Yōkai: Gashadokuro がしゃどくろ Starving Skeleton
Swift and silent, the gashadokuro seize their victims, either crushing them within their grasp or tearing off their heads.
Gashadokuro (がしゃどくろ, literally “starving skeleton”, also known as Odokuro or as “Rattling Skull”) are mythical creatures in modern Japanese mythology.
Gashadokuro, towering skeletal giants, roam the countryside under the cover of darkness. With teeth chattering and bones rattling, they emit the eerie “gachi gachi” sound that echoes their name. While known for their noisy presence, they possess a stealthy nature when encountering unsuspecting humans late at night. Swift and silent, the gashadokuro seize their victims, either crushing them within their grasp or tearing off their heads.
Originating from the anguish of fallen soldiers left unburied on the battlefield and the nameless victims of famine lost in the wilderness, gashadokuro embody the souls trapped in eternal unrest. Denied proper funerary rites, their lingering resentment and pain become an energy that persists long after their flesh decomposes. This unresolved anger transforms them into a vengeful supernatural entity. When the bones of countless individuals amass into a single colossal mass, the gashadokuro takes form, a monstrous specter.
As formidable beings, gashadokuro prove impervious to conventional means of destruction. They persist until the accumulated energy and malevolence within them finally dissipates. However, the rarity of these abominations in present times contrasts with the past, where the prevalence of war and famine facilitated their creation.
One notable account of a gashadokuro dates back over a millennium to a violent uprising against the central government led by a samurai named Taira no Masakado. His daughter, Takiyasha Hime, renowned for her sorcery, continued his cause even after Masakado’s demise. Utilizing her dark magic, she summoned a colossal skeleton composed of fallen soldiers’ remains to unleash havoc upon the city of Kyoto. This legendary tale finds artistic representation in Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s famous print, immortalizing Takiyasha’s conjured monster.
©Emika Oka
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Source
がしゃどくろ - Wikipedia
妖怪「がしゃどくろ」の伝承・正体・名前の由来 (ayakashi-web.com)
妖怪がしゃどくろとは何だ？巨大ドクロと歌川国芳の作品の関係を解説！ ｜ 和樂web 美の国ニッポンをもっと知る！ (intojapanwaraku.com)