#yakubyôgami

[tanuki-kimono]

Wara ningyô (straw doll) kept at Tono Museum.

Those effigies were once hung on ropes (michikiri) by roadsides and village entrances to ward off evil spirits bringing pestilence (疫病神 yakubyôgami). They were sometimes accessorized, like this one bearing a daishô (katana set) and a fearsome (oni?) face mask.

Waraningyô are also a staple of folk magic alike voodoo dolls, especially those related to eerie uchi no toki mairi ("Ox-hour shrine visits", ie witching hour).

#japan #art & craft #straw doll #wara nyngyô #japanese culture #magic #witchcraft #evil spirits #disease #yakubyôgami #疫病神 #uchi no toki mairi #Ox-hour shrine visit #folk culture #ancient belief