Fun with Japanese: Kaichi Edition

[sechan19]

When it comes to odd mythological creatures, no one can top the Japanese for sheer inventiveness and practicality.

I've become utterly convinced of this since I began reading about the handscroll sets known as "The Night Parade of the Hundred Demons" (Hyakki yagyô emaki) for a seminar paper. The latest edition to the pantheon of magical creatures that I know about is the kaichi 獬豸 (also read kaitai). It is defined as follows:

An imaginary beast resembling a cow. When the kaichi sees a fight it will gore with its horns the person who is evil; when it hears an argument it will bite the person who is wrong.

Can you imagine political debate in this country if we had one of these? A great many folks wouldn't sit down for a week.

Comments

[firynze.livejournal.com]

...oh man. I totally want to write a story about the Night Parade. Or a poem or something...

[reteva.livejournal.com]

I would love to see it if you do! I can recommend some reading if you'd like to learn more about the parade, and if my seminar paper's any good I'd be delighted to have you read it and offer feedback. =)

[firynze.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that would be MARVELLOUS!!!