FunayūreiMurasa (Nigashio-Lodged of Tsuma Village)

A variant of the funayurei recorded in Tsuma Village, Oki District, Shimane. On nocturnal seas, clusters of faint lights gathering are called Murasa. Locals call the countless drifting sea sparkle nigashio. When that flow blurs into a single round mass that pulses like a pale blue breath, it is feared not as mere sea gleam but as remnants of the drowned lodging in the tide, namely Murasa. It will suddenly gather before a bow to bar the way, dimly lighting the surface and throwing off the sense of course. If a boat rides over it, the light scatters at once to the four directions, shadows on deck and gunwale sway strangely, and though the helm bites, the hull feels as if spinning uselessly on the sea. Not individual ghosts grasping with limbs, but a swarm of lights stroking the hull and upsetting the rhythm of the waves to lure toward grounding, they say. Late at night, when the sea flashes “chik” bright as day for a beat and all falls still, villagers say one is “possessed by Murasa,” stop the rudder, lash a dagger or kitchen knife to a pole, and cut the surface three times. At the sound of blade parting tide, the light thins like unwinding thread and scatters back into ordinary nigashio. Local lore holds that passing a bottomless dipper or throwing rice balls or ash has little effect here, while quietly setting incense flowers or dumplings adrift makes the light keep its circle, skirt the boat, and open a path. Murasa raises no voice, nor demands a bailer. Yet on the sixteenth of Obon the rings double and triple, drawing near and away, harboring an inner dark like a ghost ship’s shadow. Working the sea then is forbidden, for even a veteran skipper is dazzled and drawn to the cape’s black rocks. Its color is cold yet clear, and when met with shouts and disorder it flickers as if with a thin smile. Before those who ravage or foul the sea, the ring narrows and only the water at one’s feet grows unnaturally bright, leaving no escape. Conversely, for those who mourn kin lost at sea and make offerings, it lays a guiding streak in the offshore dark and sets distant whitecaps in relief to lead to safe water veins. Thus Murasa is both a drowning ghost and a guiding ghostlight. On Tsuma’s shore, the custom remains on the first catch night to chant words that calm both sea gods and the dead, then cut the tide with a blade before casting the nets. The light cannot be scooped by hand, nor a voice seized, yet it readily dissolves its form in answer to the threefold cutting rite and quiet offerings, returning to mere nigashio.

Yokai with similar personality and characteristics to Murasa (Nigashio-Lodged of Tsuma Village)

Banana-Plant Spirit

Tradition-Faithful, Sekien Illustrated Edition

92%

Compatibility

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Compatibility

Roaring Cauldron (Narigama)

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Compatibility

Yokai with opposite personality and characteristics to Murasa (Nigashio-Lodged of Tsuma Village)

Misogoro

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Compatibility

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62%

Compatibility

Hotei

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Compatibility