The number of tremors has increased in recent days. Interestingly - and possibly in correlation - the population of crimson butterflies fluttering around Minakami has been growing by the day.
They are at once beautiful, yet eerie to behold, resembling countless human souls dancing morosely through the air.
Villagers fold their hands in prayer upon seeing these butterflies. An air of solemnity hangs over the village, as if the whole place awaits the coming of something dreadful.
The earth itself feels angry, which has the residents of this humble little enclave gripped with fear.
I'm beginning to wonder if the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual holds a significance similar to that of ground purification ceremonies that take place prior to constructing buildings elsewhere in Japan.
Indeed, analogous ceremonies could once be found throughout the country in ancient times. Many of them involved live offerings in order to appease angry, wrathful gods.
If that's the case, then I suspect that the twin maidens revered as divine guardians here fulfill a similar sacrificial role. If such practices do indeed still exist in the current era, that would go a long way to explaining the stillness that's settled over the village prior to the festival.
Once the twin maidens turn into crimson butterflies, they then return to the village.
Folklorist's Note 3 (FF2R)
 This page contains spoilers for a recent release. |
For the version of this note that appears in Fatal Frame II, see Folklorist's Note 3 (FF2).- For the version of this note that appears in Deep Crimson Butterfly, see Folk Scholar's Writings III.
Folklorist's Note 3 | |
| |
| Kanji | 民俗学者の手記 三 みんぞくがくしゃのしゅき さん |
| Game | Crimson Butterfly Remake |
| Author | Seijiro Makabe |
| Chapter | Chapter 3: The Repentance |
| Located at | Kurosawa House, Ombre Room |
| Obtained | |
| Description | Written remarks from a folklore scholar who came to study Minakami Village, discussing the state of the village as the Crimson Sacrifice Ritual draws near. |
| Related Notes | Folklorist's Note 1, Folklorist's Note 2, Folklorist's Note 4, Folklorist's Note 5, Folklorist's Note 6, Folklorist's Note 7, Folklorist's Note 8, Folklorist's Note 8, Folklorist's Note 10, Folklorist's Note 11, Folklorist's Note 12, Folklorist's Note 13, Folklorist's Note 14, Folklorist's Note 15, Folklorist's Note 16, Folklorist's Note 17, Folklorist's Note 18, Folklorist's Note 19, Folklorist's Note 20 |
ここ数日、地震の回数が増えてきている。
それにともなうかのように、村を舞う
紅い蝶の数も、日を追うごとに増えている。
その姿は美しくも不気味で、まるで無数の
人魂が悲しげに舞っているようにも見える。
紅い蝶を見た村人達は、手を合わせる。
村全体が、何か恐ろしいものを迎えるような
おごそかな空気につつまれていく。
地の怒りにおびえる、小さな集落。
「紅贄祭」とは、地鎮祭のような意味を
持つ祭りなのだろうか。
古くは、どの地方にも地鎮祭のような祭りが
存在した。その多くは供物として生贄を供え
て神の怒りを鎮める。
とすれば「守り神」として祀られている
「双子巫女」の役割は、おそらくそういう
ものなのであろう。
その風習が現在も残っているとしたら、祭り
を前にしたこの村の静けさにも説明がつく。
「守り神」となった双子巫女は「紅い蝶」と
なり、この村に帰る。