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In [[Japanese mythology]], an {{Nihongo|'''ikiryō'''|生霊}} (also read ''shōryō'', ''seirei'', or ''ikisudama'') is a manifestation of the [[soul]] of a living person separately from their body.<ref name=Clarke2000 >{{citation | last=Clarke | first=Peter Bernard | year=2000 | title=Japanese new religions: in global perspective, Volume 1999 | edition=annotated | publisher=Routledge | isbn=9780700711857 | page=247 }}</ref>
In [[Japanese mythology]], an {{Nihongo|'''ikiryō'''|生霊}} (also read ''shōryō'', ''seirei'', or ''ikisudama'') is a manifestation of the [[soul]] of a living person separately from their body.<ref name=Clarke2000 >{{citation | last=Clarke | first=Peter Bernard | year=2000 | title=Japanese new religions: in global perspective, Volume 1999 | edition=annotated | publisher=Routledge | isbn=9780700711857 | page=247 }}</ref>


==Description==
Traditionally, if someone holds a sufficient grudge against another person, it is believed that a part or the whole of their soul can temporarily leave their body and appear before the target of their hate in order to curse or otherwise harm them, similar to an [[evil eye]].<ref name="folklore1">{{Cite journal | last = Anderson | first = Richard W. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Vengeful Ancestors and Animal Spirits: Personal Narratives of the Supernatural in a Japanese New Religion | journal = Western Folklore | volume = 54 | issue = 2 | pages = 113 | publisher = Western States Folklore Society | location = | date = April 1995 | url = | jstor = http://www.jstor.org/stable/1500400 | issn = | doi = | id = | mr = | zbl = | jfm = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> However, this temporary separation would result in sickness. If the separation became permanent, the person who held the grudge would die.<ref name="journal2">{{Cite journal | last = Fairchild | first = William P. | title = Shamanism in Japan | journal = Folklore Studies | volume = 21 | pages = 33 | publisher = Nanzan University | location = | date = 1962 | jstor = http://www.jstor.org/stable/1177349 | issn = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> The Ikiryo are said to be able to [[spirit possession|possess]] another living person without the originator even being aware of it.<ref name="Japan 1972">{{cite book|author=Yunesuko Higashi Ajia Bunka Kenkyū Sentā (Tokyo, Japan)|title=East Asian cultural studies|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6QIWAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=20 September 2011|date=1972|publisher=Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies|pages=48–53}}</ref> [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] literture describes the Ikiryo as being particularly difficult to [[exorcism|exorcise]].<ref name="Harper">{{Cite encyclopedia | title = Ikiryoh | encyclopedia = The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World | volume = 1 | pages = 317 | publisher = Harper Element | date = 2006 | id = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> The spirits are not tied to whomever they possess, and may freely move about bodies.<ref name="KraussRohlen1984">{{cite book|author1=Ellis S. Krauss|author2=Thomas P. Rohlen|author3=Patricia G. Steinhoff|coauthors=Joint Committee on Japanese Studies, Social Science Research Council (U.S.)|title=Conflict in Japan|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pMebnnqB_e0C&pg=PA88|accessdate=20 September 2011|year=1984|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-0867-9|pages=88–}}</ref>
Traditionally, if someone holds a sufficient grudge against another person, it is believed that a part or the whole of their soul can temporarily leave their body and appear before the target of their hate in order to curse or otherwise harm them, similar to an [[evil eye]].<ref name="folklore1">{{Cite journal | last = Anderson | first = Richard W. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Vengeful Ancestors and Animal Spirits: Personal Narratives of the Supernatural in a Japanese New Religion | journal = Western Folklore | volume = 54 | issue = 2 | pages = 113 | publisher = Western States Folklore Society | location = | date = April 1995 | url = | jstor = http://www.jstor.org/stable/1500400 | issn = | doi = | id = | mr = | zbl = | jfm = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> However, this temporary separation would result in sickness. If the separation became permanent, the person who held the grudge would die.<ref name="journal2">{{Cite journal | last = Fairchild | first = William P. | title = Shamanism in Japan | journal = Folklore Studies | volume = 21 | pages = 33 | publisher = Nanzan University | location = | date = 1962 | jstor = http://www.jstor.org/stable/1177349 | issn = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> The Ikiryo are said to be able to [[spirit possession|possess]] another living person without the originator even being aware of it.<ref name="Japan 1972">{{cite book|author=Yunesuko Higashi Ajia Bunka Kenkyū Sentā (Tokyo, Japan)|title=East Asian cultural studies|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6QIWAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=20 September 2011|date=1972|publisher=Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies|pages=48–53}}</ref> [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] literture describes the Ikiryo as being particularly difficult to [[exorcism|exorcise]].<ref name="Harper">{{Cite encyclopedia | title = Ikiryoh | encyclopedia = The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World | volume = 1 | pages = 317 | publisher = Harper Element | date = 2006 | id = | accessdate = September 20, 2011}}</ref> The spirits are not tied to whomever they possess, and may freely move about bodies.<ref name="KraussRohlen1984">{{cite book|author1=Ellis S. Krauss|author2=Thomas P. Rohlen|author3=Patricia G. Steinhoff|coauthors=Joint Committee on Japanese Studies, Social Science Research Council (U.S.)|title=Conflict in Japan|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=pMebnnqB_e0C&pg=PA88|accessdate=20 September 2011|year=1984|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-0867-9|pages=88–}}</ref>



Revision as of 23:22, 6 December 2011

The ikiryō as illustrated by Toriyama Sekien.

In Japanese mythology, an ikiryō (生霊) (also read shōryō, seirei, or ikisudama) is a manifestation of the soul of a living person separately from their body.[1]

Description

Traditionally, if someone holds a sufficient grudge against another person, it is believed that a part or the whole of their soul can temporarily leave their body and appear before the target of their hate in order to curse or otherwise harm them, similar to an evil eye.[2] However, this temporary separation would result in sickness. If the separation became permanent, the person who held the grudge would die.[3] The Ikiryo are said to be able to possess another living person without the originator even being aware of it.[4] Buddhist literture describes the Ikiryo as being particularly difficult to exorcise.[5] The spirits are not tied to whomever they possess, and may freely move about bodies.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Clarke, Peter Bernard (2000), Japanese new religions: in global perspective, Volume 1999 (annotated ed.), Routledge, p. 247, ISBN 9780700711857
  2. ^ Anderson, Richard W. (April 1995). "Vengeful Ancestors and Animal Spirits: Personal Narratives of the Supernatural in a Japanese New Religion". Western Folklore. 54 (2). Western States Folklore Society: 113. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/stable/1500400. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check |jstor= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |jstor= (help)
  3. ^ Fairchild, William P. (1962). "Shamanism in Japan". Folklore Studies. 21. Nanzan University: 33. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/stable/1177349. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check |jstor= value (help); External link in |jstor= (help)
  4. ^ Yunesuko Higashi Ajia Bunka Kenkyū Sentā (Tokyo, Japan) (1972). East Asian cultural studies. Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies. pp. 48–53. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Ikiryoh". The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World. Vol. 1. Harper Element. 2006. p. 317. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ Ellis S. Krauss; Thomas P. Rohlen; Patricia G. Steinhoff (1984). Conflict in Japan. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 88–. ISBN 978-0-8248-0867-9. Retrieved 20 September 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)