It may be too late, but today, I want to write about a day trip in Chichibu on 5th May.
I went to Chichibu with a friend of mine. Chichibu is a country town of "a foot of mountains" which you can go and return in one day from Tokyo. It was the season of fresh green. Strong sunshine and fresh wind let people feel a change of seasons from a spring to a summer.
It was our purpose to look a religious service (the Shinto ritual), which is associated with the cult of Ookami (wolves) in Shinto. (Shinto is a traditional Japanese religion which has co-existed with Buddhism for over 1000 years in Japan.)
There are two creatures which were regarded as gods in Shinto -that is wolves and snakes. Chichibu was one of the most popular areas about the cult of wolves among Japan.
There is one episode in Japanese mythology. It was a story of one of heroes in Japanese mythology "Yamato-Takeru-no-Mikoto". When he lost his way in deep forest of Chichibu, one white wolf appeared before him. The wolf guided him and he was able to escape from the forest. It was a chance to begin the cult of wolves in Chichibu. After then, Chichibu people had respected wolves as gods, and called "Ooguti-no-Magami" (a god of a big mouth).
Japanese Shinto is polytheism. There are a lot of gods in the world of mythology. Gods are living on various of places in the nature -a sky and a ground, mountains and a sea, a sun and a moon, rivers, lakes, trees, rocks and so on-.
Gods are always living near people, often done good behaviours and bad behaviours, sometimes fall through, and they have feeling humanly -pleasure, affection, anger, jealousy-.
But there are only two animals which were gods. Wolves and snakes.
Japanese people had completely been agricultural people, hardly done farming till modern times. So, Japanese regarded wolves as good animals which help humans, because wolves kill plant-eating animals -deer, wild boar and so on-.
There are one couple of komainu (statures of fantastic lion-dog hybrid) at the gate of shrine. But there are wolves' statures at some shrine which worship wolves.
I began Twitter recently. My account is "WolfKenken". Feel free to talk to me. I can reply by Japanese, Chinese and English.
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My characters' introduction
Perhaps new visitors don't know their character and backbone. So I write their introduction on my journal. I changed design of their costume recently.
Takeru [ 武 ]
He is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone"
He is a son of the "Hero of Fire", who passed away (or missed) several years ago. Takeru is proud of his father.
Takeru's mane is brilliant red. His element is fire. He is a brave and indomitable male wolf.
I imaged his costume from Yoroi [ 鎧 ] and Kabuto [ 兜 ]. Yoroi is a traditional Japanese armor which was used by Samurai [ 侍 ]. Kabuto is a helmet used with a yoroi.
An golden something on his head is Kuwagata [ 鍬 形 ]. Kuwagata is a kabuto's decoration. I guess its shape originates from stag beetles and deer. It was a symbol of power and nobility for higher samurai in rank.
A red something on his shoulders are Osode [ 大 袖 ]. Osode is a part of a yoroi. It protected his shoulder from the attacks. It did the function of a shield. Samurai guarded enemy's attack by it. So samurai never had a shield in a battle.
Parts on his front legs are gauntlets. It's called Kote [ 籠手 ]. Kote is samurai's gauntlet.
His symbol on his Kote is Kamon [ 家 紋 ]. Kamon is Japanese family heraldic symbol. Almost all of Japanese have Kamon.
This kamon is "Taka no Ha" [ 鷹 の 羽 ]. It means "Falcon's plume". Two plume cross in the circle. It is one of the popular kamon in Japan. Especially samurais were fond of using this, because they hoped they lived like a brave falcon.
And as this is my family's kamon, So I love it.
Oto (Oto-Tachibana) [ 乙 橘 ]
She is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". Her element is water.
She is an affectionate, merciful and mild girl. But she will get angry if enemies hurt her family and friends, especially she terribly furious when Takeru is hurt by enemies.
Oto's mother is "the Foxes", father is "the Wolves". So she and her brother is a wolf/fox hybrid. They make good use of wonderful power like Magic, which is called "Genjutu" or "Youjutu".
(Actually, foxes appear in a lot of Japanese folklore as mysterious characters. They often tricked and cursed the people in a weird power. On the other hand, they are worshiped as the servants of Inari-shin. Inari-shin is a god of a good harvest.Well… why did they become the servants of Inari-shin?Since foxes have big tails which looks like good ears of rice, they became it.)
She lost her mother and missed her brother several years ago. Then the Chief (Takeru's grandfather) found her and he has brought up her as his child with Takeru and Inayori.)
She hoped she can meet her brother again someday.
I imaged her ribbon from Hagoromo ( 羽 衣 ) of Tennyo ( 天 女 ).
Tennyo are women who live on heaven. They appear in many Japanese tradision.
They cloth in Hagoromo. Hagoromo has a mysterious power. Tennyo can fly the sky, 'cause they cloth in it.
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The follow is one of Japanese folklore.
Long long ago, One Tennyo came from heaven to the earth and played in the water. She took off her Hagoromo and hung it on the tree. One man saw it. He became to love her. So he stole and hid her Hagoromo. Tennyo wasn't able to go back to heaven. She cried and begged him to give her clothes back. But he refused. She had no choice but to married him...
Someday a child was born from her, and he was going to be very happy. But one day, she found her Hagoromo.
She alone went back to heaven. He cried. But she was never going to be back him...
~ Tennyo's folklore exists not only Japan but also East Asia and South-East Asia. ~
Mikabosi [ 甕 星 ]
He is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". His element is sky.
He is clever and keen wolf. But, at first he confronts Takeru. His girlfriend was taken as a hostage by monsters and he can't disobey their order. But Mikaboshi and Takeru co-operate and rescue his girlfriend from the enemies. Mikabosi thanks Takeru greatly and he becomes Takeru's best friend.
I imaged his armour from an armour (bogu) [ 防 具 ] of Kendo [ 剣 道 ]. Kendo is a Japanese martial art of sword fighting based on a martial art of samurai "Kenjutsu" [ 剣 術 ]. Kendo originates samurais' sword skills in the battle field. There is samurais' way of the life "Bushido" in kendo. It means not only "strength" but also "brevity", "aggressiveness", "politeness", "respect", "calmness", "generosity" and "nobility".
I like a design of Kendo armour.
Yachihoko [ 八 千 矛 ]
He is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". His element is thunder.
He is a strong and gentle wolf. He like to take care of puppies and weak. But he has a sad memory. His family was killed by enemies and became an orphan. But he overcome the trouble and became a strong warrior. He has hoped to be strong for protecting his family and friends because he dislike to lost them again. He has trained his body and fighting skills hard.
Uzume [ 宇 売 ]
She is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". Her element is wind.
Her costume originated from Japanese Kimono [ 着 物 ] and Kanzashi [ 簪 ]. As you know, Kimono is Japanese traditional clothes. Kanzashi is a Japanese woman's traditional hair accessory which functions as a hair pin.
Uzume is a cheerful mood maker. Besides she can sing with beautiful voice.
Kibi [ 吉 備 ]
He is one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". His element is earth.
Kibi is a brave warrior. He will lose his friends because monsters kill them. He revenged them. Takeru and his company helped Kibi when Kibi fought against Ura, who killed Kibi's friend.
Inayori [ 稲 依 ]
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He will be one of the "Heroes of Spiritual Stone". His element is light.
He is a second cousin of Takeru. (Takeru's father is the "Hero of Fire". An uncle of the "Hero of Fire" is the Chief. The chief's grandson is Inayori.
At first, he is a weak and coward puppy. But he will become a brave and strong male wolf as Takeru. Puppy Inayori didn't have a mane and fis fur's colour is all brown. But it will change gradually. Adult Inayori will have a golden mane and beautiful fur.
Hozumi [ 穂 積 ]
He is Oto's brother. His fur is black like mid-night. Oto can meet him after a lot of trouble. He will be the last one of"Heroes of Spiritual Stone". His element is night.
