Replacement child - Torikaeko

Japanese: 取替子 - とりかえこ

A European folklore. Infants and young children are exposed to various dangers, but especially before baptism, devils, witches, and fairies replace babies with evil children and place them in cradles. In English, they are called changelings or elf children. They are characterized by deformity, stunted growth, abnormal appetites, and crying. A common tale is that when frightened, confused, and exhausted parents head to a pilgrimage site in search of a miracle, they throw the baby on their backs into the water from a bridge, and the normal child is returned to the cradle at home.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヨーロッパの伝承。乳幼児は種々の危難にさらされているが，特に洗礼前の嬰児を，悪魔や魔女や妖精が魔性の子と取り替え，揺籃に入れておくというのが〈取替子〉である。英語ではchangelingまたはelf childという。異形，発育停止，異常な食欲や泣声などを特徴とし，恐れ困惑し疲弊した親が，霊験を求めて巡礼地へ向かう途中，背中の子を橋上から水中に投ずると，家にある揺籃には正常なわが子が戻っているというような説話が一般的にみられる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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