Hidarugami - Hidarugami

A monster associated with the belief in divine spirits. However, since it does not have a specific appearance, it can also be seen as a supernatural phenomenon. A popular belief that if you are suddenly attacked by unbearable hunger while walking along a mountain pass, it is the work of an evil spirit. It is said that you can be cured by eating even a single grain of rice, or by writing the character for rice on the palm of your hand with your fingertips and licking it. This is based on the popular belief that the spirits of those who died an untimely death and are unable to reach their destination float around on village borders and around mountain passes as abandoned spirits, eager to drive out the spirits of people passing by and enter the area. "Hidaru" means hungry.

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

御霊(ごりょう)信仰系の妖怪(ようかい)。ただし特定の姿形をもたないので怪異現象とみることもできる。峠道などを歩いているとき、突然耐えがたい空腹に襲われるのを、悪霊(あくりょう)のしわざと考える俗信。飯粒(めしつぶ)の一つでも食べるとか、手のひらに指先で米の字を書いてなめるとかすると治るともいう。村境や峠のあたりには、非業(ひごう)の死を遂げ、行くべきところに行き着けない者の霊が、無縁の霊となって浮遊しており、通りがかりの人の霊を追い出して入りたがっている、という俗信に基づく。「ひだる」はひもじいの意。

［井之口章次］

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