The shrine maidens of Mt. Hikami were tasked with leading pilgrims to death.
They were feared, and people thought a maiden's glance stripped away the soul.
Tales of ghost shrine maidens are common on Mt. Hikami.
My research into Japanese folklore has led me to believe that an underlying fear of women permeates this very culture.
But who were the shrine maidens?
As women who immersed themselves in water and led people to their deaths, the shrine maidens of Mt. Hikami call to mind tales of bewitching sirens.
The traditions of Mt. Hikami came to an end in an incident where the shrine maidens were all murdered.
The incident was most likely spurred on by this fear the locals had of the shrine maidens.
The Female Perspective
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The Female Perspective | |
| |
| Kanji | 巫女の伝承と女性観 みこ の でんしょう と じょせいかん |
| Game | Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water |
| Author | Keiji Watarai |
| Chapter | Eighth Drop: The Witching Hour |
| Located at | Kurosawa's Antiques, Hisoka's Room |
| Obtained | On the bookshelf after defeating Fuyuhi |
| Description | A book about the traditions of Mt. Hikami's shrine maidens. It's by Keiji Watarai. |
| Additional Description | This appears to be a book by folklorist Keiji Watarai about shrine maidens. Maybe there's something in here about the maidens of Mt. Hikami. |
| Related Notes | |
日上山の巫女たちは、山を訪れる
人々と供に山に入り、死へと導く存在だった。
このため、巫女は恐怖の対象と見られ、
「巫女に見られると魂を抜かれる」と考えられ
ている。
実際に巫女の霊を見たと言う者もおり、
日上山の怪談として定着しつつある。
私が思うに、日本の伝承、文化には女性
に対し、畏怖の感情が多く含まれている。
巫女とは何か？
水に濡れた女、死へと誘う女。
日上山の巫女は、水の魔女サイレンの
物語を想起する。
日上山の伝承の最期となる、すべての
巫女が殺された、という事件。
この事件は、「巫女に対する恐れ」が
引き起こしたものではないのだろうか。