Boroboroton

Boroboroton as depicted in Toriyama Sekien's Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (百器徒然袋).

The Boroboroton (jap. 暮露暮露団; meaning ″tattered futon") is an fictional being from japanese folklore. He belongs to the group of Yōkai and is believed to be evil and dangerous to humans.

Description

The Boroboroton is described as a tattered futon (a japanese nap mat), who comes to life at night. He rises up into the air and throws his (former) owner out of bed, then he begins to twine around head and neck of the sleeper. If the victim cannot react quick enough (mostly because of surprise), the Boroboroton will strangle him.[1][2][3]

Background

The Boroboroton belongs to a special group of yōkai: the Tsukumogami (jap. 付喪神; lit. "artifact ghosts"). This special group is believed to possess nearly all kinds of man-made household artifacts, such as kitchenware, tools and everyday accessories, and though 100 years may passed, the artifact appears as good as if it was never in use.[4] Boroboroton will come to life when feeling ignored or needless. As some kind of revenge (and out of frustration), they float through the rooms of inhabited houses at night and try to strangle any sleeping person they can find. Alternatively, they meet with other Tsukumogami and throw noisy parties. Or they leave the house and stroll around in search of other companion beings.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kenji Murakami: 妖怪事典. Mainichi Shinbunsha, Tokyo 2000, ISBN 9784620314280, p. 309.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sekien Toriyama, Mamoru Takada, Atsunobu Inada u.a.: 画図百鬼夜行, Kokusho Kankōkai, Tōkyō 1992, ISBN 9784336033864, p. 302.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tani Akira: 金森宗和茶書. Shibunkakushuppan, Tokyo 1997, ISBN 4784209441, p. 312.
  4. ↑ Michaela Haustein: Mythologien der Welt: Japan, Ainu, Korea. ePubli, Berlin 2011, ISBN 3844214070, p. 25.