Japanese Dragon Hunt January 17, 2017
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
Beach has a busy day, so he offers this story up almost without comment. It would be fun to expand it though. Can anyone help with original sources, or at least ones nearer the fount: drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com
Thousands of peasants in the province Sessbu [in Japan] are engaged in a dragon hunt. They believe that a majestic dragon, the imaginary king of animals, inhabits the remote region of Ikeda, where there is a vast, unexplored bamboo jungle, and they have flocked to the jungle from all over the province with offerings of rice and money with which to lure the dragon into captivity. The story of the dragon dates back to February 23rd, when heavy shower of what native correspondent describe as ‘dark coloured rain’ fell in torrents, and ‘shook the earth to its foundations.’ Towards nightfall the dragon appeared, and ascended into the clouds. As soon as it disappeared the rain stopped. That night one Sadurjiro Shinoki dreamed a ‘sacred dream,’ in which the dragon appeared in holy apparel, and said that had that day succeeded in ascending to the heavens. In order to sanctity the jungle in which had been living, he endowed it with a special healing virtue for all diseases, invalids visiting the place would cured. The news spread rapidly, and hundreds invalids and healthy men and women began to assail the jungle with greedy prayers. An offertory box, thoughtfully erected to Sadurjiro Shinoki, was soon filled with coppers. Offerings of rice, etc., were scattered all through the jungle. Then the rumour became current that the dragon had returned, and the number of pilgrims increased. Various devices were suggested whereby the dragon might ensnared, and thus forced to work many miracles. At the present time the pilgrimages are increasing, as well as the daily offerings. Sadurjiro Shinoki is the owner of forest, and his intentions are beginning to be suspected.
Great to be back with a dragon story and one that is so much realer than the pale western versions…
Chris from Haunted Ohio Books, 19 Jan 2017: ‘Here’s an earlier version of the Japanese dragon story, note the Sesshu instead of Sessbu–Western newspapers had some trouble with Japanese place names. It is likely to be Settsu, whose provincial capital was Osaka. And it cites Japan Times and the Osaka “Mainichi” [probably Osaka Nichi-nichi Shimbun]’
This is from the Daily Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Honolulu, Hawai’i, 28 June 1908: p. 4
