Insect Seal - Insect Tomb

A spell to calm a child's cramps. In the past, when a child had a convulsion or cramp, it was said that "mushi ga okiru" (mushi occurs) or "kan no mushi" (crimp on the crocodile's tail) and was thought to be caused by the formation of insects in the body. In Mikura Island (Tokyo), there was a popular belief that if you feed the child food from a house where three married couples were still alive, the child would be cured, and it was believed that grilled red frogs and Magotaromushi (magotaro worms) were effective. One form of treatment is to visit a shrine or temple and have a prayer to ward off insects. In many cases, the name of the enshrined deity or a specific character is written on the palm of the hand and a prayer is given, or a talisman is received and pasted on the entrance to the house or on the Shinto altar. In other cases, a sickle called a "mushi-kiri gama" (mushi-cutting sickle) is dedicated to a god or Buddha who is known to have miraculous powers to ward off insects, and prayers are made. There are many insect-cutting sickles dedicated in front of the shrine, and it is said that it is effective to choose one from them and rub the head, stomach, and back of a child suffering from insect bites.

[Osamu Takano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

子供の疳(かん)を鎮めるためのまじない。昔は、子供がひきつけや疳をおこしたりするのを、「虫がおきる」「疳の虫」などといい、体内に虫気が生じたからと考えられた。御蔵(みくら)島（東京都）では、三夫婦健在の家から食物をもらって食べさせると治るという俗信もあり、アカガエルのつけ焼きや、マゴタロウムシはよく効くと信じられていた。社寺に参って虫封じの祈祷(きとう)をしてもらうのも一療法で、祭神名とか特定の文字を手のひらに書いて祈祷してもらったり、また呪符(じゅふ)をもらって家の入口や神棚に貼(は)り付けておくという場合が多い。また虫切鎌(がま)とよばれる鎌を、虫封じに霊験(れいげん)あらたかな神仏に奉納して願掛けをすることもある。虫切鎌は社前に数多く奉納されてあるので、そのなかから一つ選んで、虫気の子供の頭、腹、背中をなで回すとよく効くといわれた。

［高野　修］

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