Japanese Horror Story
Ibaraki-dojis
Ibaraki-doji (in Japanese): ⁇ or ⁇ ; meaning: son of Ibaraki) is one of the oni-type demons, and he is the most feared famous rebel in Japan.[1] He presides over a number of areas belonging to Shuten-doji the greatest demon king.[2] Not much is known about Ibaraki-doji; it is not even known whether he is a man or a woman.[3] Another opinion says Ibaraki-doji is female; however, another opinion says that the deputy guard of the Shuten-doji region is male.[4]
GLIMPSES
The ancient kingdoms of Heijo-kyo (Nara) and Heian-Kyo (Kyoto) were built on feng shui-based architectural beliefs.[5] At that time there were four gates in several directions, and one gate leading directly to the kingdom connected the other four gates symbolizing the five basic elements.[5] The gate also represents the five Byakko, Suzaku, Genbu, and Seiryu heaven monsters.[5] The Rashomon Gate was the gateway child of the south gate, Suzaku - and was the main gate of the old city at that time. The gate was built in 789.[5]
LEGENDS
The most famous story of Ibaraki-doji is in Rashomon, the eastern gate of ancient Kyoto.[2] Rashomon was founded in 789 AD, but after the Heian period the building was broken to pieces unsaved.[2] The place is currently very backward where the thugs are nesting, even unwanted babies and murder victims have been dumped there.[2]
When Tsuna arrived at the gate, the roar of the wind tightened and his horse could not run any further.[3] He boldly set foot toward the mist-filled gate. Suddenly a giant hand from behind the fog ambushed his helmet.[3] Without a second thought, Tsuna swung his sword and cut off the great hand; the hand belonged to Ibaraki-doji, who came to avenge his leader Shuten-doji.[3] Ibaraki-doji then fled leaving his hand, and Rashomon was no longer haunted. Sometime later, Ibaraki-doji comes back to Rashomon's gate, looking for his missing hand.[3] She disguises herself as the nurse Watanabe-no-Tsuna, and steals back her severed and runaway hands.[5] After that Ibaraki-doji's whereabouts are no longer known. The issue of his appearance sometimes often arises, but it is all just a story.[2]
Popularities
The name Ibaraki is also the name of the area in Japan adjacent to the city of Tokyo.[4]
A film titled Rashomon was made by Akira Kurosawa in 1950. The film was inspired by a short story by Ryunosuke Akutagawa written while he was in school.[4] The two short stories are titled "Belukar Forest" and "Rashomon." The film tells the story of the murder of a man who is not yet known who the real culprit is, although witnesses are brought in one after another.[4]
The Noh play Rashomon and the Kabuki play (1883) Ibaraki Si Devil, written by Onoe Kikugoro and Kawatake Mokuami, are two stories based on the Ibaraki and Watanabe-no-Tsuna fight.[4] The drama is an example of how artists display a critical portrait of the political situation in Japan.[4] In the play Watanabe is depicted as an aggressive and unpopular samurai; based on the political conditions of 1800s Japan.[1]
