| Umi Osho | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Other Names |
Oshōuo, Kamenyūdō, Heshang Yu |
|
First Appearance |
Japanese Folklore |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Umi Osho or Oshōuo are aquatic yōkai which live in the Sea of Japan off of Fukui and Kyōto Prefectures. They have bodies resembling soft-shelled turtles and smooth, bald heads resembling human monks. The grow up to 150 to 180 centimeters in length.
Terashima Ryōan's Wakan Sansai Zue (completed 1712) has an entry for a human-faced sea-turtle, known in Chinese as the "monk-fish" (heshang yu).
Another work entitled Butsurui shōko (pub. 1775), as well as the later, Meiji period compilation Wakun no shiori adds that according to the lore of Chōshi Bay in Shimōsa Province (Chiba Prefecture), a priest named Shōgaku-bō (aforementioned) having drowned to death became the Oshōuo. Its appearance is close to what the Japanese call "mud turtles", but the face resembles a cat, and the fore- and hind-paws do not have well-defined toes. When fishermen capture one of these, they would customarily take pity and release it.
The Wakan Sansai Zue also describes the being released by Japanese fishermen. But encountering this turtle was considered unlucky, i.e., an omen of a bad catch. Therefore, when the turtle pressed its forearms together in front of its breast in a praying gesture, and shed tears to beg for its life, the fisherman made sure to warn the creature not to take vengeance on my fishing before releasing it.
In Sanuki (Kagawa Prefecture) such creature is called a Kamenyūdō ("turtle monk").
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Umi Osho from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Wakan Sansai Zue (1712)
- Butsurui shōko (1775)
- Wakun no shiori