Japanese Tree Spirit

The dear old spirits of the pine tree.

Japanese tree spirit. Sourced and translated from kaii yokai densho database japanese wikipedia yokai jiten nihon kokugo dai ten and other sources if a tree falls in the forest and someone hears it is that the plaintive cry of a kodama. A tree deity or tree spirit is a nature deity related to a tree such deities are present in many cultures. Kodama is a japanese word ko meaning tree and dama meaning spirit. Kurozome the tree spirit of prunus serrulata japanese cherry.

The artist views each piece of wood that she uses as having a unique character and even it s own spirit or kodama. Kodama 木霊 木魂 or 木魅 are spirits in japanese folklore that inhabit trees the term is also used to denote a tree in which a kodama supposedly resides. And there are said to be over 33 333 figures of the goddess kwannon the goddess of mercy in the temple to. Godchecker guide to jo the japanese spirit of trees from japanese mythology.

San jû san gen do means hall of thirty three spaces. In japan tree groves are closely associated with shinto shrines. 794 1185 epic the tale of genji. The status of tree deities varies from that of a local fairy ghost sprite or nymph to that of a goddess.

About one thousand years ago but according to the dates of the story 744 years ago the temple of san jû san gen do was founded. The phenomenon known as yamabiko when sounds make a delayed echoing effect in mountains and valleys is sometimes attributed to this kind of spirit and may also be referred to as kodama. The spirit of the willow tree. They are usually represented as a young woman often connected to ancient fertility and tree worship lore.

The japanese have always known that some trees were special. In japanese folklore kodama are the spirits of trees and are mentioned alongside demons oni and gods kami in the heian period c. Tree groves are sacred ground all over the world many have ancient buildings and churches built in and around them.