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Dragons.

In what is a polar opposite to the west, dragons in Japan (as in other countries in the east), represent the god of water. When you see a long thin cloud over a valley in the distance, this is the dragon god. At the same time, waterfalls, rivers, seas, anything to do with water, is controlled by these very same mythical creatures.

On the Yamabushido Instagram about a week ago there was a post about Ryujin Meguri, visiting the dragon kami. Ryujin Meguri just so happens to be one of Master Hoshino’s favourite pastimes. You’ll often see him leading groups to waterfalls, oceans, rivers and the like to pray to the dragon gods, a less intense way than yamabushi training to get in touch with nature.

If you’re ever unsure which kami to pray to at an object made of water, Ryujin is a great place to start.

Today though, I want to talk about something a little bit different:

Dragons and Villagers.

Besides Ryujin Meguri, dragons play a more critical role for the people living in the villages at the base of the Dewa Sanzan, or the people of the pilgrim’s lodge village of Toge on Mt. Haguro, specifically.

Take a walk through this village, and you’ll soon notice them everywhere:

Ropes.

But not just any ropes. Enclosed tightly in their own special boxes, you’ll notice these giant ropes hanging under the eaves and over the front doors of houses. These ropes are from the Shoreisai festival that I talked about last week.

From Dewasanzan.com:

According to legend, hundreds of years ago an extremely strong demon named Soranki was wreaking havoc on the townspeople. Lightning and fire rained down on the lands, destroying crops, and causing widespread famine. The townspeople were suffering, and no one knew what to do. Until of course Prince Hachiko, the founder of the Dewa Sanzan, came to the fore. Prince Hachiko performed a ceremonious burning of an effigy of Soranki, and they had slayed demon once and for all, or so they thought. Soranki is said to be so powerful he comes back every year. The main event for many at the Shoreisai Festival is the Otaimatsuhiki, a giant straw effigy of Soranki, called and Otaimatsu, is killed by being split in two, set alight, and dragged across a field at the top of Mt. Haguro.

The ropes used to pull the demon are the ropes used to adorn the houses of Toge. The villagers of Toge get ropes made specifically for them, and only when a new house is built. A few years back, I had the honour of watching my friend get one installed at his house too, a once in a lifetime thing I’m not sure I’ll get to see again.

I also mentioned it last week, but I too managed to get one of these ropes.

How?

Well, called a Tsuna , they also have ropes for the general public thrown to the crowd by the two Matsuhijiri priests. Being the tall foreigner that I am, I managed to jump above the rest, and snatch one from the sky (it was actually quite tough, the people there are vicious!).

Naturally, these ropes aren’t the same as the ones they us to decorate the houses of Toge, but they are ones used to decorate houses.

My house specifically.

If you manage to get your hands on one of these ropes, either by jumping up and catching one, or ahh.. just buying it, do what the people of Toge do. Hang it up above your front door.

Why?

That effigy of a demon from before, well, it represents calamity and disaster. By hanging the rope above your front door, your prevent calamity and disaster from getting through.

Oh, and one more thing

(This video shows many of the ropes mentioned in the post!)

You may have already noticed, but one difference between the ropes on the houses in Toge, and the ropes we have, is the black tail.

One guess what mythical creature this black tail is said to belong to. Hint: look at the title of this post.

That’s right, the rope represents a dragon! The controller of water, there to protect your house from fire. So let it do it’s job by hanging up your Tsuna.

P.S. If you want one of these ropes, come to the Shoreisai festival!