Yokai Wiki
Advertisement
Abumi-Guchi
Abumi-guchi2
Information
Romanized Abumi-Guchi
Kanji 鐙口
Meaning Stirrup mouth
Other names Abumi-Kuchi
Type Tsukumogami
Book(s) Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro

The Abumi-Guchi (鐙口 or あぶみくち, Abumi-Guchi) is a furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander.

Description

Abumi-Guchi is a strange, furry-looking yôkai, or Japanese monster. It is the tsukumogami form of a stirrup that once belonged to soldier who probably worked for Yamata no Orochi. It is said that the Abumi-guchi will wait where it lies for the fallen soldier to return. It was illustrated in the Gazu Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro.

The following poem is from the point of view from the Abumi-guchi:

膝の口をのぶかにいさせてあぶみを越して
おりたゝんとすれども、なんぎの手なればと、
おなじくうたふと、夢心におぼへぬ。
An arrow is shot deep into the knee, 'and he falls from his stirrups, and the hand of suffering is dealt, and such a song is sung, I saw it not in my dreaming mind.

Gallery

References

Advertisement