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[O05-P03] Volcanic influence in the Oni legends of Mount Asama
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Onioshidashi, The Oni legend of Mount Asama
On the north side of Mount Asama, which straddles Gunma and Nagano prefectures, there is a scenic spot of strangely shaped rocks made of lava that flowed out during past eruptions. This lava is called "Onioshidashi Lava" because it is said to look like an Oni raging in the crater and pushing it out.
Mount Asama is an active volcano that constantly emits gas from its crater, and has had repeated explosive eruptions in the past. When Mount Asama erupted, people in the past would say that "an Oni was raging." There is a place called "Hell Valley" in the geothermal area where gas is circulating, and the appearance of Mount Asama, with its repeated eruptions and smoke rising from its crater, probably overlaps with the image of hell where Onis live.
In the "Josyu Asamadake Kokuzo Bosatsu Ryakuengi," which is said to have been handed down at Enmei-ji Temple, which claims to be the head priest of Asama Daimyojin, an Oni appears trapped in a cave in Mount Asama.
According to the legend, "When Kanbara Yukishige climbed Mount Asama, he encountered an Oni trapped in a cave. The Oni said in tears, 'I tried to overthrow Japan, but I was trapped by the lord of this mountain. If you help me, I will become a good Oni and protect Mount Asama.' Yukishige helped the Oni and built the Kijin-do Hall."
When it comes to Oni legends, Momotaro's slaying of the Oni is widely known, but there are also stories of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (the Shuten-doji legend), Taira no Koremochi (the Momiji legend), and Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (the Oni's corpse legend) who defeated Onis. In these legends, the Onis are depicted as evildoers or enemies, and are defeated by heroes. The Onis symbolize the forces that resist the rule of the central government, and are the targets of extermination.
However, in the Oni legend of Mount Asama, the Oni trapped in the cave shows a change of heart, and Yukishige helps the Oni, builds the Kijin-do Hall, and worships him as the guardian deity of Mount Asama. The story unfolds this way probably because Onis are depicted as symbols of volcanoes.
Humans normally live their lives receiving various blessings from volcanoes. However, once an eruption occurs, there is no human power to stop it. It is thought that Yukishige feared the Oni as a symbol of volcanoes, which bring both blessings and disasters to humans, and therefore enshrined them as objects of prayer.
Mount Asama is an active volcano that constantly emits gas from its crater, and has had repeated explosive eruptions in the past. When Mount Asama erupted, people in the past would say that "an Oni was raging." There is a place called "Hell Valley" in the geothermal area where gas is circulating, and the appearance of Mount Asama, with its repeated eruptions and smoke rising from its crater, probably overlaps with the image of hell where Onis live.
In the "Josyu Asamadake Kokuzo Bosatsu Ryakuengi," which is said to have been handed down at Enmei-ji Temple, which claims to be the head priest of Asama Daimyojin, an Oni appears trapped in a cave in Mount Asama.
According to the legend, "When Kanbara Yukishige climbed Mount Asama, he encountered an Oni trapped in a cave. The Oni said in tears, 'I tried to overthrow Japan, but I was trapped by the lord of this mountain. If you help me, I will become a good Oni and protect Mount Asama.' Yukishige helped the Oni and built the Kijin-do Hall."
When it comes to Oni legends, Momotaro's slaying of the Oni is widely known, but there are also stories of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (the Shuten-doji legend), Taira no Koremochi (the Momiji legend), and Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (the Oni's corpse legend) who defeated Onis. In these legends, the Onis are depicted as evildoers or enemies, and are defeated by heroes. The Onis symbolize the forces that resist the rule of the central government, and are the targets of extermination.
However, in the Oni legend of Mount Asama, the Oni trapped in the cave shows a change of heart, and Yukishige helps the Oni, builds the Kijin-do Hall, and worships him as the guardian deity of Mount Asama. The story unfolds this way probably because Onis are depicted as symbols of volcanoes.
Humans normally live their lives receiving various blessings from volcanoes. However, once an eruption occurs, there is no human power to stop it. It is thought that Yukishige feared the Oni as a symbol of volcanoes, which bring both blessings and disasters to humans, and therefore enshrined them as objects of prayer.