A link between Halloween and Japanese fairy tales ?
Halloween marks the end of the Celtic year and the passage between the worlds of the living and the dead. A tradition that shares, with the Japanese kaidan, a certain fascination with the supernatural. Halloween costumes and ghost stories are reminiscent of the yūrei ghosts and yōkai of kaidan tales and, despite coming from different cultures, both highlight a shared fascination with the mysteries of the afterlife, the invisible and the inexplicable.
If you're not familiar with the term, kaidan are supernatural horror tales that flourished during the Edo period (1603-1868). Even today, these tales continue to fuel the Japanese fascination with the spirit world.
The spiritual roots of Kaidan
Japan is a land rich in myths and legends deeply rooted in Shintoism and Buddhism. These beliefs, which attribute spirits to each element of nature and advocate reincarnation, create a universe where the boundaries between the living and the dead are quite blurred.
Kaidan stories frequently explore themes of revenge, betrayal and spiritual mysteries. They feature enigmatic figures such as yūrei, tormented vengeful ghosts, and yōkai, fearsome supernatural creatures.
Some tales have stood the test of time and become staples of Japanese horror. They have influenced No and Kabuki theater, as well as cinema and manga. Here are three of the most famous.
Yotsuya Kaidan
This Kaidan tells the tragic story of Oiwa, a betrayed woman poisoned by her husband Iemon. Horribly disfigured and grief-stricken, she regularly returns from beyond the grave to haunt her tormentor and his accomplices.
This tale of revenge has had a profound impact on Japanese culture, and has given rise to numerous theatrical and film adaptations.
Banchō Sarayashiki
In this tale, Okiku is a servant girl accused of breaking a set of ten plates. Furious, her master throws her into a well to punish her.
From that moment on, her ghost returns every night to count the plates, but always stops at nine, before bursting into tears. His wandering spirit terrorizes all who approach him.
The confrontation between Susanoo and Yamata-no-Orochi
This tale recounts the epic battle between the god of storms, Susanoo, and Yamata-no-Orochi, a gigantic eight-headed serpent.
Susanoo defeats the creature by intoxicating it, before beheading it. A heroic myth that evokes the struggle between good and evil.
These tales have given rise to the Hyaku Monogatari, a game widely played in Japan
In this game, participants tell stories about ghosts or supernatural events. It is played at night, in a room lit by a hundred candles. After each story, a candle is extinguished, gradually plunging the room into darkness. Once the hundredth story has been told, spirits are said to appear, creating an atmosphere of tension and fear.
Hyaku Monogatari also refers to a work by Hokusai. This is a series of five woodcuts in the Yurei-zu genre (paintings of ghosts and demons), depicting Yokai from popular Kaidan.
We hope that the link between Japanese and Celtic culture has inspired you to find out more about this terrifying and fascinating folklore. Every tale, every chilling story and every light is guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine !
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