In honor of the night of the 31st, I wanted to tell you about this ancient and fascinating legend from Japanese folklore, which tells of how, on certain particularly auspicious nights, a legion of yokai—supernatural creatures, spirits, and demons—march through the streets of Japan, bringing chaos and terror. Literally translated as 'The March of the One Hundred Night Creatures,' the term Hyakki Yagyō evokes the image of a chaotic and unsettling procession, where the natural order is upended and the spirit world invades the human realm.
”The Spirit of Japan” Kawanabe Kyosai, 1874. Av: Israel Goldman Collection, London Photo: Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.
Origins and History of the Legend
The legend of Hyakki Yagyō dates back hundreds of years, with the earliest traces found in texts and tales from the Heian period (794-1185), a time when folklore thrived and stories of yokai and spirits spread across all social classes. The nobility of the imperial court, isolated in their residences and influenced by legends that fueled their superstitions, were particularly prone to believe in spirit incursions and their devastating effects.
Tales of that terrifying march thus became popular, as yokai were feared and revered as capricious beings that needed to be kept at bay through rituals and protections.
According to some versions of the legend, Hyakki Yagyō occurs once a year or on specific nights at the end of summer; during these times, anyone who encounters the parade risks losing their life or being abducted and taken to a supernatural realm.
AI vision of Kyoto nights during the Hyakki Yagyō
The Yokai Procession: Who Are the Creatures That Parade?
The yokai that make up the Hyakki Yagyō are an extremely diverse collection of creatures, each with unique characteristics and behaviors. Some yokai are relatively harmless, while others are bloodthirsty demons or creatures that feed on negative emotions. Here are some of the most notable figures:
Oni: Giant demons often depicted with horns, known for their aggressiveness and destructive supernatural powers.
Kappa: Water spirits resembling turtles, they enjoy playing pranks—often dangerous ones—on humans and children, especially if they approach rivers and lakes. Kappa are ambiguous creatures that can become lethal when provoked or deceived, but they can also be friendly companions and bearers of forgotten medical knowledge.
Tengu: Mountain spirits, bird-like creatures with the power to shapeshift. Tengu often meddle in human affairs and are known for their unpredictable nature.
Rokurokubi: Spirits of women whose necks elongate at night, allowing them to spy on or even attack people.
Nurarihyon: Often described as the leader of the procession, Nurarihyon is an enigmatic yokai resembling a bald old man with an elongated head. He wears a kimono or kasaya and has an appearance reminiscent of a fish without eyes or a mouth. He is frequently seen as a figure of authority and power among yokai.
Additionally, many lesser yokai join the parade, including strange creatures like tsukumogami (inanimate objects, such as umbrellas and lanterns, that have gained life after reaching one hundred years of age) or yurei (ghosts tormented by unresolved emotions).
Kyosai's Pictures of One Hundred Demons
Onmyōji, the Sorcerers Who Wrote Protection Sutras
To defend against yokai, it was said that it was necessary to stay indoors and hang protective talismans on doors. One of the most common techniques to avoid crossing paths with the procession was to spend the night praying or lighting purifying candles and incense.
In assistance to the villagers during these terrifying parades were the onmyōji, powerful and respected figures in ancient Japan, renowned for their skills in magic, divination, and the art of controlling supernatural energies. Practitioners of onmyōdō—a discipline that blends elements of Taoism, Chinese cosmology, astrology, and Japanese shamanism—onmyōji were experts in balancing the forces of yin and yang and managing the five elements.
Regarded as protectors against curses and misfortunes, they played an important role in the imperial courts, where they were consulted on matters of health, cosmic events, protection, and even battle preparations. For the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, they used talismans called ofuda, or practiced rituals invoking figures such as Fudō Myō-ō (one of the Five Wisdom Kings in Japanese Buddhism) to protect the inhabitants and ward off negative influences. Other talismans written on paper, such as gohei or shikigami, could be used to "seal" the entrance of a house and protect it from evil spirits.
AI vision of Kyoto nights during the Hyakki Yagyō
Interpretations and Influences of Hyakki Yagyō
Hyakki Yagyō is not just a story to scare children; it is also a powerful metaphor for the breakdown of order, in which civilization and its rigid rules dissolve to make way for chaos.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the legend gained widespread popularity through ukiyo-e (popular woodblock prints) that illustrated the yokai. Many of these artists, including the famous Toriyama Sekien, depicted Hyakki Yagyō and helped cement the allure and terror of these creatures in the collective imagination. Their influence is still visible today in Japanese pop culture, where yokai and ghosts regularly appear in films, manga, and anime, continuing to inspire generations.
Toriyama Sekien 鳥山石燕 | One Hundred Monsters Ancient and Modern from the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Modernity and Contemporary Representations
Today, Hyakki Yagyō is celebrated in festivals and parades in various Japanese cities, such as in Kyoto, for instance, this is the official site of this year's event.
These events are not only folkloric manifestations but also a modern reinterpretation of the connection between humans and the spirit world. There is much to explore regarding the origins of yokai and their relationship with Buddhism and Shintoism (the indigenous religion-philosophy of the island).
These complex dynamics present imaginaries very different from our familiar definitions of good and evil spirits, with centuries-old legends where good and evil merge into more complete creatures that represent much more than a mere evening scare. The allure of Hyakki Yagyō continues to endure, capturing the imagination and the desire to explore the boundary between the visible and the invisible. It embodies the primordial fear of the unknown, the mystery of what moves in the shadows and can elude human understanding.
In a sense, it encapsulates a worldview where balance is precarious, and the supernatural is always ready to burst into the real world.
Annual Yokai Parade in Kyoto, 2024 Official Event Site
The legend of Hyakki Yagyō remains one of the most evocative stories in Japanese folklore, which has also inspired Mundi Wunderkammer! For this reason, we are creating an alphabet of yokai, where each letter of the Western alphabet will correspond to one of these mythological creatures and its representation, bringing a bit of the wonder of the rising sun here as well. You will find the posts on IG and on the dedicated page as they are created!
Comentarios