Yatsushi

Japanese: やつし

A noun derived from the conjunctive form of the verb yatsusu. The original meaning of yatsusu was to make something shabby or to change one's appearance, from which meanings such as omitting, dressing up, and degrading oneself were derived. The oldest image given to this act or state of yatsusu is, for example, the figure of Susanoo, who "tied together some green grass to make a straw hat and raincoat, and begged the gods for lodging" (Nihon Shoki). Orikuchi Shinobu argues that "there are traces that wearing a straw hat and raincoat was a way to leave the human personality and enter the divinity" (The Origin of Japanese Literature, Third Draft), and points out the existence of wandering gods and divine beings who visit the human world in the form of a straw raincoat and raincoat.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

動詞〈やつす〉の連用形の名詞化したことば。〈やつす〉の原義は，見すぼらしい様にする，姿を変えることで，そこから，省略する，めかす，身を落とすなどの義を派生した。この〈やつす〉行為もしくは状態に与えられた最古のイメージは，たとえば，〈青草を結束ひて，笠蓑として，宿を衆神に乞ふ〉(《日本書紀》)素戔嗚（すさのお）尊の姿であろう。折口信夫は，〈笠を頂き簑を纏（まと）ふ事が，人格を離れて神格に入る手段であったと見るべき痕跡がある〉(《国文学の発生･第三稿》)と説き，蓑笠に姿を変えて人界を訪れるまれびとや，漂泊する神，神人の存在を指摘している。

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

<<: Yatsushika Dance

>>: Yakkomono - Yakkomono