Japanese creatures: Kappa 
This is the first article of a series about Japanese creatures. This article talks about 河童 “Kappa” which is probably the most popular creature in Japan.
Even if the name differs, this creature exists on the whole Japanese archipelago. Its first appearance was found in 日本書紀 “Japan - scribe”, one of the oldest japanese document written by the different secretary of the japanese emperors until 720. At this time it was named ミズチ “the spirit of the water”. However, the Kappa disappeared and it is not until 江戸時代 “the Edo era” (1603-1867) that he was spotted again. Finally, the word 河童 became part of the standard japanese language during 昭和３０年代 “the 30’s of the Shôwa era” or in other words between 1955 and 1965.
Photo: rwk
License : Creative CommonsThe Kanji used to form Kappa are 河 “river” and 童 “child”. A Kappa is therefore a “child of the river”. The comparison does not hold except for the stature which is close to a 6 years old child. Kappa is a biped animal with a greasy green skin. Some illustrations depict Kappa with scales or fur. There is also a 甲羅 “shell” on the back. Other particularities include a sharp mouth, palmated hand and feet, a bald head with a cavity at the top. This 凹み “dish” is full of water and allows the Kappa to survive when he wanders on the banks of the river.
In the old tales, Kappa is either depicted as a bloodsucker or as a vegetarian who loves cucumber ! What is the real nature of the Kappa ?
Japanese Vampire
Photo: chez_sugi
License : Creative Commons
Many Japanese tales about Kappa are about how he grabs and pull his prey inside the river in order to 生き肝を抜く “pull the heart” and suck the blood inside. His greasy skin gives him a big advantage when 相撲をとる “wrestling”. He prefers to hunt horses but also likes to いたずらをする “play dirty tricks” on humans. If you were to fight a Kappa, it might be a good idea to お辞儀をする “salute (by leaning your body)” him. You might succeed to trick him to do the same and make him loose part of the water at the top of his head. It is very likely that these stories were told to keep the children away from dangerous rivers.
His weakpoints
This “Japanese vampire” does not fear garlic but monkeys, holy rice, cutting tools and 瓢箪 “gourd”. Besides the gourd, it is quite easy to understand the reasons for which the Kappa fears these. The gourd floats and therefore makes the kappa’s task even more difficult and risky. As for the holy rice which is the rice that is offered to one’s ancestors, it seems that there is a hidden meaning. It is believed that the story tellers added this item to the list so that their grandchildren won’t forget them when they pass away. Other stories seem to confirm this because it is explained that by wearing the ashes from the familial Buddhist altar one is guaranteed to win against a Kappa.
Hot spring guardian
For the last few years, the Kappa play a role of guardian for 温泉 “hot spring” or for the environment. The image of a peaceful vegetarian creature fond of 胡瓜 “cucumbers” is indeed very different from the Kappa of the old tales. If you have always wondered why the small sushi with cucumber and nori (algue) are called かっぱ巻き “rolled with Kappa”, you now have the answer ! It is not unusual to see notices calling for the respect of the environment on the banks of popular rivers with Kappa illustrations. In the past the role of the Kappa was to protect innocent children from dangerous rivers but nowadays we can say that the Kappa are trying to protect the rivers from irresponsible adults…
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 15th, 2006 at 6:00 am and is filed under : Culture.
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Recent earthquakes in Japan
Très très belle initiative, Kenji, que cette nouvelle série !
comment: 2006-08-15 — 7.38 pm | permalink
Alain said:”This series of articles is a very very good idea!”
Thanks. If you happen to know the name of a Japanese creature, let me know.
comment: 2006-08-15 — 8.48 pm | permalink
Bonjour Kenji,
Tu travailles trop sur ton site, 3 langues
Ouah !!
Bravo Kenji.
Sinon, ld’autre monstre, euuh Gozilla
K
comment: 2006-08-16 — 4.39 pm | permalink
Je ne sais pas si c’est une omission volontaire mais il faut évoquer aussi le caractère grivois (et c’est un euphémisme) de ces charmantes bestioles souvent représentées en train d’attirer des jeunes filles pour les violer.
comment: 2006-08-17 — 7.06 pm | permalink
Goodis sais:”I am not sure if you omitted it on purpose but Kappa are known for being pervert creatures. They are usually represented rapind the women that they took along with them.”
You are right. While researching some material to write this article I found some occurence of such stories. For instance, in one of the story it was explained that the Kappa like cucumber because its taste is similar to the odor of あそこ (ASoKo) “over there (you know where)”. I did not find a relevant number of similar stories so I did not write about it. However, a word like エロガッパ (ERoGapPa) “Erotic + Kappa” clearly indicates that the association of pervert and Kappa is popular.
comment: 2006-08-19 — 10.16 pm | permalink
Bonjour,
ma correspondante japonaise m’a offert un manga qui s’apelle “how to breek a kapa”, je ne savais pas du tout que c’était une créature mythologique !
Sympa.
comment: 2006-08-20 — 3.41 am | permalink
Il doit s’agir de 河童の飼い方 (KapPa No KaIKata) “How to breed kappas”. En ce moment, on peut voir une partie du 7 ème tome sur le site : cliquez sur 第７巻. Enfin, il semble que le manga se soit aussi décliné en jeux vidéos, アニメ (ANiME)…
comment: 2006-08-21 — 5.21 am | permalink
Bonjour,
Très intéressant l’article sur le Kappa.
J’ai fait une chronique des deux tomes de “Tensui, l’eau céleste” de Hanawa Kazuichi, où il est question d’un kappa, apparemment plus gentil !
http://bededazi.over-blog.com/article-2864248.html
Amicalement,
Bédédazi.
comment: 2006-08-25 — 11.49 am | permalink
日本は沢山の妖怪がいます。水木しげるのマンガは妖怪満載で
是非フランス人の方に見ていただきたいです。
花輪和一は独特の画風で面白いですよね「刑務所の中」は
読みましたが、天水は読んでません。なかなか評判がよい
ようなので、読んでみたいです。
comment: 2006-09-06 — 11.09 am | permalink
肝: foie
“Qu’en est t’il ?” (Qu’en est-il ?)
“luteur” (lutteur)
“s’il rends la pareille” “ce qui rends la tâche” (rend)
“contre un Kappa semble confirmer cela.”
(semblent)
comment: 2006-09-09 — 2.36 am | permalink
Bonjour et merci pour les corrections.
En ce qui concerne 肝, j’ai préféré traduire l’expression entière en fonction des différentes explications. Pour être précis, il est dit que le Kappa arrache 肝玉 / 肝魂 (KimoDama) “foie + boule”. Il s’agit d’un organe imaginaire, source d’énergie vitale et de courage (que j’ai assimilé au coeur).
Je vais corriger les autres erreurs.
Encore merci.
comment: 2006-09-09 — 5.45 am | permalink
河童が抜くのは、尻小玉（しりこだま）です。人、馬、etc.生きているものに宿っている魂のようなもので、
肛門からガバと手を突っ込んで取られてしまうと
茫然自失し生きた屍のようになってしまうらしいです。
尻小玉はそれほど一般的ではなくて、河童の話になると出で来るのです。
雷様がヘソを取りにくるっていうのほうが有名ですよね。
comment: 2006-09-11 — 11.25 am | permalink
Translation of ZashikiWarashi’s comment:
“What the Kappa grabs is called 尻小玉 (ShiriKodama) “rear + small + ball”. It is said that all it contains the soul of the living beings (human, horse…). It seems that someone turns into a kind of zombie when he looses his Shirikodama. The Shirikodama only appears in stories with Kappa creatures.
The belief that the storm tries to steal someone’s bellybutton is far more popular for instance.
”
comment: 2006-09-15 — 12.18 am | permalink
[…] Bestiaire du Japon : Tsuchi no ko DéménagementVisage du soirPoils de tortue !Bestiaire du Japon : KappaPeinture fraîchePensées caniculairesDe retourSilenceIkea au Japon […]
pingpack: 2006-10-09 — 7.11 am | permalink
[…] Copyright Hayashima Voici le troisième article consacré aux UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) ou 未確認動物 (MiKakuNinDôButsu) “animaux non identifiés” du Japon. Le premier article était consacré aux 河童 (KapPa) “Kappa”, créature bipède des marais, tandis que le second discutait de ツチノコ (TsuChiNoKo) “Tsuchinoko”, une créature entre serpent et lézard. Cette fois, nous nous intéressons à un cousin japonais de Nessie : イッシー (IsShi-) “Issie”. […]
pingpack: 2007-03-22 — 6.37 am | permalink