Nah, nothing like that, I don't have much from my past that may haunt me. No dead dogs... OK, a dead cat, my first one, I loved her and I watched her die. The truth is, there are some things that may still linger in the back of my memory, I just sorted them out and decided not to cry over them. I won't change the past, I don't have the time-travel machine, I can't fix what has been broken long time ago and all I see now it's just some pieces. Of course, even though I got rid of all "what if" thinking from my life, there is still this bon'yari shita fuan, as Akutagawa once said. But "what if" thinking leads to nothing, leads to blind alleys, leads to guilt. It's better to regret doing something than regret not doing something. And most of all, do not regret anything. Pain? It is inlaid in our life pattern, and all feelings are just right. Love, hate, remorse, humility, pride, fear, boldness, devotion, betrayal (wait, I wrote about Queen Seondeok, right??).
Demons I intended to write a bit are just those existing in the minds and literature world.
Some may say: "Ah, demons, it's so cool and trendy!". The reson is different, more prosaic. I started my studies as culture-oriented freak, wanting to know nothing more than every centimeter of Ashura statue and Asuka/Nara period. I finished my studies as a literaure specialist. On the paper. Deep down I still longed to be this culture freak. I somehow managed to maintain my interest in this period of Japanese history, which, with time, shifted towards the Korean Peninsula. I kept the interest despite my hatred towards my studies and everything "Japan-related". That is why Korea came just in the right time, as some filling of the void. Now, I'm trying hard to change my profession from Japanese Specialist to Korean Specialist. But I guess I will stay as Far East Specialist.Anyway, demons... So, I fell in love with Akutagawa's works after (no, no Rashomon, no In the Grove) Bisei's Fidelity. After that I started to read everything (lucky me, bungo and Japanese^^), and as I wrote earlier, I have something for men born as Pisces.
I don't like Japanese literature, but I love Akutagawa. It's because, even though he took his material from ancient Japan, his style was definitely European, pan-human. So naturally, I became familiar with Konjaku Monogatari. I wrote my disses on one book from this huge compilation of anecdotes. Book on demons.
I mean, in Nara/Heian period, there were some demons you could not even imagine. And the strange thing is - some stories are treated as the truth, and some are written with sarcastic remarks at the end.
There are demons, like usual demons, from Hell, sent by King Emma to capture and torture the sinners. Those demons are known as ahou, and are described and pictured as ugly ogres with the cow head.
There are mysterious demons whose provenience is not even a once stated in the whole text. They like to kill and eat people's flesh. They usually leave a head (that is, they don't need any brain I guess).
There are evil spirits both of dead and alive.
There are the legends of the old parents that turn into demons that want to devour their own children.
There are demons who like to steal olive for lamps and fruits.
And there are spirits of very old households objects.
But there is also Nihon Ryouiki ahead of me.
And still, I'm a sculpture admirer after all. I'm Asuka/Nara period admirer still. Why? Because of contacts with Shilla, with Baekje^^
Because Japanese never after that were so open again.
Something to read:
From Jindou to Shintou
The Land of Yomi
Demonology and Eroticism
Child Guardian Spirits (Gohō Dōji)
On Certain Tales of Konjaku
Japanese policy towards two Koreas
Zainichi
Something to read:
From Jindou to Shintou
The Land of Yomi
Demonology and Eroticism
Child Guardian Spirits (Gohō Dōji)
On Certain Tales of Konjaku
Japanese policy towards two Koreas
Zainichi
Pictures from: Gods of Japan from A-Z
