Yomotsu-shikome (黄泉醜女, lit.'Ugly Woman of the Underworld'), in Japanese mythology, was a hag sent by the dead Izanami to pursue her husband Izanagi, for shaming her by breaking promise not to see her in her decayed form in the Underworld (Yomi-no-kuni). Also recorded by the name Yomotsu-hisame (泉津日狭女), the name may have been a term referring collectively to eight hags, not just one.
The hag appears by the Yomotsu-shikome (or Ugly-Female-of-the-Underworld"[1]) name in the eldest Japanese chronicle Kojiki. But either eight demon-hags (female oni) or a woman/women named Yomotsu-hisame hunted after Izanagi according to the Nihon Shoki, which frequently gives different readings from alternative sources.
Kojiki version
Izanagi was fleeing the Underworld with Yomotsu-shikome in hot pursuit. Izanagi first cast down his black headdress,[a] which turned into a kind of grapes[b] and slowed the hag's advance as she devoured them. Next he broke off his comb Yutsu-tsuma-gushi (湯津爪櫛)[c] and cast them, and the broken piece (the teeth?[2]) turned into bamboo shoots, slowing her down again as she pulled them out and ate them. But the hag was now joined by a large army 1500 strong led by eight Thunder-deities. Izanagi brandished his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi (十拳剣) but still they pursued, until he climbed atop the "flat slope" or "Even Pass"[1] at the entrance to the Underworld, and flung three peaches, whereby the pursuers retreated. After this, Izanami herself came in pursuit, and Izanagi blocked the entrance at the slope with a boulder.[1][3]
Nihon Shoki version
Apart from the variant name and the possibility of multiple hags ("eight Ugly Females of Yomi,"[4]) are some minor discrepancies, such as the lack of mention of the Thunder god and the army and the peaches. As Izanagi reached the entrance, Izanami was already there. According to one telling, Izanagi urinated at the large tree, so that the water swelled into a river, and before Yomotsu-hisame could cross it, Izanagi reached the entrance named the "Even Pass of Yomi".[4][5]
Critical literatureEdit
Several commentators have pointed to the connection between the peach in this story and the general traditional belief or superstition that the peach has supernatural evil-warding powers.[6][7] The symbolism of the "Peach Boy" or Momotarō that defeated the oni is often used as a familiar illustrative parallel.[7]
^Sweet, Charles Filkins (1919). New life in the oldest empire. Macmillan. pp. 1–7.
^Takeda, Yūkichi [in Japanese] (1996) [1977]. Nakamura, Hirotoshi (ed.). Shintei kojiki 新訂古事記 (in Japanese). Kodansha. pp. 27–30. ISBN978-4-04-400101-8.
^ abAston, William George (1896). Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697. Vol. 1. London: Japan Society of London. pp. 24–. ISBN9780524053478.
^Ujitani, Tsutomu [in Japanese] (1988). Nihon shoki 日本書紀 (in Japanese). Vol. 1. Kodansha. pp. 27–8. ISBN9780802150585.
^Akagi, Takehiko (2006). Kojiki Nihonshoki no kaimei: sakusei no dōki to sakusei no hōhō 『古事記』『日本書紀』の解明: 作成の動機と作成の方法. Bungeisha. p. 238. ISBN9784286017303. citing sinologist Mitsuji Fukunaga (福永光司) on several Chinese use of the peach, including the wood of the bow of the mythic Yi (羿).
^ abShoji, Komukai (1992). Shintō no hon 神道の本. Books Esoterica. Vol. 2. Gakken. pp. 27, 130–131.(zasshi code 66951-07; kyōtsu zasshi code T10-66951-07-1000)
ReferencesEdit
Chamberlain, Sir Basil Hall (1882). "A Translation of the 'Ko-ji-ki', or Records of Ancient Matters". Transactions of the Asiastic Society of Japan. Vol. 10, suppl. Yokohama. pp. 261– (p.36): I.IX The Land of Hades.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
(Reprint) Chamberlain, Sir Basil Hall (1917). "The Kojiki, or Records of Ancient matters". In Horne, Charles Francis (ed.). The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East: With an Historical Survey and Descriptions. Vol. 13. Parke. pp. 8–61.Wikisource: ""2.1 The Land of Hades".
External linksEdit
Encyclopedia of Shinto: Yomotsushikome
Encyclopedia of Shinto: Yomotsuhisame
October 23, 2023
shikome, yomotsu, shikome, 黄泉醜女, ugly, woman, underworld, japanese, mythology, sent, dead, izanami, pursue, husband, izanagi, shaming, breaking, promise, decayed, form, underworld, yomi, kuni, also, recorded, name, yomotsu, hisame, 泉津日狭女, name, have, been, ter. Yomotsu shikome 黄泉醜女 lit Ugly Woman of the Underworld in Japanese mythology was a hag sent by the dead Izanami to pursue her husband Izanagi for shaming her by breaking promise not to see her in her decayed form in the Underworld Yomi no kuni Also recorded by the name Yomotsu hisame 泉津日狭女 the name may have been a term referring collectively to eight hags not just one Contents 1 Accounts in mythology 2 Critical literature 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Citations 6 References 7 External linksAccounts in mythology EditFurther information Izanami and Izanagi The hag appears by the Yomotsu shikome or Ugly Female of the Underworld 1 name in the eldest Japanese chronicle Kojiki But either eight demon hags female oni or a woman women named Yomotsu hisame hunted after Izanagi according to the Nihon Shoki which frequently gives different readings from alternative sources Kojiki versionIzanagi was fleeing the Underworld with Yomotsu shikome in hot pursuit Izanagi first cast down his black headdress a which turned into a kind of grapes b and slowed the hag s advance as she devoured them Next he broke off his comb Yutsu tsuma gushi 湯津爪櫛 c and cast them and the broken piece the teeth 2 turned into bamboo shoots slowing her down again as she pulled them out and ate them But the hag was now joined by a large army 1500 strong led by eight Thunder deities Izanagi brandished his Totsuka no Tsurugi 十拳剣 but still they pursued until he climbed atop the flat slope or Even Pass 1 at the entrance to the Underworld and flung three peaches whereby the pursuers retreated After this Izanami herself came in pursuit and Izanagi blocked the entrance at the slope with a boulder 1 3 Nihon Shoki versionApart from the variant name and the possibility of multiple hags eight Ugly Females of Yomi 4 are some minor discrepancies such as the lack of mention of the Thunder god and the army and the peaches As Izanagi reached the entrance Izanami was already there According to one telling Izanagi urinated at the large tree so that the water swelled into a river and before Yomotsu hisame could cross it Izanagi reached the entrance named the Even Pass of Yomi 4 5 Critical literature EditSeveral commentators have pointed to the connection between the peach in this story and the general traditional belief or superstition that the peach has supernatural evil warding powers 6 7 The symbolism of the Peach Boy or Momotarō that defeated the oni is often used as a familiar illustrative parallel 7 See also EditIzanami Oni demon Totsuka no Tsurugi Aarne Thompson Tale Type 313 Stith Thompson motif D672 Obstacle flight Lampad The Lampads or Lampades are the nymphs of the Underworld in Classical Greco Roman mythology Baba Yaga The Death of Koschei the DeathlessNotes Edit plant woven into a wreathe Chamberlain 1882 p 36 note14 and used to ward off evil Takeda 1996 p 29 note18 ebikazura 蒲子 which is Old Japanese for yamabudō 山葡萄 Vitis coignetiae77 Takeda 1996 p 29 note19 Izanagi earlier broke off the end of this comb to ignite the fire in order to have a light source to peek at his wifeCitations Edit a b c Chamberlain 1882 p 36 I IX The Land of Hades Sweet Charles Filkins 1919 New life in the oldest empire Macmillan pp 1 7 Takeda Yukichi in Japanese 1996 1977 Nakamura Hirotoshi ed Shintei kojiki 新訂古事記 in Japanese Kodansha pp 27 30 ISBN 978 4 04 400101 8 a b Aston William George 1896 Nihongi Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A D 697 Vol 1 London Japan Society of London pp 24 ISBN 9780524053478 Ujitani Tsutomu in Japanese 1988 Nihon shoki 日本書紀 in Japanese Vol 1 Kodansha pp 27 8 ISBN 9780802150585 Akagi Takehiko 2006 Kojiki Nihonshoki no kaimei sakusei no dōki to sakusei no hōhō 古事記 日本書紀 の解明 作成の動機と作成の方法 Bungeisha p 238 ISBN 9784286017303 citing sinologist Mitsuji Fukunaga 福永光司 on several Chinese use of the peach including the wood of the bow of the mythic Yi 羿 a b Shoji Komukai 1992 Shintō no hon 神道の本 Books Esoterica Vol 2 Gakken pp 27 130 131 zasshi code 66951 07 kyōtsu zasshi code T10 66951 07 1000 References EditChamberlain Sir Basil Hall 1882 A Translation of the Ko ji ki or Records of Ancient Matters Transactions of the Asiastic Society of Japan Vol 10 suppl Yokohama pp 261 p 36 I IX The Land of Hades a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Reprint Chamberlain Sir Basil Hall 1917 The Kojiki or Records of Ancient matters In Horne Charles Francis ed The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East With an Historical Survey and Descriptions Vol 13 Parke pp 8 61 Wikisource nbsp 2 1 The Land of Hades External links EditEncyclopedia of Shinto Yomotsushikome Encyclopedia of Shinto Yomotsuhisame Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shikome amp oldid 1177167049, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
