[People of the Other World] A place where gods and demons live ── What is the mystery of the sacred mountain as unravelled by Kunio Yanagita? (A thorough explanation of "Life in the Mountains")
//Summary - Level-B2//
Japanese folklorist Kunio Yanagita examined the profound spiritual significance of mountains in Japan. In his book The Life of Mountains, he described mountains as sacred places where gods, demons, and mysterious people—like the “mountain folk” or yamabito—live. He believed some of these beings were descendants of ancient tribes. Legends of giants, tengu mischief, and oni (demons) also reflect mountain beliefs. Although some of his ideas are now debated, Yanagita aimed to recover lost history and demonstrate that mountains are more than just natural features—they are spiritual spaces filled with old, hidden truths. Even today, mountains continue to attract people with their mystery.
1. Mountains: Sacred and Mysterious Places
In Japan, approximately 75% of the land is mountainous, deeply rooted in the nation’s spiritual life. Mountains have long been both feared and revered. “The mountain itself was worshipped as a god,” the video explains.
People believed entering the mountain could give them mysterious powers. This led to the development of Shugendō, a spiritual practice that combined Shinto, Buddhism, and folk beliefs, emphasising severe training in the mountains.
2. Yanagita’s Personal Connection to Mountains
Kunio Yanagita didn’t just study mountains—he lived them. As the video says, "Even as a student, he wrote poetry about mountains and imagined retreating into them after losing his parents."
His loss inspired him to dream of disappearing into nature, which eventually led to his interest in folklore and a career at the Ministry of Agriculture. “Yama no Jinsei” (The Life of Mountains) was his way of organising these mystical mountain experiences from a folkloristic point of view.
3. The ‘Mountain People’ (Yama-bito): Hidden Natives
Yanagita studied legends of strange beings living deep in the mountains—silent, wild, dressed in rags, and never using fire. "These figures were called yamabito—mountain people," the video narrates. Yanagita believed they were descendants of Japan's original tribes, driven into the mountains by newer settlers.
"Tall, long-limbed, red-skinned people... this description matches ancient native gods," he observed. Although this theory isn’t widely accepted today, it reflects his effort to preserve forgotten histories.
4. Giants and the Worship of Footprints
Legends tell of giant footprints left in mud or snow—signs of giants known as Ōhito. "Villagers were so amazed, they took the sand where the footprints lay and placed it on their household altars," the narrator says.
Yanagita interpreted this as proof that Japan is "a country that respects footprints," linking giant tracks to gods, heroes, or even monks. Some shrines still honour these giant beings today, like Yagorō in southern Kyushu, who is still celebrated in festivals.
5. The Mischief of Tengu and Mountain Phenomena
Mountains are full of eerie experiences often blamed on tengu—part-god, part-demon creatures. The video introduces phenomena like "tengu’s laugh echoing through empty forests," "giant gusts of wind that can blow people away," and "fireballs seen in the mountains."
But there's a surprising solution: "Tengu love gohei-mochi!"—a rice cake grilled on sticks. Villagers would offer them to calm the spirits. "In one village, they never grilled it at all—out of fear it would attract tengu," the narrator notes.
6. The Truth Behind Oni (Demons)
Oni (Japanese demons) are now seen as terrifying, but initially, they represented "invisible, unknown forces," not evil. The term underwent a change when Chinese ideas were introduced. "Sadly, children born with abnormal traits were once called oni-ko (demon children) and sometimes killed," the video explains.
Yanagita, however, interpreted this differently: "Perhaps these children were too noble for ordinary households, so they were entrusted to the gods." He believed oni may have been misunderstood divine beings.
7. Descendants of Oni Still Living Today
Some families still claim descent from oni. "In Nara’s Mount Ōmine, five families trace their roots to an oni couple who served a great religious figure," the narrator explains. These families, known as the Goki, have passed down sacred rituals.
In Kyoto, people of Yasaka also believed they were descended from demons. "Even during eras when men wore topknots, Yasaka men wore their hair like women," the video reveals, suggesting they followed special spiritual customs beyond social norms.
8. Sacred Mountains and Their Spirits
Mountains like Fuji, Hiei, and Ōmine are considered Reizan—sacred mountains. "In ancient times, mountain people were invited to Kyoto to perform rituals—lighting fires, dancing, and singing," the video notes.
Yanagita believed this was done to “bring down the mountain gods,” indicating that these people played a crucial role in bridging heaven and earth.
9. Lost Histories Hidden in the Mountains
Yanagita believed that many ancient people, known as Kunitsu-kami, were driven into the mountains, which then became their ancestral land. Interestingly, "sometimes, these people were summoned back to the capital to assist in sacred rites," indicating their spiritual power.
Though his theory about Japan’s lost tribes is not widely accepted, "it may still point to a hidden layer of Japan’s spiritual past," the video concludes.
10. Mountains Continue to Attract Us Today
Finally, the narrator reflects: "Even today, mountains attract people for camping or hiking. Perhaps modern people cannot escape the ancient pull of the mountains." For Yanagita, mountains were more than nature—they were gateways to a spiritual world, where gods, demons, and forgotten peoples still linger in story and symbol.
[People of the Other World] A place where gods and demons live ── What is the mystery of the sacred mountain as unravelled by Kunio Yanagita? (A thorough explanation of "Life in the Mountains")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA6HEt2pr-s
