Weaving Edge - Hataoribuchi

This legend is widespread throughout Japan, and says that a weaving woman lives at the bottom of the pool, or that the sound of weaving can be heard from there. In Nishiaizu Town, Yama County, Fukushima Prefecture, during the Genpei War, Princess Weaving followed King Mochihito into Aizu, and when she heard of his death, she drowned herself in the swamp. Since then, the swamp has been called Gozen Numa, and it is said that the sound of weaving can be heard from the bottom of the pool. Every year on May 5th, locals hold a memorial service for the princess on the shores of the swamp. In Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture, it is said that the wife of a rich man turns into a snake and enters the pool to weave. Some people say that white cloth is hung out to dry near the pool late at night, and that some have seen her diving in to weave. In ancient times, there was a custom in which a chosen village maiden would weave clothes for the gods on a platform suspended over the sacred waters far from civilization during festivals. These customs likely became the basis for later legends of women weaving at the bottom of the water. There have been reports from Nagano and Kochi prefectures of women drowning with all their weaving equipment, and it is possible that they may have been connected to people who traveled around selling reeds. However, the current location of the legend does not directly have this religious background. Rather, it is probably a result of the fact that this legend is easily attached to deep pools and swamps that exude a sense of mystery.

[Junichi Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

淵の底に機を織る女が住んでいる、または、そこから機を織る音が聞こえてくるという伝説。全国的に広く分布している。福島県耶麻(やま)郡西会津町では、源平合戦のころ、以仁王(もちひとおう)の後を追って会津入りした機織姫が、その死を知って沼に身を沈めた。以来、御前沼とよばれ、水底から機を織る音が聞こえるようになったと伝えている。地元では毎年5月5日に沼のほとりで姫の供養をしたという。岩手県二戸(にのへ)市では、長者の妻が蛇身になって淵に入り機を織っていると伝える。深夜、淵の傍らに白布を干してあるとか、潜って機を織る姿を見た者もいるという。古代においては、祭りのおりに人里離れた神聖な水上に架けた桟敷(さじき)で、選ばれた村の乙女が神のために御衣(おんぞ)を織った習俗があったといわれる。こうした習俗がのちに、水底で機を織る女の伝承を生む基盤となったのであろう。長野県や高知県からは、機具もろとも入水(じゅすい)したと伝える例も報告されており、筬(おさ)を売り歩いた人々との関与も想定される。ただ、現在の伝説の地が直接こうした信仰的背景をもっているわけではない。むしろ、この伝説が神秘感の漂う淵や沼に付着しやすい性質を有している結果であろう。

［野村純一］

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