Ushi no Toki Mairi - Ushi no Toki Mairi

It is a method of sorcery to curse people. The person wears a white robe, attaches a candle to their head with an iron ring, and at the hour of the ox (around 2:30 a.m.), attaches an doll of the person to be cursed to a tree at a shrine or temple, and drives a five-inch nail into it so no one can see. Driving a nail into the head is said to cause pain in the victim's head, and driving a nail into the arms or legs causes illness in the arms and legs. It is classified as a type of sorcery in the broad sense, and as a substitute sorcery by method. It is said that it loses its effect if seen by someone. This is a topic that is often found in early modern ghost stories, including the Noh play "Kanawa."

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

人を呪(のろ)うための呪術(じゅじゅつ)の一方法。白衣を身にまとい、ろうそくを鉄輪(かなわ)で頭につけ、丑三つの刻(こく)（午前2時半ごろ）に、社寺などの樹木に呪うべき相手の人形(ひとがた)を取り付け、人に見られないように五寸釘(くぎ)を打ち込んでくる。頭に釘を打つと相手の頭が痛み、手足に打つと手足を病むという。広い意味の類感呪術、手段別では代用呪術に含まれる。人に見られると効果がなくなるという。謡曲の『鉄輪(かなわ)』をはじめ、近世の怪談などにこれを話題にしたものが多い。

［井之口章次］

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