Folk Scholar's Writings I

For the version of this note that appears in Fatal Frame II, see Folklorist's Note 1.

For the version of this note that appears in Crimson Butterfly Remake, see (placeholder).

Folk Scholar's Writings I
Kanji	民俗学者の手記 一 みんぞく がくしゃ の しゅき いち
Game	Fatal Frame: Deep Crimson Butterfly
Author	Seijiro Makabe
Chapter	Chapter 1: The Lost Village
Located at	Osaka House, Study
Obtained	On the bookshelf.
Description	The journal of a folk scholar who visited a place called 'Minakami Village'.
Additional Description	It seems I've found some old texts about the village.
Related Notes	Folk Scholar's Writings II, Folk Scholar's Writings III, Folk Scholar's Writings IV, Folk Scholar's Writings V, Folk Scholar's Writings VI, Folk Scholar's Writings VII, Folk Scholar's Writings VIII, Folk Scholar's Writings IX, Folk Scholar's Writings X, Folk Scholar's Writings XI & Folk Scholar's Writings XII

ENJA

High Priest Kurosawa has welcomed us into his village with open arms.

The village does not have a mayor, and it would appear that Mr Kurosawa, in his position as High Priest, is responsible for governing it. This would appear to be another indicator that this village was originally formed by a deeply religious community that placed a high value on their ceremonies and rituals.

The myth of the 'gateway to hell' remains a pronounced presence in the local folklore. This is a gate or chasm that leads directly to the world of the dead, or the underworld.

Such entrances to the underworld are usually detested, yet feared, and in some cases are even believed to be worshipped.

I will do whatever it takes to learn more about this ancient and deeply rooted belief in the gate to hell while I am here.

I have heard that a 'Hidden Ceremony' relating to the gateway is held in this village, though it would appear that it is forbidden to observe it or even to talk about it.

The fact that the ceremony involves approaching the gateway probably means that some kind of seclusion ritual must take place beforehand.

The locals here lead a simple existence. The village's location in the mountains makes it difficult to grow crops, and daily life is a real struggle.

They have very little contact with the outside world, and continue to live as they have always done, regardless of how the world may have changed. They appear to have been left behind by the relentless march of time.

祭主の黒澤氏は、我々の来村をこころよく
迎えてくれたようだ。

この村には村長はおらず、「祭主」をつとめ
る黒澤氏が村のまとめ役となっている。

おそらくこの村の成り立ちが、神事や儀式を
守る人々の集落であった、ということの名残
なのだろう。


皆神地方には、今も色濃く「黄泉の門」伝承
が伝わっている。

「黄泉の門」伝承とは「黄泉」や「常世」
「根の国」などと呼ばれる、死の世界との
境となる門や穴などに関する伝承である。


それらの場所は通常、禁じられた場所として
忌み嫌われると同時に、畏れられ、時には
信仰されてもいる。

このような、古来より人々の中に根付いて
いる黄泉の世界への信仰を、なんとしても
とき明かしたい。


この村では、その「黄泉の門」にまつわる
「秘祭」が行われているらしいが、その
祭りとは、口にしてはいけない、見ること
も許されないものであるらしい。

おそらく、黄泉との境が近づくという祭り
であるために、忌みごもりが行われるのだ
ろう。


村人達の暮らしは質素なものだ。
山深い土地で日々の糧を得るために、
きびしい生活を送っている。

外部との交流はほとんどなく、世間や時代
の流れに関わらず、昔のままの生活を留め
ている。

時の流れから取り残されたように。