#smallpox demon

Japanese Mythology & Deities The world of the Divine Spirit, the Gods in our lives (6)

Hōsōshin ~Smallpox demon

Smallpox demon (Hōsōshin) is a demon which was believed to be responsible for causing smallpox in medieval Japan. In those days, people tried to appease the smallpox demon by assuaging his anger, or they tried to attack the demon since they had no other effective treatment for smallpox.

Smallpox was first introduced to Japan in 735 during the Tenpyo period (729-794: Nara period). At that time, smallpox was thought to be the work of grudging spirits. A grudge is a mythical spirit in Japanese folklore that is believed to return to this world to take revenge.

There is a tradition that the smallpox demon hates dogs and red colour, so there was a custom in some areas to decorate a papier-mâché dog doll to ward off the god of pestilence, or to use a red banknote or a picture of the Shoki (the Shoki the Plague-Devourer) painted in red as a talisman.

It was also customary to place red objects around patients with pox, and to give red toys, underwear and ornaments to uninfected children as a spell to ward off pox. The use of red objects to ward off the smallpox demon is thought to have originated from the belief that the red rash of pestilence is a good prognosis and that red, as a symbol of health, can ward off disease.

Smallpox is a contagious disease, and when it occurs, it can spread not only to the individual but also to those around them. In many places, people would perform a "pox music" or "pox dance" parade through the village, playing bells, drums and flutes.

日本神話と神様たち 神霊の世界・暮らしの中の神々 (6)

疱瘡神（ほうそうしん）〜天然痘の魔物

疱瘡神（ほうそうしん）は、疱瘡（天然痘）を擬神化した悪神で、疫病神の一種である。当時の人々は、天然痘の悪魔の怒りを和らげようとしたり、他に有効な治療法がなかったため、悪魔を攻撃しようとした。

日本に天然痘が伝わったのは、735年天平時代 (729-794: 奈良時代）の事である。当時、天然痘は怨霊の仕業と考えられていた。怨霊とは、日本に伝わる神話上の精霊で、現世に戻って復讐するとされている。

疱瘡神は犬や赤色を苦手とするという伝承があるため、「疱瘡神除け」として張子の犬人形を飾ったり、赤い御幣や赤一色で描いた鍾馗の絵をお守りにしたりするなどの風習を持つ地域も存在した。疱瘡を患った患者の周りには赤い品物を置き、未患の子供には赤い玩具、下着、置物を与えて疱瘡除けのまじないとする風習もあった。疱瘡神除けに赤い物を用いるのは、疱瘡のときの赤い発疹は予後が良いということや、健康のシンボルである赤が病魔を払うという俗信に由来するほか、生き血を捧げて悪魔の怒りを解くという意味もあると考えられている。