It is not an exaggeration to say that Inugami Gyobu is the strongest among the transformed tanuki (bake-danuki). Among the numerous bake-danuki found throughout Japan, Inugami Gyobu is considered a particularly superior being and is often described as the supreme commander of all shape-shifting tanuki. In Japanese.
I would like to take some time to think about the remarkable Inugami Gyobu.
The Name of Gyobu
It is said that Inugami Gyobu is a legendary shape-shifting tanuki (bake-danuki) that has existed since the era of Emperor Tenji (reign: 668–672), making it a historical figure among tanuki folklore. It was the leader of 808 tanuki, earning the title of “Happyakuya Danuki” (Eight Hundred and Eight Tanuki) due to their vast numbers.
The 808 tanuki, each one a leader of its own group, is a remarkable aspect of Inugami Gyobu’s power. It is impossible to imagine just how many tanuki it must have commanded in total, as the sheer number of creatures under its leadership is beyond comprehension.
Inugami Gyobu resided in an ancient cave at Mount Kuma in Iyo Province (modern-day Ehime Prefecture). For a long time, it served as a reliable guardian of Matsuyama Castle and was reputed to possess the strongest supernatural powers in all of Shikoku, as mentioned earlier.
It was also referred to as Gyobu Danuki. The term Gyobu historically referred to positions related to judicial and penal duties, and it was also used as a title. This title was said to have been bestowed upon Inugami Gyobu by the ancestors of the lord of Matsuyama Castle. It earned deep faith and reverence from both the castle retainers and the common folk.
Gyobu Danuki punished wrongdoers and was venerated as a protective deity for the region. It appears to have been a tanuki with a strong sense of justice.
The Power of Inugami Gyobu
Inugami Gyobu is a transformed tanuki (bake-danuki) that, after hundreds of years, grew in size and gained immense supernatural power. Its strength is extremely formidable, using shape-shifting and illusionary techniques to deceive people. With these powers, it could further enlarge its body, becoming even more gigantic and intimidating those around it.
The Power of Transformation
The power of transformation was incredibly strong, allowing Inugami Gyobu to change its appearance into that of an elderly person, a monk, or even the ruling powers of the time. These transformations were primarily used to deceive and confuse humans.
The Power of Illusionary techniques
Inugami Gyobu could also create illusions, making people see hallucinations or hear voices that weren’t actually there. It had the ability to lead people astray in the forest, causing them to lose their way, or make it appear as if a disaster had struck a village.
It is also said that Inugami Gyobu could alter the very appearance of mountains and rivers through illusionary magic. This ability to manipulate nature itself shows just how powerful Inugami Gyōbu’s magic was, highlighting the immense strength of its supernatural powers.
Leadership
As the supreme commander of the tanuki, Inugami Gyobu possessed overwhelming charisma. Not only did it have immense supernatural power, but it was also able to unite the strength of the 808 tanuki, allowing it to wield large-scale magical abilities.
Sense of Justice
Inugami Gyobu is depicted as a yokai that repays those who help it by granting treasures or ensuring the prosperity of villages. Its guardianship of Matsuyama Castle may also have stemmed from this sense of justice.
It is also well-known for punishing wrongdoers. Those who commit evil deeds or show disrespect to Inugami Gyōbu are subjected to harsh punishments. These punishments range from terrifying experiences created through its illusions to actual disasters caused by its magical powers.
Wisdom and Power
Having lived for hundreds of years, Inugami Gyobu honed its magical abilities over time, becoming a unique and special being among the tanuki. Its wisdom and experience, gained through its long lifespan, led some to regard it as an entity comparable to gods and Buddhas.
In this way, Inugami Gyobu’s supernatural power transcends the boundaries of being merely a yokai, conveying a sense of immense strength that shakes not only the local community but nature itself.
The Supernatural Power and Illusions of Inugami Gyobu.
Inugami Gyobu, using its supernatural power, could enlarge its body to the size of a mountain, intimidating those around it. For example, when a traveler angered Gyobu, it is said that the tanuki appeared as a massive shadow, scaring the traveler and driving them away. The size of this apparition was said to be even greater than a mountain.
There are also stories of Inugami Gyobu leading a military force to dominate other tanuki and yokai in battles surrounding the mountain. Through its powerful supernatural abilities, Gyōbu Danuki subdued other shape-shifting tanuki, becoming the supreme commander of the them. During these battles, it used large-scale illusions and its magical powers to overwhelm its enemies.
The Curse of Inugami Gyobu
It is said that Inugami Gyobu, along with its 808 followers, was sealed in Mount Kuma following a certain event described in the Matsuyama Saodo Happyakuya Tanuki Monogatari (The Story of the 808 Tanuki in the Matsuyama Uprising). At that time, Inugami Gyobu left behind a powerful curse, bringing misfortune to the region.
Specifically, the curse caused poor harvests, floods, and a series of accidents where people became lost or encountered disasters in the mountains.
To quell these misfortunes, people began to enshrine Inugami Gyobu. As a result, it eventually became regarded as a protective deity in the region. In any case, it is clear that Inugami Gyobu is a terrifying transformed tanuki if it is made an enemy.
However, due to the many yokai legends surrounding Inugami Gyobu, it is rare for it to be officially enshrined as a god in a shrine. Instead, villagers would build small shrines or conduct rituals to venerate it as a local protector and object of faith.
Sealed Cave and Gyobu Danuki Shrine
The cave where Inugami Gyobu was sealed is said to have been preserved as the Yamaguchi Reishin Shrine in the Kuniyamachu area of Matsumoto City. This shrine is believed to be a remnant of the place where the powerful tanuki was sealed away.
The Gratitude of Inugami Gyobu
Originally a tanuki with a strong sense of justice, Inugami Gyobu would repay those who helped it with gratitude. The methods of repayment included using illusions to provide treasures or abundant crops.
However, unlike other tanuki illusions, the treasures and crops given by Inugami Gyobu were said to be truly valuable, disappearing without a trace. This suggests that Inugami Gyobu’s feelings of gratitude were deeply sincere.
Summary
The supreme leader of the transformed tanuki, having lived for centuries, was a fearsome yet justice-driven creature. It guarded Matsuyama Castle and even earned the title of “Gyobu.” However, despite all the events that transpired, in the end, it sided with those who rebelled against Matsuyama, and along with its 808 followers, it was sealed away. Even after being sealed, Inugami Gyobu’s supernatural power remained, making it undoubtedly the strongest of all transformed tanuki.
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