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For #FolkloreThursday I thought I'd talk about one of Kyoto's most famous bridges...though perhaps you've never heard of it.
The bridge makes an appearance in the lives & deaths of many famous Kyōto residents, including a 'wizard', a demon and Japan's greatest tea master.
#Japan
The bridge makes an appearance in the lives & deaths of many famous Kyōto residents, including a 'wizard', a demon and Japan's greatest tea master.
#Japan
'THE RESURRECTION BRIDGE' (一条戻橋)
Ichijō Modori-bashi is the setting for numerous spine-chilling stories.
A small replica of the original bridge (using railings discarded from the 1995 rebuilding) can be seen in the grounds of Seimei-jinja (晴明神社).
#Kyoto #Japan
The bridge was erected with the formation of Kyōto (平安京 'Heian-kyō') and the excavation of Horikawa (堀河-the word simply means 'canal') in 794.
Because the name 'Modori' (戻) can mean 'return' or 'reversal', even today funeral & wedding processions avoid crossing the bridge.
Because the name 'Modori' (戻) can mean 'return' or 'reversal', even today funeral & wedding processions avoid crossing the bridge.
At the time of its erection the bridge stood on Ichijō Ōji (一条大路), a major thoroughfare that passed directly north of the palace, probably more or less its current position.
It was known as Ichijō-bashi (一条橋), Tsuchimikado-bashi (土御門橋) & Horikawa-bashi (堀川橋).
#Kyoto
It was known as Ichijō-bashi (一条橋), Tsuchimikado-bashi (土御門橋) & Horikawa-bashi (堀川橋).
#Kyoto
RESURRECTION
In 918 an incident would result in the bridge becoming known as 'Modori-bashi' (戻橋), the 'Returning Bridge'.
Jōzō Kisho (浄蔵貴所), a Shugendō monk practising in Kumano (熊野三山), learned that his scholar father was dying and so raced back to the capital.
By the time Jōzō arrived in Heian-kyō his father was already 5 days dead, but he learnt the funeral procession had only just departed.
Jōzō managed to catch the cortège at Ichijō-bashi and bid them stop so he could pray at the small shrine to Kannon (観音) beside the bridge.
Jōzō managed to catch the cortège at Ichijō-bashi and bid them stop so he could pray at the small shrine to Kannon (観音) beside the bridge.
Jōzō whispered incantations that darkened the sky.
His dead father, engulfed in a blinding light, opened his eyes!
Depending on the story, Jōzō's father either lived long enough for him to say goodbye, or for 2 more days.
Soon people were calling it the 'Returning Bridge'.
His dead father, engulfed in a blinding light, opened his eyes!
Depending on the story, Jōzō's father either lived long enough for him to say goodbye, or for 2 more days.
Soon people were calling it the 'Returning Bridge'.
Jōzō's father, Miyoshi Kiyotsura (三善清行 847-918), was a Confucianist, deeply suspicious of Buddhism. He was also a critic of the emperor and those around him, including Sugawara-no-Michizane (菅原道真 845-903). Interestingly, many attribute his death to the curse of Michizane!
Almost instantly superstitions emerged.
Funeral processions rightly avoided crossing the bridge, as did wedding parties (for fear the marriage ties would be 'reversed').
It is said young conscripts would gladly cross, hoping that they would be 'returned' safely from war.
#Japan
Funeral processions rightly avoided crossing the bridge, as did wedding parties (for fear the marriage ties would be 'reversed').
It is said young conscripts would gladly cross, hoping that they would be 'returned' safely from war.
#Japan
LITERATURE
In 'The Tale of Genji' Murasaki Shikibu describes 'Yukuhakaeru-bashi' (ゆくはかへるの橋), the 'Go & Return Bridge'. It is a reference to Modori-bashi. Standing at the boundary of the city, the bridge was used as poetic allusion for wanting to return to the capital.
The famed poet Izumi Shikubu (和泉式部 b.976?-?) wrote about the bridge:
wherever they go
they cross to return
Modori-bashi
いづくにも帰るさまのみ渡れはやもどり橋とは人のいふらん
#一条戻橋 #ModoriBridge #京都 #Kyoto #Japan #FolkloreThursday
wherever they go
they cross to return
Modori-bashi
いづくにも帰るさまのみ渡れはやもどり橋とは人のいふらん
#一条戻橋 #ModoriBridge #京都 #Kyoto #Japan #FolkloreThursday
WIZARD, WARRIOR & THE DEMON'S ARM
The residence of Japan's most famous diviner, Abe-no-Seimei, was close to Modori-bashi.
Here's a thread about the 'wizard'
https://twitter.com/camelliakyoto/status/1315446551540449281?s=20
Seimei used 12 'Shikigami' (式神), unruly & powerful spirits, as household servants.
#京都
Seimei's wife was terrified of the creatures & so when not needed he would hide them away in a box beneath the nearby bridge.
His wife's fear was not completely unfounded. There are tales of Shikigami breaking free from spells & turning on their masters.
#FolkloreThursday #Japan
His wife's fear was not completely unfounded. There are tales of Shikigami breaking free from spells & turning on their masters.
#FolkloreThursday #Japan
Somewhat echoing Jōzō's legend, it is said that Seimei managed to resurrect his father on the bridge with the help of his Shikigami.
Abe-no-Yasuna (安倍保名) was 'murdered' by the younger brother of Seimei's great rival Ashiya Dōman (蘆屋道満) in a case of mistaken identity.
Abe-no-Yasuna (安倍保名) was 'murdered' by the younger brother of Seimei's great rival Ashiya Dōman (蘆屋道満) in a case of mistaken identity.
IBARAKI-DŌJI
Modori-bashi, depending on what story you read, was setting for the battle between the warrior Watanabe-no-Tsuna and one of Japan's most fearsome demons 'Ibaraki-dōji' (茨木童子).
You can find more on Ibaraki-dōji here
-https://twitter.com/camelliakyoto/status/1329213408634228736?s=20
#yokai #Japan
Watanabe-no-Tsuna was crossing the Ichijō Modori Bridge (一条戻橋) on his way home one night when he met a beautiful girl in distress.
Calming her tears, he placed her on his horse and decided to seek help at Abe-no-Seimei's house.
#Japan #yokai #Kyoto
Calming her tears, he placed her on his horse and decided to seek help at Abe-no-Seimei's house.
#Japan #yokai #Kyoto
They had gone only a little way when the girl transformed.
Before he could act, Tsuna found himself being carried into the air.
Ibaraki-dōji flew hard for Mt Atago (愛宕山), determined to have revenge on this warrior!
Tsuna freed himself by slicing off the oni's arm.
#folklore
Before he could act, Tsuna found himself being carried into the air.
Ibaraki-dōji flew hard for Mt Atago (愛宕山), determined to have revenge on this warrior!
Tsuna freed himself by slicing off the oni's arm.
#folklore
Tsuna took the arm to his master Minamoto-no-Raikō (源頼光) to seek help.
Together they visited the wizard Abe-no-Seimei (安倍晴明), who sealed the arm with magic in a box.
He told Tsuna to isolate himself at home for 7 days, and to keep all doors & windows sealed for that time.
Together they visited the wizard Abe-no-Seimei (安倍晴明), who sealed the arm with magic in a box.
He told Tsuna to isolate himself at home for 7 days, and to keep all doors & windows sealed for that time.
On the last night of quarantine Tsuna's old aunt Mashiba (真柴) appeared. He told her to return in the morning, but she all but fainted at the door.
Reluctantly he carried her inside & slowly she revived.
Together they enjoyed tea, and he let slip about his run in with a demon.
Reluctantly he carried her inside & slowly she revived.
Together they enjoyed tea, and he let slip about his run in with a demon.
The aunt expressed an interest in seeing the arm, and after much persuasion Tsuna gave in.
He opened the box and in doing so broke all the spells woven by Seimei.
In the aunt's place sat Ibaraki. She grabbed the arm and flew through the ceiling, never to be seen in Kyōto again.
He opened the box and in doing so broke all the spells woven by Seimei.
In the aunt's place sat Ibaraki. She grabbed the arm and flew through the ceiling, never to be seen in Kyōto again.
FORTUNE TELLING
Modori-bashi was a famous spot for Hashiura (橋占), an unusual form of fortune telling.
Having been asked a question, the diviner hid himself below the bridge. An answer was found by listening to the conversations of those passing above, picking out key words.
Upon his elder sister’s entry into the court as imperial consort, Fujiwara-no-Yorinaga (藤原頼長 d.1156) had Hashiura performed to see whether the match would be successful.
In 1178 the mother of Taira-no-Tokuko (平徳子) used Hashiura to see her new grandson's future*.
#Japan
In 1178 the mother of Taira-no-Tokuko (平徳子) used Hashiura to see her new grandson's future*.
#Japan
