The Hole in the Wall壁から出る子どもの手
Long ago in Kyoto, there occurred a most curious episode. Night after night, a child's hand was reported to have been seen emerging from a hole in the wall of a house.
A monk was called to read sutras and perform various rites, but to no avail. The hand kept up its mischievous tricks. As a last resort, the monk stuck the metal tip of an arrow into the wall, after which the hand was seen no more.
Given that metal is believed by some to serve as a charm to ward away evil spirits, it may be that the arrowhead scared the ghost into submission... Unless it had simply grown tired of playing its paranormal pranks?
Well, well. So you have witnessed a child's hand emerging from the hole in this wall at night. Well, that is bound to frighten anyone. But have no fear, friend. You did the right thing in summoning me from the temple.
That hand clearly belongs to the spirit of a poor child who died before their time. I will intone a sutra and see if that helps put their soul to rest.
ほほう。 この壁にある穴から、夜になると子どもの手が出てくると。 それは不気味なことですな。 ですが、拙僧が来たからにはご安心を。 何か無念を残した子どもの霊であることは明白。 まずはお経を唱えて、成仏せぬか試してみましょう。
Huh? Is somebody reading a sutra? Ha, as if some silly monk is going to get rid of me that easily!
I'm not here because I have regrets or a curse or anything like that. I just like playing tricks, and hearing people's screams. That fool's wasting his time. I'm here to stay!
Hmm... So it seems that neither the sutras I read nor the Buddhist statue I gave you had any effect.
But fear not, friend. I have something for tricky cases such as these.
Here, see this? Tell me, what does it look like to you?
That's right, it's the metal tip of an arrow, a "yajiri." Now, I've treated it with a special charm that should put that child's spirit to rest.
Ha ha, that stupid monk must have given up on getting rid of me. ...Wait! What's he doing!? He just shoved something sharp into the wall!
Huh... This is one of those metal arrowheads... But what does it mean? Is he tryin to tell me that if I don't make myself scarce...he's going to shoot me?
Bah, it seems like he's serious! What a wet blanket! Well, if he's going to be like that, I'll just have to find a new place to haunt!
- Where
- South of Yasaka Shrine
- Map
- Eastern Kyoto
- Region
- Eastern Kyoto
- Hand in to
- Lady Murasaki, Yasaka Shrine
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