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revert to version using more reliable sources (Abura-akago is not actually found in folklore).
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[[Image:SekienAburaakago.jpg|thumb|155px|right|An ''abura-akago'' as illustrated by [[Toriyama Sekien]].]]
[[Image:SekienAburaakago.jpg|thumb|155px|right|An ''abura-akago'' as illustrated by [[Toriyama Sekien]].]]


An {{nihongo|'''abura-akago'''|油赤子||lit. "oil baby"}} is a type of ''[[obake]]'' that is a human infant. It consumes oil from [[Traditional lighting equipment of Japan|''andon'' lamps]] and can be recognized by its rough tongue (caused from licking the hot oil).
{{nihongo|'''Abura-akago'''|油赤子||lit. "red oil baby"}} is a creature illustrated in [[Toriyama Sekien]]'s ''[[Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki]]'', as an infant spirit lapping oil out of an ''[[Traditional lighting equipment of Japan|andon lamp]]''.


Sekien's accompanying notes describe it:
A normal infant may transform into an ''abura-akago'' if its mother dies in an unfortunate way. The deceased mother transforms into a ''[[hitodama]]'', and the infant transforms into an ''abura-akago'' and consumes oil in order to maintain its mother’s flame. An ''abura-akago'' can be seen wandering around looking for oil from ''andon'' with its mother’s ''hitodama'' floating nearby. It has also been said that ''abura-akago'' are manifestations of deceased oil thieves. Presently, since there are fewer oil lamps, the ''abura-akago'' eat kerosene from kerosene heaters.
:{{nihongo|In the eighth town of [[Ōtsu, Shiga|Ōtsu]] in [[Ōmi Province|Ōmi ("Afumi") Province]] there exists a flying ball-like fire.|近江国　（あふみのくに）　大津の八町に玉のごとくの火飛行　（ひぎやう）　する事あり。}}
:{{nihongo|The natives say that long ago in the village of Shiga there was a person who stole oil, and every night he stole the oil from the [[Ksitigarbha|Jizō]] of the Ōtsu crossroads, but when this person died his soul became a flame and even now they grow accustomed to this errant fire.|土人云、むかし志賀の里に油をうるものあり、夜毎に大津辻の地蔵の油をぬすみけるが、その者死て魂魄炎となりて今に迷ひの火となれるとぞ。}}
:{{nihongo|If it is so then the baby which licks the oil is this person's rebirth.|しからば油をなむる赤子は此ものの再生せしにや。}}

Sekien seems to have have based this illustration on a story from the {{nihongo|''Shokoku Rijin Dan''|諸国里人談}}, in which an oil merchant from [[Ōtsu, Shiga|Ōtsu]] steals oil from a [[Ksitigarbha|Jizō]] statue at the crossroads, and is punished posthumously by being transformed into a wandering ghost-fire.


==References==
==References==
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| pages = 10-65
| pages = 10-65
}}
}}
*{{cite web
* {{cite web | title=Japan Culture Research Project 2003 Topic: Youkai and Kaidan | url=http://www.k-i-a.or.jp/kokusai/jigyou/english-lesson/ts-report/r-report.pdf | accessdate=2008-04-18 | author=Gould, Robert Jay}}
| url = http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/YoukaiCard/1232608.shtml
* {{cite web | title=Abura-akago | work=The Obakemono Project | url=http://www.obakemono.com/obake/aburaakago/ | accessdate=2008-04-18}}
| title = Kaii Yōkai Denshō Database: Konpaku En
| accessdate = 2007-04-16 }}
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{{jmyth navbox long}}

Revision as of 03:05, 20 April 2008

An abura-akago as illustrated by Toriyama Sekien.

Abura-akago (油赤子, lit. "red oil baby") is a creature illustrated in Toriyama Sekien's Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, as an infant spirit lapping oil out of an andon lamp.

Sekien's accompanying notes describe it:

In the eighth town of Ōtsu in Ōmi ("Afumi") Province there exists a flying ball-like fire. (近江国　（あふみのくに）　大津の八町に玉のごとくの火飛行　（ひぎやう）　する事あり。)
The natives say that long ago in the village of Shiga there was a person who stole oil, and every night he stole the oil from the Jizō of the Ōtsu crossroads, but when this person died his soul became a flame and even now they grow accustomed to this errant fire. (土人云、むかし志賀の里に油をうるものあり、夜毎に大津辻の地蔵の油をぬすみけるが、その者死て魂魄炎となりて今に迷ひの火となれるとぞ。)
If it is so then the baby which licks the oil is this person's rebirth. (しからば油をなむる赤子は此ものの再生せしにや。)

Sekien seems to have have based this illustration on a story from the Shokoku Rijin Dan (諸国里人談), in which an oil merchant from Ōtsu steals oil from a Jizō statue at the crossroads, and is punished posthumously by being transformed into a wandering ghost-fire.

References

  • Mizuki, Shigeru (2003). Mujara 3: Kinki-hen. Japan: Soft Garage. pp. p. 18. ISBN 4861330068. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  • Toriyama, Sekien (2005). Toriyama Sekien Gazu Hyakki Yakō Zen Gashū (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 10–65. ISBN 4-0440-5101-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • "Kaii Yōkai Denshō Database: Konpaku En". Retrieved 2007-04-16.



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