Ubagabi – 姥ヶ火 – [Yokai]

Description

Ubagabi – (JP:姥ヶ火) –

• About this yokai:  a flaming Hitodama which is said to appear on rainy evenings at the pond behind Hiraoka Shrine in Kawachi, Osaka prefecture.

• Early Appearances & History: This yokai appears in many old scrolls and books such as Toriyama Sekiens Gazu Hyakki Yagyo [1776] – Legend has it that In life, she was a ‘crazy old hag’ who was often caught stealing oil from the temple shrine to sell to survive, when confronted with her thieving, her shame was so great that she turned to suicide at the pond behind the temple to this day, the pond is still called “Ubagabi-ike.” – It’s said that if you bump into her ghost, you will die mysteriously within 3 years, to prevent this: when she appears, quickly shout “Abura-sashi!” or “Oil-Theif!!” and she’ll vanish in shame. – Sometimes she appears as a chicken-like yokai before vanishing. – I feel bad for her, but in most depictions, at least she seems happy zipping around as a fireball.

[Gazu hyakki yagyo 1776 – ‘said to dwell in kawatchi province’ (modern day osaka)]

[ubagai ike]

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) – Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons – Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather resistant 4″ Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!