A piece of white cloth that has no exact meaning, present in Japanese culture and with various interpretations. The hitaikakushi [額隠] is this uncertain element. Below is a summary of why it exists, its theories, and how it emerged throughout the existence of Japanese folklore.
The oriental culture is very little explored by us westerners, far from our reality, the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and others, have a rich folklore. With many of the elements present in our culture, the conception and different definitions of them, shows that our world is connected in many ways.
A common point is the presence of ghosts in Eastern culture, specifically in Japanese folklore. The yurei is one of these elements, present in the culture of the rising sun, which is analogous to the ghost in the West.
For the Japanese – in their traditional Buddhist culture, we human beings possess a soul. Or spirit for others. However, reikon is the name given to the soul or spirit of people.
Upon death, a person's reikon leaves the body and enters what could be akin to purgatory in the Judeo-Christian culture of the West. And it is this spirit that adds value to Japanese mythology.
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Hitaikakushi - Yurei Headband
The yurei are the most common forms of apparition in ancient texts and books. Their appearance is somewhat uniform. Marked by white kimono robes – a reference to funerals of the Edo in Japan – and long black hair.
Tradition says that a person who died suddenly or violently, if the rites of age from human life to the spiritual were not performed correctly, or if these are driven by feelings of hatred and revenge, the soul – reikon – transforms into a yurei.
However, what is more interesting is that some yureis have a kind of bandana, in the shape of a triangle, on their heads. This cloth – also white – is called hitaikakushi.
With appearance during the heian period – Japan between the years 794 and 1185, classic Japanese history – the books of the time show the yurei wearing the hitaikakushi. However, little is known about its meaning.
It is speculated that the artists restructured the eboshi hat – a pointed accessory used by the Japanese during the heian period, very popular at the time –. However, the practice of depicting ghosts with the triangular hat disappeared in the edo era.
With its reappearance in modern times, there have been speculations about the presence of hitaikakushi in yurei. The first: it is believed that the ghosts ascended to the highest level in of spirituality, receiving a crown. This crown, sometimes referred to as the crown of heaven, is called tenkan.
The tenkan is placed on the heads of yurei to highlight their new spiritual state. The yurei are, traditionally, female characters who seek revenge. Thus, upon receiving the tenkan, these spirits of women have attained spiritual peace.
Hitaikakushi for protection
Another strand believes that the hitaikakushi is a symbol that serves to ward off demons from their corpses. As the spirit leaves the body, the bodies become a piece of empty and soulless flesh.
The last theory – and a complement to the one described above – believes that the bandana keeps demons from entering the heads of empty bodies and prevents these diabolical beings from resurrecting the corpse. Therefore, the white cloth protects the body from the carnal and spiritual transition.
In fact, Japanese culture is rich in many ways, having an immense mythology that is still mysterious. The meaning of the triangular white cloth on the head of female ghosts has no convergent meaning. But we have to it, anyway, he represents the rise of purity and the decline of evil spirits.
