Mokugyo Daruma - 木魚達磨 - [Yokai/Tsukumogami]

Mokugyo Daruma - 木魚達磨 (もくぎょだるま) - [Yokai|Tsukumogami] - ‘Wooden fish Daruma.’

• About this yokai: A Mokugyo (Wooden-fish) a wooden percussion instrument played by buddhist monks to help clear the mind & keep rhythm during sutra chants. After daily use in practice for nine years, the drum sprung to life in the guise of Bodhidarma, the founder of Zen Buddhism! Much like the legend himself, it now stares forward with a deadpan expression in meditation. It seeks enlightenment unrelentingly. Much like hossumori; Perhaps it’s unstoppable…

• History: Another buddhist instrument turned Tsukumogami, first drawn and explained by Toriyama Sekien in his "Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bokuro" (1784)  Toriyama’s entry & illustration goes as follows:

“Implements such as sticks, woodfish and hand boards are used daily in buddhist ritual, and can transform like this, similar to hossumori, so I dreamed.” - [Translation: Japandemonium 2017

[Mokgyodaruma as it appears in Toriyama Sekien’s Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (vol 2). (1784) Image source: Smithsonian]

It's a fairly straightforward entry, it's a wooden-fish (mokugyo) which transformed into the shape of Bodhiddharma, The founder of Zen Buddhism who is often said to have achieved enlightenment after meditating in a cave for nine years.

[a mokugyo]

• The Antique in question: “Mokugyo” are wooden drums, Instruments used by buddhist monks during their recitals of sutras, struck to help them keep rhythm while chanting. The instrument's handles are often carved to have the appearance of two fish kissing with a ball in their mouth.  -However, if you stand it up [as pictured] look at it does look a lot like Daruma’s face.

[another angle for clarity - image source: met museum ]

As to why it's called a “wooden fish”, there are a few Chinese buddhist myths associated with fish and the instrument's invention but ultimately it's far more often said that it's because it was once believed that fish have no eyelids as such they don't sleep! Because of that, fish often symbolize wakeful attention, vigilance and devotion. Incidentally, it’s also said that daruma cut his eyelids off when he became annoyed that he kept falling asleep during his meditation. Worth noting is that this was not originally intended to be seen as a literal fact but more so symbolic for the same reasons as the fish! Combine these legends and the instrument which kinda resembles him, and you’d have this yokai! Shigeru Mizuki said that its a monster which perhaps represents insomnia, or a desire to stay awake much like daruma.

• See also: Of course this isn’t the only Tsukumogami which originates from Buddhist or Shinto religious tools & instruments. Here is a short list of other Tsukumogami with similar origins: 

• Hossumori - An animated brush or flyswatter, much like Mokugyo Daruma, after being used for nine years, it tries to reach enlightenment.

• Shogoro - A small gong frequently used in Buddhist services that came to life in the shape of a turtle. 

• Waniguchi - An oxidized, rusty, bronze bell that came to life in the shape of a crocodile.

• Kyorinrin - Animated sutra’s which came to life in the shape of a dragon. 

• Nyubachibo - A castonet-like hand cymbal called a Nyobachi used in prayer & performances.

• Narigama - An iron cauldron, used in religious ceremonies.

• Nyoijizai - A ceremonial staff that was used as a backscratcher, now as a yokai it can scratch any itch.

• Heiroku - Animated Shinto paper strips (called ‘gohei’) which came to life in the form of an old man. Now it runs around spouting lies!

• Ungaikyo - A possessed sacred shinto mirror used for moon viewing. It reflects & reveals yokai.

• Suzuhikohime - A bell which was used in kagura dances, came to life and now dances as a shrine maiden would.

• Ichiren bozu - Animated prayer beads; the star of “tsukumogami emaki.”

[Art sticker & Writing by @SamKalensky (yo, thats me!) Editing by @Cattype. Part of my Hyakki Yagyo Night Parade of 100 yokai sticker series. Follow & check my shop out for many more!]