would dance brilliantly in the sky above one's head.[19]
United Kingdomedit
The Longdendale lights are lights reported in the sky over part of the Peak District in northern England, with stories dating back hundreds of years.
United Statesedit
The Spooklight is a stationary light appearing west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. The Paulding Light is a similar phenomenon in Michigan. Scientific investigation revealed both to be caused by distant car headlights.
The Marfa lights are a reported atmospheric light phenomenon in Texas.
The Brown Mountain lights are purported ghost lights near Brown Mountain in North Carolina.
民俗学研究所編著 (1955). 綜合日本民俗語彙 (in Japanese). Vol. 第1巻. 柳田國男監修. 平凡社.
January 01, 1970
atmospheric, ghost, lights, lights, fires, that, appear, atmosphere, without, obvious, cause, examples, include, onibi, hitodama, will, wisp, they, often, seen, humid, climates, according, legend, some, lights, wandering, spirits, dead, work, devils, yōkai, pr. Atmospheric ghost lights are lights or fires that appear in the atmosphere without an obvious cause Examples include the onibi hitodama and will o wisp They are often seen in humid climates 1 According to legend some lights are wandering spirits of the dead the work of devils or yōkai or the pranks of fairies They are feared by some people as a portent of death In other parts of the world there are folk beliefs that supernatural fires appear where treasure is buried these fires are said to be the spirits of the treasure or the spirits of humans buried with grave goods 1 Atmospheric ghost lights are also sometimes thought to be related to UFOs 2 Some ghost lights such as St Elmo s fire or the shiranui have been explained as optical phenomena of light emitted through electrical activity Other types may be due to combustion of flammable gases ball lightning meteors torches and other human made fires the misperception of human objects and pranks 2 3 Contents 1 Australia 2 Canada 3 Japan 4 United Kingdom 5 United States 6 Notes 7 ReferencesAustralia editThe Min Min light is a phenomenon believed to occur in outback Australia The lights originate from before European colonization but have now become part of modern urban folklore Canada editThe St Louis light is a mysterious beam of white light reported near Saint Louis Saskatchewan Japan editIn addition to the onibi and hitodama there are other examples of atmospheric ghost lights in legend such as the kitsunebi and the shiranui Osabi 筬火 lit guide for yarn on loom fire In the Nobeoka Miyazaki Prefecture area atmospheric ghost lights were described in first hand accounts until the middle of the Meiji period Two balls of fire would appear side by side on rainy nights at a pond known as the Misuma pond Misumaike It was said that a woman lent an osa a guide for yarn on a loom to another woman when she returned to retrieve it the two argued and fell into the pond Their dispute became an atmospheric ghost fire still said to be burning 4 Legend has it that misfortune befalls anyone who sees the fire 5 Obora Related in legends on Ōmi Island in Ehime Prefecture it is said to be the spiritual fire of a deceased person 6 In Miyakubo village Ochi District in the same prefecture now Imabari they are known as oborabi A legend exists of atmospheric ghost fires appearing above the sea or at graves 7 these are sometimes the same kind of fire 8 Kane no Kami no Hi 金の神の火 lit fire of the metal god Related in legends on Nuwa Island Ehime Prefecture and in the folklore publication Sōgō Nippon Minzoku Goi this is a fire appearing at night on New Year s Eve behind the patron Shinto god s shrine on Nuwa Island It is accompanied by sounds similar to human screaming and is interpreted by local residents as a sign that the goddess of luck has appeared 9 Kinka 金火 lit gold fire This fire appeared in the fantasy collection Sanshu Kidan It is said to appear at Hachiman Jōshikaidō and Komatsu as a fuse like atmospheric ghost light 10 nbsp Sayō Shunsō Anzekyu Ika wo Mishi Mono from Nishihari Kaidan Jikki Kumobi 蜘蛛火 lit spider fire In a legend in Tenkō village Shiki District Nara Prefecture now Sakurai hundreds of spiders became a ball of fire in the air and one would die upon contact with it 11 Similarly in Tamashimayashima Kurashiki Okayama Prefecture the Kumo no Hi is said to be the work of spiders As a red ball of fire appears above the forest near the Inari shrine on the island it is said to dance around above the mountains and forest and then disappear 12 In Banshu now Hyōgo Prefecture according to Nishihari Kaidan Jikki in the section Sayō Shunsō Anzekyu Ika wo Mishi Mono an atmospheric ghost light would appear in the village of Sayō Sayō District Banshu Although perhaps it is a spider fire its details have not been made clear 13 Gongorōbi 権五郎火 lit Gongorō fire In legends from the area around Honjō ji Sanjō Niigata Prefecture Isono no Gongorō after winning at gambling was killed his murder became an atmospheric ghost light At a nearby family farm Gongorōbi is a sign of impending rain and peasants who see it hurry to retrieve their rice drying racks 14 nbsp Jōsenbi from Ehon Sayo Shigure by Shungyōsai Hayami Jōsenbi 地黄煎火 lit Jōsen fire In a Yomihon Ehon Sayo Shigure from the Edo period at Minakuchi Ōmi now Kōka Shiga Prefecture there was a person who made a livelihood out of selling jōsen candy made from the sap of Rehmannia glutinosa boiled into a paste who was killed by a robber It is said that the vendor became an atmospheric ghost fire floating on rainy nights 15 Sōrikanko Told in legends of Shioire Oodachi Hachinohe Aomori Prefecture its name means the Kanko of Shioiri village 16 A beautiful girl named Kanko received many marriage proposals but refused them all since she loved someone else One of her suitors buried her alive in the Niida River and her atmospheric ghost light became able to fly When a cement factory was later built there a small shrine to Kanko was included 17 Susuke Chōchin 煤け提灯 lit stained paper lantern Told in the legends of Niigata Prefecture on rainy nights it would fly airily around a place where bodies are washed for burial 18 Nobi 野火 lit field fire A legend from Nagaoka District Tosa Province now Kōchi Prefecture nobi appears in a variety of locations An umbrella sized fire would float bursting apart into star like lights that would spread from four or five shaku to several hundreds of meters apart It is said that by putting saliva on a zōri and calling it it would dance brilliantly in the sky above one s head 19 United Kingdom editThe Longdendale lights are lights reported in the sky over part of the Peak District in northern England with stories dating back hundreds of years United States editThe Spooklight is a stationary light appearing west of the small town of Hornet Missouri The Paulding Light is a similar phenomenon in Michigan Scientific investigation revealed both to be caused by distant car headlights The Marfa lights are a reported atmospheric light phenomenon in Texas The Brown Mountain lights are purported ghost lights near Brown Mountain in North Carolina Notes edit a b Tsunoda 1979 pages 11 53 a b Kanda 1992 pages 275 278 Miyata Noboru 2002 妖怪の民俗学 日本の見えない空間 ちくま学芸文庫 Chikuma Shobo pp 168 173 ISBN 978 4 480 08699 0 柳田國男 1977 妖怪談義 Kodansha academic library ja 講談社 p 214 ISBN 978 4 06 158135 7 加藤恵 December 1989 県別日本妖怪事典 歴史読本 34 24 通巻515号 332 雑誌 09618 12 日野巌 日野綏彦 2006 日本妖怪変化語彙 In Kenji Murakami in Japanese ed 動物妖怪譚 中公文庫 Vol 下 中央公論新社 p 243 ISBN 978 4 12 204792 1 Folklore Institute 1955 p 287 村上健司編著 2000 妖怪事典 毎日新聞社 p 88 ISBN 978 4 620 31428 0 Folklore Institute 1955 p 385 堀麦水 2003 三州奇談 江戸怪異綺想文芸大系 Vol 5 高田衛監修 国書刊行会 p 164 ISBN 978 4 336 04275 0 Inoue Enryō 1983 おばけの正体 Identity of the ghost 新編妖怪叢書 Vol 6 国書刊行会 p 23 BN01566352 佐藤米司編 1979 岡山の怪談 岡山文庫 Japan Educational Publishing p 40 BA7625303X 小栗栖健治 埴岡真弓編著 2001 播磨の妖怪たち 西播怪談実記 の世界 神戸新聞綜合出版センター pp 161 164 ISBN 978 4 343 00114 6 外山暦郎 1974 越後三条南郷談 In 池田彌三郎他編 ed 日本民俗誌大系 Vol 7 角川書店 p 203 ISBN 978 4 04 530307 4 速水春暁斎 2002 絵本小夜時雨 In 近藤瑞木編 ed 百鬼繚乱 江戸怪談 妖怪絵本集成 国書刊行会 pp 158 159 ISBN 978 4 336 04447 1 佐藤清明 1935 現行全國妖怪辞典 方言叢書 中國民俗學會 p 28 BA34159738 森山泰太郎 北彰介 1977 青森の伝説 日本の伝説 角川書店 pp 27 28 BN03653753 民俗学研究所編著 1955 綜合日本民俗語彙 Vol 2 柳田國男監修 平凡社 p 775 BN05729787 高村日羊 August 1936 妖怪 民間伝承 12 7 8 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will o the wisps 角田義治 1979 現代怪火考 in Japanese 大陸書房 神田左京 1992 不知火 人魂 狐火 中公文庫 in Japanese 中央公論新社 ISBN 978 4 12 201958 4 民俗学研究所編著 1955 綜合日本民俗語彙 in Japanese Vol 第1巻 柳田國男監修 平凡社 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atmospheric ghost lights amp oldid 1219737942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
