第 九 章 · Of A Mirror And A Bell

(1) Part of present-day Shizuoka Prefecture.

(2) The two-hour period between 1 AM and 3 AM.

(3) A monetary unit.

JIKININKI

(1) The southern part of present-day Gifu Prefecture.

[1] Literally, a man-eating goblin. The Japanese narrator gives also

the Sanscrit term, “Râkshasa;” but this word is quite as vague as

_jikininki_, since there are many kinds of Râkshasas. Apparently the

word _jikininki_ signifies here one of the

_Baramon-Rasetsu-Gaki_,—forming the twenty-sixth class of pretas

enumerated in the old Buddhist books.

[2] A _Ségaki_-service is a special Buddhist service performed on

behalf of beings supposed to have entered into the condition of _gaki_

(pretas), or hungry spirits. For a brief account of such a service,

see my _Japanese Miscellany_.

[3] Literally, “five-circle [or five-zone] stone.” A funeral monument

consisting of five parts superimposed,—each of a different

form,—symbolizing the five mystic elements: Ether, Air, Fire, Water,

Earth.

MUJINA

(1) A kind of badger. Certain animals were thought to be able to

transform themselves and cause mischief for humans.

[1] O-jochū (“honorable damsel”), a polite form of address used in

speaking to a young lady whom one does not know.

(2) An apparition with a smooth, totally featureless face, called a

“nopperabo,” is a stock part of the Japanese pantheon of ghosts and

demons.

[2] Soba is a preparation of buckwheat, somewhat resembling

vermicelli.

(3) An exclamation of annoyed alarm.

(4) Well!